was a four-year SEC Academic Honor Roll honoree. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Florida in December 2000, and finished his college football career as a graduate student working toward a master's degree in education counseling with a special emphasis on mental health. National Football League Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals selected Manuel in the sixth round (181st pick overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft, and he played for the Bengals for two seasons in and . Manuel made his NFL debut against the Cleveland Browns on September 15, 2002, and started for the first time against the Indianapolis Colts and had two tackles. During the 2003 season, Manuel totaled eight tackles (six solo) in thirteen games with one start for the Bengals, and he also added five tackles on special teams. Manuel was waived by Cincinnati on September 5, 2004. Seattle Seahawks Manuel was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks on September 6, 2004. In his first season with Seattle in , he played in fifteen games, finishing with ten tackles (seven solo) on defense and had nine stops on special teams. In , Manuel was part of the Seahawks team that finished 13–3. In the 2005 NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers, he returned an interception thirty-two yards to set up a touchdown. The Seahawks reached Super Bowl XL, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 21–10. Manuel started the Super Bowl at free safety, but injured his hip in the second quarter, and was replaced by Etric Pruitt. Green Bay Packers After Seattle's appearance in the Super Bowl, he was signed by the Green Bay Packers as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2006. During his only season with the Packers in , Manuel started all sixteen games, totaling a career-high 103 tackles to rank fourth on the team. Memorably, he intercepted a pass deflected by Ahmad Carroll and returned it twenty-nine yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions on September 24. Carolina Panthers The Green Bay Packers released Manuel on September 1, 2007 during the final preseason roster cuts, and he was signed by the Carolina Panthers on September 3. He played for the Panthers for a single season during , playing in sixteen games and starting in two of them. Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos signed Manuel as an unrestricted free agent on March 8, 2008,