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The Chicago Bears signed long snapper Patrick Mannelly to a one-year contract extension that will keep the veteran with the organization through 2013, the team announced Monday. Mannelly is the current franchise record holder for most games played with 230.
"I'm extremely pleased we were able to reach a one-year extension with Patrick Mannelly," Bears general manager Phil Emery said in a statement. "He epitomizes what we're looking for in a Chicago Bear: excellence in performance and great leadership."
The only presently active player from the 1998 NFL Draft class, Mannelly is now set to play his 16th straight season in a Bears uniform. Drafted out of Duke with the Bears' sixth round pick (189th overall), he's filled the same role with the franchise for over a decade now.
While the Bears presumably will be making some significant changes in the offseason after a season of mixed results, at least they know one position is locked up for 2013.