Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Bills acquire outside linebacker Manny Lawson

BY SEAN DONOVAN

The Buffalo Bills made their first outside signing of the free agency period Wednesday and addressed a major need in doing so.

The Bills agreed to terms with outside linebacker Manny Lawson, according to his agents' Twitter account. The terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. (photo: © BrokenSphere / Wikimedia Commons)

Lawson spent the past two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was proficient in both 3-4 and 4-3 defensive alignments. That versatility undoubtedly made him attractive to new Buffalo defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who utilizes a hybrid scheme.

Lawson previously played for the San Francisco 49ers for six seasons after being selected 22nd overall in 2006.

He will be reunited with Bills defensive end Mario Williams, who played alongside Lawson at NC State, on a team that featured three 2006 first-round picks on it's defensive line. The other, John McCargo, was picked by the Bills at No. 26 that year but never made an impact in the league and was out of football last season.

Lawson has recorded 18 sacks and two interceptions during his seven-year career.

Follow Sean @seanldonovan
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily