NFL Free Agency: Chicago Bears want to re-sign Patrick Mannelly

Dec. 23, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Chicago Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Bears defeated the Cardinals 28-13. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

When the Chicago Bears drafted center/long-snapper Patrick Mannelly in 1998, I was getting ready for my first year of football. Chicago drafted Mannelly in the sixth round of the draft and has been a key piece of this organization’s special teams ever since.

Mannelly is scheduled to undergo minor hip surgery and could end up contemplating retirement. The man has been in the league for awhile and will turn 39 years old on April 18th. But according to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears want to re-sign the veteran long-snapper if he wishes to continue his playing career.

Patrick is/was the longest tenured Chicago Bear on the roster. He broke Steve “Mongo” McMichael’s record for most games started as a Chicago Bear with 192 starts back in 2010. Right now he’s currently at 245 games played with this franchise.

Now the man hasn’t won any awards and was never named to a Pro Bowl, but he’s definitely an underrated special teams player. As a Chicago Bears fan, I really do hope he does return for at least one more year.

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