The chore is one of the most esoteric in the league, but a good long-snapper can have a lengthy NFL career, and James Dearth of the New York Jets may be a prime example of the brand of seniority a player can gain at the position.

Jets officials announced Wednesday that they have signed Dearth, who joined the team last year, to a multi-year contract but offered no details of the deal. But ESPN.com has learned that the accord is one of the longest on file in the league, an eight-year contract that runs through the 2009 season, and is worth $5.24 million.

In fact, Dearth may provide new connotation to the "long" in long-snapper.

There are, NFL Players Association records indicate, only a handful of players currently under contract for such a term. That is not to say Dearth will fulfill the entire deal, which was stretched out in part to prorate the signing bonus, but the length of the contract alone makes it unusual.

New York coaches regard Dearth, a tight end by trade, as one of the league's premier young long-snappers and that is obvious by the commitment the team made to him.

Dearth, 26, received a signing bonus of $300,000. His base salaries are scheduled to be $300,000 (for 2002), $375,000 (2003), $455,000 (2004), $540,000 (2005), $545,000 (2006), $545,000 (2007), $670,000 (2008) and $670,000 (2009).

There are roster bonuses of $50,000 for 2008 and $100,000 for 2009 and miscellaneous other bonuses of $240,000 for 2006 and $200,000 each for 2007-2009.

A former Tarleton (N.J.) State standout, Dearth entered the league with Cleveland as a sixth-round choice in the 1999 draft. He appeared in two games with the Browns but was released the following year and spent most of the 2000 campaign on the Tennessee Titans practice squad before joining the Jets.

Dearth appeared in all 16 games for the Jets in 2001 and caught three passes for 10 yards and one touchdown in addition to his long-snapping duties.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.