The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed veteran long-snapper Joe Zelenka to a contract extension. Length and terms of the contract are undisclosed. The 11th-year veteran is entering his ninth season with the Jaguars and has played in a team-record 128 consecutive games dating back to the start of the 2001 season.
Zelenka, 32, has handled the long-snapping duties for the Jaguars since originally signing with the team on August 13, 2001. At the end of the 2008 season, the 6-3, 256-pounder was one of four active Jaguars to have played in at least 128 games for the team. The others are running back Fred Taylor (140), defensive lineman Rob Meier (138) and center Brad Meester (129). Zelenka, a Wake Forest graduate, has played in 157 career games while missing only three games during his rookie season with San Francisco.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Zelenka has been a leader in the Jacksonville community. He hosts an annual bowling tournament to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, in addition to making numerous visits to Wolfsons Children's Hospital, to military bases and to HabiJax home builds. Zelenka has also hosted the Jaguars Foundation's Straight Talk program, which seeks to reduce teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDs.
