The New York Jets have confirmed that they have reached an agreement in principle with two-time Pro Bowl center Nick Mangold on a new contract.

Mangold was purposely held out of today's practice. "I didn't want to step into a hole", head coach Rex Ryan said, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.

Mangold's extension is reportedly worth $55 million over seven seasons, making him the highest-paid center in NFL history. Contractual guarantees are believed to be worth between $20 and $22 million.

Chosen with the 29th overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, Mangold (6-4, 305) has started all 64 of his regular season games in the NFL, and all four of the post-season games the Jets have played the last four seasons.