The Wolfpacker Special Edition

032013 - Wolfpacker Express

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■pack pros Manny Lawson Joins Former Teammate Mario Williams In Buffalo B By Ryan Tice ack in 2005, the final year that NC State boasted Mario Williams and Manny Lawson as bookends on the defensive line, the Wolfpack finished fifth nationally with 38 sacks in 11 games. The Buffalo Bills are hoping that the two former Pack stars can combine once again to produce similar results after they inked Lawson to a four-year contract March 13. "I can tell you there will be a lot of arguing between him and I, but it's not bad arguing," Lawson told Buffalo Bills.com. "There's going to be a lot of bantering, of who is going to get to some place or who is going to do something first, so it's going to be a lot of competition just for the defense in general." The duo combined for 39.5 sacks during their final two seasons together in Raleigh under head coach Chuck Amato, and Buffalo inked Lawson exactly one year and a day after they gave his college teammate the biggest free agent deal in team history. "We competed with each other [in college] and we always wanted the best out of each other because we knew we would get the best in return," Lawson said. "We had fun together in college. We competed in college and jawed back and forth and it's good to know that's still there. "I'm just excited to be here. It's going to be great to play with him again." The versatile Lawson spent the past two years with the Cincinnati Bengals after playing five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, who originally selected him No. 22 overall in the same draft in which Williams was taken No. 1 overall by the Houston Texans. Ironically, the Bills picked Pack defensive tackle John McCargo in the first round of that 2006 NFL JUMP TO CONTENTS chance to get back into a 3-4 alignment, which the Bills will utilize under new head coach Doug Marrone and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. While lining up on the outside of the 49ers' 3-4, Lawson tallied 240 tackles, 14.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 64 games. He had his best year in 2009, when he started every game and recorded 68 tackles, 6.5 sacks and three forced fumbles — all marks that stand as career highs. The Bills needed linebackers in the worst way with their switch from last year's 4-3 alignment, and Lawson is happy to fill that void. "Being that I was sought after and I was really one of the choices they wanted to go to, that spoke volumes of what I meant to them," he said at his introductory press conference. "Therefore, that as a person just really warms the heart. If somebody comes at you and tells you, 'We want you. This is here. We need you here.' Just to hear those words [was] indescribable. "And as far as where I see myself fitting in, I see myself fitting in where I always see myself fitting in — making plays. I have played in several different types of defensive schemes, I have played in several special teams schemes, so whatever and wherever they need to put me at is where I will be. "I look at myself as I am coming here to change things." Lawson, who was drafted by San Francisco and played five seasons there, followed by two years in Cincinnati, has signed a four-year deal with the Bills. photo courtesy bill fox/san fransisco 49ers Draft, but he is no longer with the team. Lawson tallied 91 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in two years while playing in the Bengals' 4-3 defense as an outside linebacker. However, he noted that one of the reasons for choosing Buffalo was the Page 33 Adrian Wilson Signs With Patriots The Arizona Cardinals cut four-time All-Pro safety Adrian Wilson March 8, but the star defender wasn't looking for work long. He couldn't have asked to find a better situation, either, after inking with

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