Mannelly out for season - Bears sign Massey
Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 4:59 pm
While the Chicago Bears contemplate their immediate future without Jay Cutler, they also have to deal with the loss of 14-year veteran long snapper Pat Mannelly.
Mannelly, who holds a franchise record for having appeared in 215 games, will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in the first quarter of Sunday’s victory over the San Diego Chargers at Soldier Field.
Mannelly will undergo reconstructive surgery and could be ready for the start of next season. Fullback Tyler Clutts filled in for Mannelly during the game, but the team is expected to seek a specialist to replace him.
There are two experienced long snappers on the street -- Matt Katula and Chris Massey. Katula, a Wisconsin product, has 88 games experience, mostly with the Baltimore Ravens. He snapped for 10 games for the New England Patriots last season and had one poor snap in the preseason opener before he was replaced. Massey played in 135 games for the Rams and was good on 1,050 of 1,051 snaps, according to Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was cut loose in August, in part because he was scheduled to earn $1.375 million this season.
Look for the Bears to hold a tryout Tuesday or Wednesday.
