Possible Clues:

• Neutralize, as a snake
• Make less dangerous, as a snake
• Make harmless
• In a snaky way, take the bite out of writer upset with a supporter of the team with legend
• Render harmless
• Take a bite out of?
• Render harmless, in a way
• Make harmless, as a snake
• Render ineffectual
• Make a snake nonvenomous, e.g