NFL
Houston Texans center and versatile guard Greg Mancz signed a contract extension on Thursday afternoon. The announcement on Friday morning came just hours ahead of cut down Friday. Normally a story like this, especially about a center, garners little notice but this one is different. This is a story of perseverance and hard work.
Greg Mancz was an undrafted free agent out the University of Toledo in 2015. Out of Cincinnati’s Anderson High School, Mancz has been impressive everywhere he has gone. At Anderson, he played right tackle his junior season and left tackle his senior season. Not an easy feat for anyone who knows football.
A four-year starter at Toledo, Mancz played everywhere along the offensive line. In 2014, he earned the Vern Smith Leadership Award given the best MAC player.
Signed through 2020, Mancz has played 23 of 29 games for Houston. Most notably, he was asked to move to center following a season-ending injury to heralded Nick Martin. It’s almost unheard of for an undrafted rookie to play all 16 games at center.
He also played the two postseason games making him the only Texan to play every game. Last season, he played in ten games with five starts at guard and two at center. The contract extension means no more worries about cut down days. Well at least for 2018 that is.
