300-pound Manumaleuna offers skill-set most NFL teams never see

Hybrid fullback-tight end giving Bears best of both worlds

December 09, 2010|By Dan Pompei | On the NFL

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  Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune

It is Brandon Manumaleuna's ability to defy characterization that makes him unusual, gives him value and provides the Bears offense with an element of unpredictability.

We call him a tight end, but he is so much more.

He is a player who won the NFL's punt, pass and kick competition at 11, went to college as a defensive lineman and now plays about 65 percent of his snaps at fullback.

But he's really a glorified offensive lineman.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-12-09/sports/ct-spt-1210-pompei-bears-chicago--20101209_1_brandon-manumaleuna-bears-mike-martz