Manno Waiting for Next NFL Opportunity

Waiting as his representatives work on landing him back in the NFL, Chris Manno has taken to the gym and field with even more of a furious work ethic since the Kansas City Chiefs released him in late August.

The Chiefs, now 0-2 on the 2011 season, were loaded at the receiver position, which trickled down to their special teams and left Manno in a tough position to make the 53-man roster out of training camp.

Physically, however, Manno looked strong in the two pre-season games in which he saw time.

“It was one of the best months I’ve ever had,” said Manno, 26, from Holbrook, N.Y. “The best approach was to go in there, and do more listening then talking; to be one of first guys out and last guys on the field; with my notebook out in every meeting. I tried to soak up everything I could learn. It’s my best chance to succeed at that level.”

With players like Dwayne Bowe, Thomas Jones and Matt Cassel a few feet away at all times, Manno was surrounded by consummate professionals looking to help teammates.

“They’re down to Earth,” he said, “and once they see you can play a little bit they were very helpful. They critique, not criticize. They really help with constructive talks. It was excellent.”

And just watching them handle their daily business was more conviction that Manno was doing the right thing by bringing his 24/7 work ethic to Kansas City.

Manno has tried to sit and watch football on Sunday, but it’s hard knowing he wants to be on that field with every once of passion in his body.

“I had my trainer on the phone when I touched down in New York the morning after I was cut,” he said.

To the gym he went. His two-a-day or three-a-day workouts haven’t skipped a beat. He has also made it a point to catch passes and run some special teams plays with the varsity football program at Sachem High School North, his alma mater and one of the top teams in Suffolk County.

“The opportunity is going to present itself,” he said. “There are guys playing their way on and off the field. I am waiting to pounce on that opportunity. I have to be ready and prepared mentally and physically.”

What’s next?

Manno worked out with Cam Newton at the IMG Football Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He built a repore with the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback and is open to catching passes from him again.

The same goes for Christian Ponder, who is with the Minnesota Vikings.

Of course you can never count out the New York Jets, who have signed more former Hofstra University players, including the most notable in Wayne Chrebet, than anyone else. Manno worked with former longtime Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde at IMG as well.

Since Raheem Morris, another former Hofstra coach and player, is coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that has to be an option as well. Morris has been known to give Hofstra players an opportunity in the past.

Others close to the situation said the Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers had originally expressed interest in Manno prior to him signing with the Chiefs.

No matter the team or city, he’ll be ready when the phone rings.

“He has maximized every opportunity given to him,” said Trevor Moawad, the Director of Performance at IMG. “He’s truly got the habits of a player who will be successful in the NFL or anything he does. Everyone’s optimistic for him that he’ll maximize every opportunity he gets.”