In a game full of blood, sweat and broken bones his name is synonymous with snow angels.

A long-snapper for the New England Patriots and lone Sacramento State alumnus playing in the NFL, 25-year-old Lonie Paxton has come a long way since his days suiting up in Hornet green and gold.

Since signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2000, Paxton has gone from being an NFL long shot, to making an NFL roster, to winning a Super Bowl Championship and becoming the highest paid long-snapper in league history.

“It’s a dream come true,” Paxton said of making it to the NFL. “I played at the Division I-AA level where it’s rare to see draft picks make it (onto a roster). It’s even rarer for a guy who wasn’t drafted.”

The Patriots rewarded Paxton with a new five-year contract on Feb. 28 worth more than $3 million.

“It’s an honor,” Paxton said. “I switched to a new agent at the right time who sold me as a specialist, just like a punter or kicker. Teams are now realizing the importance of a good long-snapper.”

In his four-year career Paxton has already experienced plenty of great moments. Topping the list was snapping two historic game-winning field goals in 2001; during the AFC Championship game against the Oakland Raiders in a snowstorm and then two weeks later against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

He gained national attention after he celebrated the first field goal by making snow angels in the end zone of Foxboro Stadium. Following the field goal in the Super Bowl, he pretended to make snow angels on the turf of the Superdome.

“The Super Bowl was the number one moment,” he said. “I had a childhood dream of playing for the Rams, so being able to play them in the Super Bowl was great.

“A snap isn’t too hard once you’ve got it down,” he said. “The Oakland snap was harder because of the conditions – with the snow.”

Angus McClure, Paxton’s offensive line coach at Sac State and current Hornets assistant head coach, has high praise for his former player.

“He’s been one of the best long-snappers in NFL history,” McClure said. “He’s been very consistent throughout his college and professional career. Weather is never a factor for him, he can snap in rain, sleet or snow.”

Paxton suggests that any player who wants to make it to the NFL should concentrate on the special team’s aspect of the game.

“Don’t take special teams for granted and work on them just as hard as you work on other areas,” he said. “There is a big demand for someone who can excel on special teams and be a backup on offense or defense.”

Paxton still follows Sac State’s football program and gets bi-weekly updates from McClure and assistant defensive line coach Jon Osterhout.

Away from football Paxton serves as vice president of the Active Force Foundation. He started the non-profit organization with childhood friend Brook Duquesnel who was paralyzed in a 1998 snowboarding accident.

The goal of the foundation is to design, produce and distribute a wide range of high quality adaptive sports equipment to physically challenged individuals at nominal or no cost to the participant.

“Brook came to me as a player who had the avenues to help,” Paxton said. “People need to be athletes even if they can’t use their legs.”