Seattle Seahawks release former Army Green Beret Nate Boyer

Former Army Green Beret Nate Boyer has been released by the Seattle Seahawks, according to Fox Sports.

The 34-year-old long snapper made his NFL exhibition debut Friday for Seattle, snapping five times against the Denver Broncos.

“The first half I didn’t play, so the trick there was to try to stay in the flow and not get stiff,” Boyer told the Seahawks’ website. “When you’re 34, you got to keep the wheels greased up. But it was fun. It really was.”

Boyer didn’t play organized football until age 29, when he tried to walk-on at Texas after multiple deployments for the U.S. Army. He didn’t catch on at first, but in 2012 he took over the primary long-snapping duties for the Longhorns.

He went undrafted but was eventually picked up by the Seahawks. The New England Patriots were the only team to select a long snapper in the draft, using a fifth-round pick on Navy’s Joe Cardona.

On Friday, Boyer led the Seahawks onto the field carrying an American flag.

“I was actually pretty emotional, just because I always think about my buddies who I fought with, or the ones who are overseas right now,” Boyer said. “And usually in college you don’t stay out there for the national anthem, so that got to me too. That whole thing. But just knowing how many of those guys were watching, it’s really special. It was neat.”

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme