NoteCARDS:
- Signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals as a free agent on 7/29/11 after spending the previous four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- During his first season in Arizona, appeared in all 16 games, including a career-high six starts at nose tackle.
- Appeared in 101 games (20 starts) during his first nine NFL seasons, playing with the Cardinals, Steelers, Browns and Broncos. Has also appeared in seven postseason games during his career, including Super Bowls XLIII and XLV with the Steelers.
- Was the first football player in Clemson history to graduate with two years of eligibility remaining, earning his degree in Sociology in August of 2001.
Pro Career:
Originally a fourth-round draft pick (114th overall) of the Denver Broncos in 2003, was released by the Broncos on 9/5/04. Signed to the Browns practice squad on 10/5/04 and was elevated to the active roster on 11/26/04. Signed with the Steelers on 4/17/07 as a free agent and re-signed with the team on 3/27/08. Released by Pittsburgh on 10/3/09 before re-signing on 10/5/09. Re-signed with the Steelers as a free agent on 4/8/10 before signing with the Cardinals as a free agent on 7/29/11.
2011: Played in all 16 games with a career-high six starts at nose tackle during his first season in Arizona … recorded 14 tackles and one sack … in first game with the Cardinals, played on defense and special teams and had one tackle vs. Car (9/11) … made first start with the Cardinals @ Was (9/18) … had one tackle @ Sea (9/25) … recorded one solo tackle vs. NYG (10/2) … recorded one tackle vs. StL (11/6) … with Dan Williams on injured reserve, started at NT @ StL (11/27) … made his second consecutive start at NT and had two tackles and one QB hit vs. Dal (12/4) … collected his first sack as a Cardinal vs. SF (12/11), helping Arizona record five sacks for the second straight game; also posted a season-high four tackles, including one for loss … recorded one unassisted tackle vs. Cle (12/18) … played in his 100th career game and registered two tackles @ Cin (12/24) … started at NT in the season finale vs. Sea (1/1/12).
2010: Played in all 16 regular season and three postseason games for the Steelers, including Super Bowl XLV … made five starts at DE during the regular season … totaled 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two passes defensed … posted a sack @ TB (9/26) … recorded two tackles and a half-sack vs. Cle (10/17) … moved into the starting lineup at DE @ Mia (10/24) … made a second consecutive start @ NO (10/31) … also started vs. NE (11/14), vs. Oak (11/21) and @ Buf (11/28) … had three tackles vs. NE (11/14) … posted a season-high five tackles @ Buf (11/28) … played but did not record any stats in three postseason games.
2009: Played in eight games with five starts at DE for Pittsburgh and totaled 18 tackles and one pass defensed … replaced injured Travis Kirschke in the starting lineup at DE @ Den (11/9) and collected one tackle … had two tackles while starting at DE vs. Cin (11/15) … made third consecutive start and had two tackles and a pass defensed @ KC (11/22) … had three tackles vs. Bal (12/27) … started and recorded a season-high six tackles @ Mia (1/3/10).
2008: Played in 15 regular season games and all three postseason games in his second season with the Steelers, including Super Bowl XLIII … totaled 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed on the season … recorded three tackles, including a half-sack, in season opener vs. Hou (9/7) … contributed to a defense that held Eagles to just 260 total yards and 65 rushing yards @ Phi (9/21) … inactive with a groin injury @ Jax (10/5), ending a streak of 31 consecutive games played … returned to action @ Cin (10/19) and helped hold Bengals to just 212 total yards … had one tackle and a sack @ Was (11/3) … part of defense that limited Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson to just 57 yards vs. SD (11/16) … played as a reserve DE in each game the remainder of the season … had one tackle in AFC Championship Game victory vs. Bal (1/18/09) … played as a reserve DE in Super Bowl XLIII vs. Ari (2/1/09).
2007: During his first season in Pittsburgh, appeared in all 16 games (one start) and one postseason game … totaled seven tackles on the season … helped Pittsburgh hold the Browns to only 46 rushing yards @ Cle (9/9) … contributed to a defense that held 49ers RB Frank Gore to just 39 yards vs. SF (9/23) … part of a unit that allowed just 144 total yards of offense and eight first downs vs. Sea (10/7) … replaced injured DE Aaron Smith @ Den (10/21) and had one tackle … made his first start as a Steeler in place of Smith @ Cin (10/28) … helped Steelers limit Dolphins to 159 total yards and nine first downs vs. Mia (11/26) … made his postseason debut in Wild Card Game vs. Jax (1/5/08).
2006: Played in 13 games and made three starts for the Browns, finishing the season with 23 tackles … suffered right ankle injury in the season opener vs. NO (9/10) and missed the next three games … had one tackle in return to action @ Car (10/8) … had three solo tackles in helping Browns defense hold the Jets to 193 yards of total offense vs. NYJ (10/29) … made his first career start at DE @ SD (11/5) … collected season-high four tackles vs. Cin (11/26) … started final two games of the season at DE, recording three tackles vs. TB (12/24) and four tackles @ Hou (12/31).
2005: In his second season with the Browns, posted a career-high 26 tackles and two sacks while playing in all 16 games at either DE or DT … had three tackles in season opener vs. Cin (9/11) … collected two tackles, including one for loss, @ Ind (9/25) … totaled three tackles vs. Mia (11/20) … had one tackle and a pass defensed @ Min (11/27) … recorded three tackles and his first career sack @ Oak (12/18) … recorded his second sack in as many games the following week vs. Pit (12/24) … had a season-best four tackles vs. Bal (1/1/06).
2004: Made his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns, recording two tackles vs. SD (12/19) … began the season with the Denver Broncos and was allocated to NFL Europe … played with the Scottish Claymores … waived by Denver in September and signed by Cleveland to the practice squad on 10/5 … spent seven weeks on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster.
2003: Suffered an Achilles injury in training camp with the Broncos and spent the entire season on injured reserve.
College:
Played in 47 games with 35 starts while at Clemson and totaled 153 tackles, 15 sacks and 30 tackles for a loss … also had two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and six passes defensed … earned first-team All-ACC honors as a senior in ’02 when he totaled 62 tackles and ranked second on the team with seven sacks while starting at weak-side DT … started every game at strong-side DT in ’01, finishing with 37 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed … named team’s Defensive MVP as a sophomore in ’00, as he tied for the team lead with seven sacks … also won defense’s Hustle Award and Dedication Award … played in every game as a redshirt freshman in ’99 … redshirted as true freshman in ’98 … graduated with a degree in Sociology in August 2001, becoming the first player in school history to graduate with two years of eligibility remaining.
Personal:
Attended Toombs County (Lyons, GA) High School where he averaged more than 10 tackles per game as a senior … four-year letterman in football … played in the Georgia North/South All-Star Game … also was named the Class 2A Georgia Basketball Player of the Year and lettered twice in track … received the U.S. Marine Corps Excellence Award.
