Originally drafted by Cleveland in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Pro Bowl Selections: 2 (2007, 2008).
Seasonal Reviews:
2010: Played in 16 games for the fifth consecutive season… Handled all of the long-snapping… Part of a punt coverage unit that allowed an average of 7.1 yards per return, as the Browns ranked fifth in the NFL in this category… In addition, punter Reggie Hodges put together a net average of 39.0 while placing 29 punts inside the 20 with just five touchbacks.
2009: Appeared in all 16 games as long snapper… Tallied one tackle on special teams… Played in his 100th career regular season game, against Baltimore (11/16)… Served as the long snapper for field goals, PATs and punts as the Browns had two kickers, two holders and two punters throughout the course of the season.
2008: Named to his second consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl as the AFC’s long snapper… Served as long snapper for punting, field goal and PAT situations… Helped kicker Phil Dawson to a Browns single-season record 30 field goals… Also aided punter Dave Zastudil to a career-best 45.5 average… Recorded a special teams tackle vs. Baltimore (11/2).
2007: Named to his first Pro Bowl… Long snapper for punting, field goal and PAT situations… Assisted kicker Phil Dawson to a career-best 120 points, which tied for second-highest output in franchise history… Worked with three punters during 2007 campaign, including Dave Zastudil for 12 games (41.8 avg.), Paul Ernster (36.6 avg.) for one contest and Scott Player (45.6 avg.) for three games… Added three special teams tackles.
2006: Handled the long snapping for field goal, PAT and punting situations in all 16 games… Adjusted well to working with free agent punter Dave Zastudil, who had a gross average of 44.0 and a net punting average of 38.4… Finished the year with a single-season career high of eight special teams tackles.
2005: Appeared in 11 games as the long snapper for field goal, PAT and punting situations… Helped the special teams as kicker Phil Dawson booted 27 field goals and totaled 100 points… Added one special teams tackle… Missed the final five regular season games with a back injury, and was placed on injured reserve on November 28.
2004: Appeared in all 16 regular season games as the long snapper for field goal, PAT and punting situations… Added one special teams tackle, vs. Baltimore (9/12)… Worked with kicker Phil Dawson as Dawson connected on 24 field goals and amassed 100 points… Helped Dawson to establish a franchise long 27-consecutive field goal streak.
2003: Solidified the long snapping position in his rookie season… Appeared in all 16 regular season games as the long snapper for field goal, PAT and punt units… Added five special teams tackles… Made his NFL debut in opener vs. Indianapolis (9/7) and had one special teams tackle.
College: Four-year letterman at Rice University (1999-2002) who was an important special teams contributor as the Owls’ deep snapper… In 2000, played in 11 games on special teams… Credited with five tackles on the season… Redshirted in 1998… Received his bachelor’s of science degree in mechanical engineering.
Personal: Born Ryan David Pontbriand in Houston… Attended W.P. Clements (Sugar Land, Texas) High School… First-team all-district 20-5A selection as a senior after receiving honorable mention as a junior… Offensive Lineman of the Year for the Rangers and team co-captain… Two-year member of the academic all-district team… Three-year member of the National Honor Society and four-time winner of Clements’ academic excellence award… Also competed in track & field… Great-grandfather, Victor Hurt, was on the coaching staff of SMU’s 1935 team that won the Knute Rockne Trophy, emblematic of the National Championship… In 2007, participated in the NFL and NFL Players Association three-day entrepreneurial program at the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University… Very active in the Cleveland community… In 2004, received the Doug Dieken Humanitarian Award and was nominated for the Cleveland Sports Awards Humanitarian of the Year Award… Annually has participated in Wild for Cure event at the Cleveland Metropolitan Zoo to benefit the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation… Married (Nicole) with a daughter (Avery Rose) and a son (Cade).
