| January 19, 2004 | « Previous Story | HOME | Next Story » | Posted at 04:00 PM |
Spielman, signed as a free-agent linebacker in March, 1996 with the Buffalo Bills after eight seasons with the Detroit Lions. Upon meeting his new free agent acquisition, team owner Ralph Wilson said "He's the most intense player we've had here in 37 years."
Spielman went on to smash the Buffalo Bills team record for tackles in a season registering 206 in his first year. Prolific tackling was something he brought as one of Ohio State's greatest Linebackers in school history- grabbing 356 in his final 2 seasons. He shares the school record with 29 tackles in a single game.
In 1997, having another dominant year, he suffered a neck injury that cut his season short after 8 games. The following year, he did the unthinkable. His wife stricken with cancer, he took the entire season off to care for her. In 1999 Spielman asked for and was granted a trade to the fledgling expansion Cleveland Browns and a return to his home town. Unfortunately, another neck injury in a Browns preseason contest forced the tough as nails linebacker to retire.
Chris Spielman Official Site- CNN/SI Article- Career Stats
