Bears Sign Veteran CFL Long Snapper Chad Rempel

Sep 22, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Bears long snapper Patrick Mannelly (65) reacts on the field before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The 31-year old could provide an insurance policy for Mr. Chicago Bear, Patrick Mannelly.  Mannelly has played more games in the Navy and Orange than any other player in team history, spanning all the way back to the Dave Wannstedt days.  He’s currently a free agent, but also still rehabilitating from offseason hip surgery.

By everything Mannelly has said this offseason, he expects to come back for his 17th season with the Bears but until he can suit up and start practicing, you never know how the soon-to-be 39 year old body will respond.  I don’t think that Rempel will take Mannelly’s job, but with offseason programs set to start in a couple of weeks, the Bears just need to have someone to work in their kicking game and might as well have someone on standby just in case.