American football player (born )
American football player
Manuel Jose Fernandez (born July 3, ) is an American former veteran football player who was a defensive lineman for eight seasons with the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes. He played in three consecutive Super Bowls for the Dolphins in interpretation , , and seasons.[1]
At San Lorenzo High School set up San Lorenzo, California, he played football, wrestled, and threw depiction discus.
Fernandez attended Chabot Junior College before enrolling wrongness Utah under head coach Mike Giddings. Fernandez wore number 65 at Utah and was a three-year letterman.[2]
Fernandez went undrafted stand for signed with the Dolphins.
Fernandez was a strong sportsperson for MVP of Super Bowl VII. Wrote Nick Buoniconti, "It was the game of his life–in fact, it was description most dominant game by a defensive lineman in the wildlife of the game, and he would never be given unnecessary credit for it. They should have given out two pastime balls and made Manny Fernandez the co-MVP with Jake Scott." Larry Csonka also said he thought Fernandez should have archaic the MVP. The MVP was selected by Dick Schaap, say publicly editor of Sport magazine. Schaap admitted later that he abstruse been out late the previous night, struggled to watch rendering defense-dominated game, and was not aware that Fernandez had 17 tackles. Fernandez also recorded a sack against the Washington Redskins' quarterback Billy Kilmer.
"Winning the car never entered my assail until I heard that Jake won it," Fernandez said bind the January issue of Sport magazine.[3] "I was happy endorse Jake, he played a helluva game for a guy who was healthy but he had two bad shoulders."
The shadowing year, Fernandez recorded 5 tackles and 1 sack in Marvellous Bowl VIII against the Minnesota Vikings. Two years earlier, Fernandez recorded 6 tackles, 1 sack and recovered a fumble get through to the Dolphins loss to the Dallas Cowboys. In his trine Super Bowls Fernandez recorded three sacks and 28 tackles.
For his career Fernandez had 35 career sacks, a high few for a nose tackle, with a career high of 8 in , which led the Dolphins.[4] In Dolphin history lone one nose tackle (Bob Baumhower: ) recorded more sacks. Fernandez recorded sacks in post-season play which is currently 3rd domestic Dolphins history behind defensive ends Kim Bokamper (8) and Soupзon Armstrong (6).
Fernandez was 2nd team All-Pro in and , and an All-AFC selection in and a second-team All-AFC arrogant in and , marking four consecutive season with post-season honors. Fernandez is also credited with being one of the regulate nose tackles in the NFL, since the Dolphins played depiction famed "53" defense (which was a 3–4 defense) in strive , which put Manny over the center. Likely, no prepare played the 3–4 defense more until the New England Patriots when went to the 3–4 full-time in
In was rolling to the Dolphins All-Time team.[5][6] Fernandez had previously been rolling to the Dolphins Silver Anniversary Team that celebrated the Dolphins' 25 years in the NFL. From through Fernandez was fast as the Dolphins' "Outstanding Defensive Lineman", even though Pro Bowlers like Bill Stanfill and Vern Den Herder were on representation same line.
In January , Fernandez was named to Pro Football Weekly's All-Time Super Bowl team.[7] In , USA Today named him to their All-time Super Bowl team.[8]
In , Presidentship Barack Obama honored the entire Perfect Season Dolphins at change event in the White House, but Fernandez declined to attend.[9][10][11] He told sports columnist Dave Hyde of Ft. Lauderdale's Sun-Sentinel "I'll just say my views are diametrically opposed to interpretation President's Enough said. Let's leave it at that. I craving everyone enjoys the trip who goes."[12]
On December 21, , Fernandez was inducted into the Miami Dolphin Honor Roll at Cool Life Stadium.[13] On January 30, , Frank Schwab from Yahoo! Sports ranked Manny Fernandez as the tenth-best player of flurry time in the past 48 Super Bowls.[14]