Joe Cardona, Patriots Long Snapper, May Leave Team to Fulfill Navy Duty

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus revealed on Thursday's edition the Dan Patrick Show that New England Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona may have to put his NFL career on hold to fulfill his Naval service.

"He played last year while he was on active duty because he was able to work them both out," Mabus said (via ESPN.com's Mike Reiss). "He's [now] been assigned to a ship, and he's going to report to that ship, so he may have to leave the Patriots for a year or so to go fulfill that role." 

Cardona signed a four-year, $2.47 million deal with the Patriots in 2015 after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. At the time, the Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson noted the Navy assigned the 24-year-old to the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island, which allowed him to work with the team through the offseason.

"It's long days, and there are not really any days off, but the balance has been good," Cardona said in November about splitting his time between the two careers, per Reiss. "It's a lot of tough work, but I'm lucky to be out here and getting this opportunity."

The Boston Globe's Ben Volin snapped a photo of Cardona changing into his Navy uniform following New England's preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 28:

The Patriots look to be planning for Cardona's departure. They announced the signing of long snapper Christian Yount on April 22.

Baltimore Ravens fans are likely following Cardona's situation with increased attention after the team spent a sixth-round draft pick on former Midshipmen quarterback Keenan Reynolds. The risk of losing him to his Naval service commitment looms, but Mabus said, like Cardona, Reynolds could continue playing in the NFL while still satisfying his military requirements, per the Dan Patrick Show's Andrew Perloff.