Signed by Buffalo as a free agent on March 13, 2013… joined the Bengals as a free agent on August 3, 2011… entered the NFL as a first-round (22nd overall) selection of San Francisco in the 2006 NFL Draft ... Has started 81-of-96 career games and recorded 331 tackles (248 solo), 18.0 sacks, 19 pass break-ups, two interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
PRO: Signed by Buffalo as a free agent on March 13, 2013… joined the Bengals as a free agent on August 3, 2011… entered the NFL as a first-round (22nd overall) selection of San Francisco in the 2006 NFL Draft.
CAREER: Has started 81-of-96 career games and recorded 331 tackles (248 solo), 18.0 sacks, 19 pass break-ups, two interceptions, seven forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries
2012: W/ Cincinnati
- Saw action in all 16 games for the fourth consecutive season, making 10 starts and posted 39 tackles (30 solo) and 2.0 sacks
- Helped the efforts of a defense that limited opponents to 319.7 yards per game – sixth-best in the NFL
- Recorded a season-high seven tackles vs. MIA (10/7)
- Posted a strip-sack of Carson Palmer vs. OAK (11/25) and added three tackles
- Registered five tackles, including one stop for a loss at HOU (1/15/13) in the Wild Card game
2011: W/ Cincinnati
- Credited with 52 tackles and 1.5 sacks while ranking fourth on the team with seven tackles for losses in his first year with Cincinnati
- Part of a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL in fewest yards allowed (316.3) and fourth in fewest yards allowed per offensive play (5.0)
- Led the defense with a personal-best 11 tackles and a split-sack vs. PIT (11/13)
- Recorded a sack, five tackles, two quarterback pressures and two stops for losses vs. HOU (12/11)
- Added five stops in the team’s Wild Card playoff appearance at HOU (1/7/12)
2010: W/ San Francisco
- Started all 16 games for the second straight season and made 59 tackles (48 solo) with a personal-best six pass break-ups
- Brought down QB Kevin Kolb vs. PHI (10/10) for his first sack and forced fumble of the year
- Helped seal the team’s win vs. OAK (10/17) with an interception of Jason Campbell
- Sacked Denver QB Kyle Orton (10/31) and forced a fumble that was recovered by the team to set-up a touchdown and the 49ers’ 24-10 lead
- Split a sack and made a season-high seven tackles vs. ARI (1/2/11)
2009: W/ San Francisco
- Recorded career-highs in sacks (6.5) and tackles (68) while starting all 16 games… his four forced fumbles matched the team’s season-record for a linebacker
- Became the first San Francisco linebacker since 2002 to post a sack in three consecutive games
2008: W/ San Francisco
- Appeared in 14 games with 10 starts, contributing 3.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, three passes defensed and a blocked punt and field goal
- Blocked a punt in overtime in the team’s win at SEA (9/14)
- Posted a sack, pass break-up and forced fumble/recovery at DAL (11/23)
2007: W/ San Francisco
- Started each of the first two games of the season, before being placed on Injured Reserve (9/21)
- Made nine tackles in the season-opener vs. ARI (9/10)
2006: W/ San Francisco
- Made 12 starts and appeared in all 16 games of his rookie season, tallying 57 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries
- Voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Week after a 2.0 sack performance in his first home game (9/17) vs. STL
- Blocked a punt that set-up a touchdown to go along with a pass break-up leading to an interception in the team’s 34-20 win vs. OAK (10/8)
- Posted his first career interception at STL (11/26), from QB Marc Bulger
COLLEGE: Played four seasons (2002-05) at North Carolina State ... His 20.5 sacks ranked fourth in school history, and his seven blocked kicks ranked second ... Led nation as a freshman with three forced fumbles ... Had 10.5 sacks as a senior ... Partnered during his career with DE Mario Williams to form one of college football’s best-ever pass-rushing duos ... Also was a college track star as a sophomore, winning major titles in long jump and triple jump, and he posted school’s best 2003 performance in 60-meter hurdles (8.55).
PERSONAL: Hometown is Goldsboro, N.C. ... Attended Eastern Wayne High School, where he was rated by SuperPrep as a senior as No. 21 prospect in the state ... Had 11 sacks as a prep senior and also rushed for 456 yards ... Majored in industrial engineering at North Carolina State.
