Jonathan Fanene is an American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 defensive end

Defensive end

Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...

 for the Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...

 of the National Football League

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...

. He was originally drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft

2005 NFL Draft

The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...

. He played college football

College football

College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...

 at College of the Canyons

College of the Canyons

College of the Canyons is a public two-year community college that operates within the Santa Clarita Community College District. The college is located on of rolling, tree-dotted hills in the incorporated city of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County, California. The college’s address is:...

 and Utah

Utah Utes football

The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...

.

College career

While attending the University of Utah, the Utes were able to win the 2005 Fiesta Bowl by defeating the University of Pittsburgh 35-7. At Utah, his jersey was number 91. He was a Sociology

Sociology

Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...

 major.

Professional career

At the NFL Combine Jonathan had impressive scores. In the 40, Jonathan posted a 4.96. He also completed a 410-pound bench press.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals drafted Jonathan with the 233rd pick in the 7th Round. Jonathan was back living in American Samoa during the draft. Once Jonathan arrived in Cincinnati, he received number 68. Jonathan is teammates with Domata Peko

Domata Peko

Peko was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.The Bengals signed Peko to a five-year extension worth $29.3 million.-External links:*...

, another Samoan-born player. Jonathan was quoted from the Cincinnati Post about the new members;

"To be honest, it does make me more comfortable," said Fanene. "I'm used to being around different races but seeing the same nationality around you and having your friends from back home, it makes me happy to work with them."

(the quote was in reference to Domata Peko

Domata Peko

Peko was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.The Bengals signed Peko to a five-year extension worth $29.3 million.-External links:*...

 and Matt Toeaina

Matt Toeaina

Matt Toeaina is an American football defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He is from Pago Pago, American Samoa and played college football at Oregon.-Cincinnati Bengals:Toeaina was...

, both Samoan-born players on the Bengals at the time; however, Matt Toeaina was cut during the 2007 season.)

Unfortunately, Jonathan has been slowed by injuries including a hamstring

Hamstring

In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...

 injury in the off-season prior to the 2006 campaign. Jonathan was able to play in four of the final five games of the 2006 season. Jonathan looks to make an impact in the 2007 season. Reportedly, the Baltimore Ravens have expressed interest in Jonathan. Whether the Bengals trade him or not the decision will made in the upcoming off-season. Jonathan has come on strong this year and was instrumental in Cincinnati's victory over Baltimore. In that game he forced a fumble from quarterback

Quarterback

Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...

 Steve McNair

Steve McNair

Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....

. On February 22, 2008, the Bengals and Fanene reached an agreement on a three year extension.

Family

Fanene is member of a family with 12 children, he is married to his wife Lorelei. Fanene resides in Dayton, Kentucky which is a small town right across the river from Cincinnati. Cinicinnati Bengals bio They have a son, Truman. Fanene is of Samoan and Tongan descent.

External links

• Cincinnati Bengals bio