With 29 Nittany Lions on National Football League rosters, Penn State is well represented in the professional ranks. Each week throughout the year, www.GoPSUsports.com, will provide updates on the exploits of these former Nittany Lion greats. Highlights from week 11 of the 2010 season include Cowboys’ rookie Sean Lee making an impact while seeing his most extensive action of the season and Paul Posluszny leading the Buffalo defense in a Bills come-from-behind win.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 16, Miami Dolphins 0
Adams started at nose tackle for the Bears but did not record a tackle.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, San Francisco 49ers 0
Bowman saw action but did not record a tackle.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs 31, Arizona Cardinals 13
Brown started at left tackle, helping the Cardinals’ offense gain 382 total yards, however, it could only muster 13 points in a loss at Kansas City.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
New Orleans Saints 34, Seattle Seahawks 19
Butler caught two passes for 19 yards in Seattle’s road loss to New Orleans.
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins 19, Tennessee Titans 16
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion in his 16th professional season, was sidelined for the Washington game with a calf injury. Upon his return to the line-up in a week or two, Collins will likely assume the starting quarterback role for Tennessee, as Vince Young was placed on injured reserve this week with a thumb injury.
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Baltimore Ravens 37, Carolina Panthers 13
Connor suffered a season-ending hip injury in the first half of Carolina’s week nine loss to New Orleans. He was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 9. Connor had started all eight games in 2010, his first career starts in his third NFL season, and ranked third on the team with 59 tackles.
John Gilmore (1999-01), TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, San Francisco 49ers 0
Gilmore played but did not have a reception in the Buccaneers’ week 11 win over the 49ers.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears 16, Miami Dolphins 0
Gould was perfect on the day, going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, making kicks of 24, 46, and 50 yards, and 1-for-1 on PATs.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs 31, Arizona Cardinals 13
Hali had one tackle in the Chiefs’ home win over the Cardinals.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
Atlanta Falcons 34, St. Louis Rams 17
Hull tore his anterior cruciate ligament during practice on Sept. 15. He was placed on injured reserve and will miss the rest of his rookie season.
Bryant Johnson (1999-02), WR, Detroit Lions
Dallas Cowboys 35, Detroit Lions 19
Johnson was on the inactive list for Detroit’s game with Dallas.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
Baltimore Ravens 37, Carolina Panthers 13
Johnson was inactive for Carolina’s game against Baltimore.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
Green Bay Packers 31, Minnesota Vikings 3
Kennedy had three tackles, including two solos and one for a loss, in Minnesota’s divisional loss to rival Green Bay.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
Atlanta Falcons 34, St. Louis Rams 17
King totaled four tackles (three solos) and one pass defensed in the Rams’ loss to Atlanta.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys 35, Detroit Lions 19
Lee saw increased playing time on defense, making four tackles, including one for a loss. He also forced a fumble of Lions’ fullback Jerome Felton, which eventually led to a Dallas touchdown and a 21-12 Cowboys’ lead.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), DE, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 49, Cincinnati Bengals 31
Maybin was inactive for Buffalo’s game with Cincinnati.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles 27, New York Giants 17
McKenzie started in his usual right tackle spot, but the Giants’ offense struggled versus the Eagles, amassing just 208 total yards.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Jacksonville Jaguars 24, Cleveland Browns 20
Norwood is a member of the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Chicago Bears 16, Miami Dolphins 0
Odrick was placed on injured reserve on Oct. 22 as a result of a left foot injury he suffered at the end of practice two days earlier. It was unrelated to the right leg injury that had kept the 2010 first-round pick out of the lineup since week one.
Rich Ohrnberger (2006-08), OG, New England Patriots
New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 28
Ohrnberger, listed on the depth chart as a back-up at right guard, was inactive for the game against the Steelers.
Paul Posluszny (2003-06), LB, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 49, Cincinnati Bengals 31
Posluszny recorded a game-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss, and had one pass defensed in helping the Bills secure their second victory of the season.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers 31, Minnesota Vikings 3
Quarless caught one pass for 14 yards in the Packers’ rout of the Vikings in Minneapolis.
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
New Orleans Saints 34, Seattle Seahawks 19
Robinson was on the Seahawks’ inactive list for the fourth consecutive game.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 49, Cincinnati Bengals 31
Scott came off the bench to contribute three solos and one sack, dropping Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer for an 11-yard loss. He also assisted on a special teams tackle.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Washington Redskins 19, Tennessee Titans 16
Shaw made two tackles on special teams.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 27, New York Giants 17
Shipley joined the Eagles in the 2010 offseason and spent the entire training camp and preseason with the team before signing to the practice squad.
Mickey Shuler (2007-09), TE, Miami Dolphins
Chicago Bears 16, Miami Dolphins 0
Shuler played but did not have a catch in the loss to the Bears.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Chicago Bears 16, Miami Dolphins 0
Wake registered six solo tackles, including three for a loss, and had one sack, giving him a team-high 9.5 for the season.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
Dallas Cowboys 35, Detroit Lions 19
Williams played but did not have a reception.
