49ers acquire competition for long-snapper Jennings

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The 49ers have agreed to terms with veteran long-snapper Ryan Pontbriand, whom the Cleveland Browns released after his errant snaps were at least partially to blame for two November losses.The 49ers and Pontbriand have agreed to terms, CSNBayArea.com confirmed Tuesday.
Pontbriand, 32, is set to reunite with special teams coordinator Brad Seely, who coached two seasons with the Browns before joining the 49ers last season. Pontbriand was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team after the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
The 49ers already have a two-time Pro Bowl long-snapper, Brian Jennings, under contract through the 2014 season. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy named Jennings, 35, to the NFC Pro Bowl team after last season as a "need" player.Jennings is the longest-tenured 49ers player. This appears to be the first time in his career that Jennings will have competition for the job since coming to the team as a seventh-round draft pick in 2000. Coach Jim Harbaugh has stated he wants competition at all positions. Last season, linebacker Larry Grant was the team's backup long-snapper. Seely called Jennings on Tuesday to inform him that the club was signing Pontbriand.
The 49ers are paying a lot of attention to long-snappers this offseason. In January, the team signed Kyle Nelson, who spent parts of the past two seasons with the New Orleans and Kansas City practice squads.

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