Manny Lawson Manny Lawson ( born on July 3 , 1984 ) is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League . He was drafted in the first round ( 22nd overall ) of the 2006 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers . He played college football at North Carolina State . Lawson has also played for the Cincinnati Bengals . Early years . His father , Donald P . Lawson , was in the Air Force and stationed at Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha , Nebraska when Manny was born . Lawson excelled in football as well as basketball in his middle school years . He also attended Spring Creek Elementary School in Seven Springs , North Carolina . Lawson attended Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro , North Carolina . Super Prep rated Lawson as one of the Top 25 players ( # 21 ) in the state of North Carolina during his senior year . He recorded 54 tackles and 12 sacks on defense and also rushed for 456 yards on offense during his final season , picking up Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors . He competed in track in four events : long jump , triple jump , 55 - meter dash , and the 55 - meter hurdles . College career . In 2002 , he played in every game as a reserve outside linebacker . He recorded 35 tackles ( 20 solos ) with a stop for a 5 - yard loss on 144 plays . He caused a fumble and deflected four passes . He led the nation with three blocked punts , and was the co - winner of the Pack ' s Most Valuable Specialist Award . In 2003 , he played in every game as an outside linebacker , starting against Texas Tech and Georgia Tech on the strong - side . After the regular season , he shifted to right defensive end and started there against Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl . He recorded 53 tackles ( 33 solos ) with three sacks , seven stops for losses of 29 yards and three pressures . He caused two fumbles and recovered another . He blocked two punts and had five pass deflections . In 2004 , he made Second - team All - ACC performer after ranking sixth in the conference with seven sacks for 55 yards . He ranked third on the team with a dozen stops for losses of 74 yards and second with sixteen quarterback pressures . He registered 50 tackles ( 39 solos ) with a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble . He deflected four passes and blocked a punt in his first season as a starter , lining up at right defensive end in every game . He was a co - recipient of the 2004 Cary Brewbaker Award , given to the most valuable defensive lineman . He was named the strength index champion for the Wolfpack linemen . In 2005 , Lawson made All - Atlantic Coast Conference first - team selection by The NFL Draft Report . He started every game , except against Wake Forest , at right defensive end . He participated in 617 plays during the regular season . He recorded a career - high 58 tackle s ( 33 solos ) , adding three solo hits on special teams . He registered 21 pressures with four pass deflections and a blocked kick . He ranked second in the conference and twelfth in the nation with 10 . 5 sack s for minus 83 yards . He ranked fourth in the conference , third on the team and 14th in the nation with 19 . 5 stops for losses of 112 yards Professional career . San Francisco 49ers . The San Francisco 49ers selected Lawson in the 2006 NFL Draft with the intention that he could bring pressure off the edges as the 49ers defense transitioned from a 4 - 3 defense to a 3 - 4 . Although Lawson played defensive end in college , the 49ers felt that he had the athletic ability to change position to linebacker . Lawson impressed opposing teams with his athleticism and speed on the field . He showed that he could play linebacker at the next level consistently , making plays from sideline to sideline . He finished the year with 2 . 5 sacks , one interception , one blocked punt , and 2 fumble recoveries . Lawson was voted Week 2 Rookie of the Week for his performance against the St . Louis Rams by voters on the NFL website . In the game , he recorded three tackles , two sacks , and two quarterback pressures . In 2007 he started off the season well . He accrued 11 tackles in the first two contests , both tight victories , over Arizona and St . Louis . He had several good QB pressures but mainly was noted for his excellent coverage play , keeping both teams ' tight ends fairly non - existent in the offense and letting the rest of the defense focus on stopping those teams ' excellent wide receiver duos . Lawson tore his ACL during a practice preparing for a week 3 games against Pittsburgh , ending his season . Cincinnati Bengals . On August 2 , 2011 , Lawson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals . Buffalo Bills . On March 13 , 2013 , Lawson signed with the Buffalo Bills for 4 years worth up to $ 12 million dollars .