Re: Falcons Sign 2: Fonoti & Hamilton The Falcons continued to add to their roster through free agency on Wednesday as the club signed unrestricted free agent G Toniu Fonoti and free agent WR Derrick Hamilton.Fonoti (6-4, 350 pounds) is regarded as a powerful offensive lineman who displays considerable athleticism for his size. A second round selection (39th overall) by San Diego in the 2002 NFL Draft out of Nebraska, he started 30 of 31 games for the Chargers over the 2002 and 2004 seasons while he missed 2003 with a foot injury. While with the Chargers, he was an All-Rookie selection by Football Digest in 2002 and a first team All-Pro by Sports Illustrated in 2004.He is the second player added by the Falcons in free agency who was selected to USA Today's All-Joe team - which recognizes overlooked and hard-working players - during their career. Fonoti was selected in 2004 while recently-signed FB Ovie Mughelli was named to the squad in 2006."I'm excited to join the Falcons as this is a new beginning for me," Fonoti said. "I will bring my strength and attitude to the team as I have during my career."Fonoti was traded to Minnesota in October 2005 after he started the first two games of the season with San Diego and started his only game with the Vikings before a groin injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Last season, he signed with Miami in November and played in six games for the Dolphins after his release by Tampa Bay at the end of training camp. He has played in 40 career games with 33 starts.He was a consensus All-America and a unanimous All-Big 12 selection with the Cornhuskers in his senior year. He was also the third player in Nebraska history to start on the offensive line as a true freshman.A native of American Samoa, Fonoti graduated from Kahuku (Hauula, Hawaii) High School, where he was an All-State selection as a senior and also earned letters in basketball and track. This past offseason, he helped host a football camp in Hawaii that was designed to teach football fundamentals and prepare students for college.Hamilton (6-4, 207 pounds) enters his third NFL season after being selected in the third round (77th overall) by San Francisco in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Clemson. He has seen action in two games throughout his career. He spent the 2005 season on the Physically Unable to Perform List with a knee injury suffered during mini-camps."It's a chance for me as there are a lot of young receivers here and I'm trying to get my career jump-started," Hamilton said. "Hopefully, I can bring something as a taller receiver and help the team as much as I can."A speedy receiver with reliable hands, Hamilton played in 38 games with 27 starts in college with the Tigers. He posted 2,312 yards on 167 receptions and 16 touchdowns at Clemson. A native of Dillon, S.C., he caught 36 passes for 745 yards and nine TDs as a senior at Dillon High School.
