Getting to Know… Mana Silva Trying To Work Into Rotation

Name: Mana Silva
Position: Safety
Height/Weight: 6-1, 214
Age: 23
College: Hawaii
NFL Exp: 1^st year
How Acquired: PS(Buf) for ‘11
Hometown: Kea’au, Hawaii

Fitting in: In 2011 Silva signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a rookie free agent. He was later cut by the Ravens and joined their practice squad. He was again released only to join Buffalo’s practice squad. When Barry Church injured his shoulder in December, the Cowboys signed Silva and he appeared in the final two games of the season. If he is to make the team then it will be as the fifth safety or as a core member of the special teams.

So Far: Silva’s size and athleticism do not exactly stand out, but every time it seems like he can be written off he makes a nice instinctive play. In the final minutes of the Cowboys’ preseason opener against Oakland, Silva sealed the win for the Cowboys by intercepting Terelle Pryor.

Best Asset: Silva claims that his best asset is his tendency to make plays on the ball when it is in the air. Before Monday’s game he described his abilities in a way that foreshadowed his late-game interception. “I’m always around the ball and I like to make plays,” Silva said. “I want to be out there in the center of the field and make plays.”

You Should Know: In one year in the NFL, Silva has been with three different organizations. In that time, Silva has tried to soak in all the knowledge he can from experienced players who can give him advice. He credits Gerald Sensabaugh and Ed Reed as two players who he has learned a lot from.

Talking Point: “All of our DB’s, we all feed off each other with things that we see and things that can help us and contribute to us winning games. That’s what makes a Super Bowl team, everyone helping each other.”