The Atlanta Falcons announced Friday evening they have signed free agent guard Vince Manuwai. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Manuwai, 6-2, 333 pounds, was originally selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. The eight-year veteran started 105 of the 111 games he played in between 2003 and 2010. He was released on July 29, 2011. As a rookie, Manuwai helped anchor an offensive line that set a franchise record for fewest sacks allowed in a season with 28. In 2006, he blocked for both Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew as the Jaguars set a franchise record with 2,541 total rushing yards.
During his four seasons (2007 to 2010) under current Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, Manuwai was a crucial cog in one of the NFL's most potent offensive attacks: Jacksonville averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 134.2 yards per game on the ground in that time span.
In 2007, the team posted 5,719 yards of total offense and 357.4 yards per game - both marks ranking second overall in team history. Despite missing the first seven games of the 2010 season, Manuwai returned to the lineup and helped Jones-Drew post six consecutive 100-yard games to finish the season with 1,324 yards after only recording one game with over 100 yards in the first seven games that year.
