With 30 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 14 of the 2010 season include Miami linebacker Cameron Wake extending his NFL-leading sack total with two more versus the Jets and Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns. In other news, wide receivers Deon Butler and Derrick Williams saw their seasons come to an end after being placed on injured reserve and punter Jeremy Kapinos makes his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Anthony Adams (1999-02), DT, Chicago Bears
New England Patriots 36, Chicago Bears 7
Adams started at nose tackle for the Bears, making four solo tackles, including one sack for a loss of eight yards.
Navorro Bowman (2007-09), LB, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers 40, Seattle Seahawks 21
Bowman had one special teams tackle in the 49ers’ win over the Seahawks.
Levi Brown (2003-06), OT, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals 43, Denver Broncos 13
Brown started at left tackle, as the Arizona offense exploded for 357 yards, including 211 on the ground, and a season-high 43 points.
Deon Butler (2005-08), WR, Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers 40, Seattle Seahawks 21
Butler was in the Seahawks’ starting line-up, catching five passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. However, the second NFL season for Penn State’s all-time leading receiver came to an unfortunate end on his two-yard scoring play late in the fourth quarter, as he broke his right leg. He was placed on injured reserve after having surgery to place a rod in his leg. Butler was tied for first on the team in receiving touchdowns (4) and was ranked second on the team in receptions (36) and third in receiving yards (385).
Kerry Collins (1992-94), QB, Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts 30, Tennessee Titans 28
Collins, the longest active NFL tenured Nittany Lion in his 16th professional season, played brilliantly in the Titans’ Thursday night showdown with the Colts, completing 28-of-39 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions (113.6 QB rating).
Dan Connor (2004-07), LB, Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons 31, Carolina Panthers 10
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 17, Washington Redskins 16
Gilmore had two receptions for 27 yards in Tampa’s win over Washington.
Robbie Gould (2001-04), K, Chicago Bears
New England Patriots 36, Chicago Bears 7
Gould did not attempt a field goal in the Bears’ home loss to New England.
Tamba Hali (2002-05), DE, Kansas City Chiefs
San Diego Chargers 31, Kansas City Chiefs 0
Hali recorded six tackles (5 solos), one sack (-5 yards), and a forced fumble versus the Chargers.
Josh Hull (2006-09), LB, St. Louis Rams
New Orleans Saints 31, St. Louis Rams 13
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
Detroit Lions 7, Green Bay Packers 3
Johnson caught two passes for 21 yards.
Ed Johnson (2003-04, 2006), DT, Carolina Panthers
Atlanta Falcons 31, Carolina Panthers 10
Johnson was inactive for Carolina’s game with Atlanta.
Jeremy Kapinos (2003-2006), P, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Cincinnati Bengals 7
In his debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kapinos punted five times for 176 yards, a 35.2 average, with a long of 53 yards. He placed three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line.
Jimmy Kennedy (1999-02), DT, Minnesota Vikings
New York Giants 21, Minnesota Vikings 3
Kennedy played against the Giants but did not have a tackle.
Justin King (2005-07), CB, St. Louis Rams
New Orleans Saints 31, St. Louis Rams 13
King was inactive in the Rams’ road loss to the Saints.
Sean Lee (2005-07, 2009), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles 30, Dallas Cowboys 27
Playing on defense as a reserve linebacker, Lee had four tackles, including three solos, against the Eagles.
Aaron Maybin (2007-08), LB, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 13, Cleveland Browns 6
Maybin saw time at linebacker but did not record a tackle.
Kareem McKenzie (1997-00), OT, New York Giants
New York Giants 21, Minnesota Vikings 3
McKenzie started at his regular right tackle spot for the Giants, paving the way for 213 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns while protecting QB Eli Manning as he threw for 187 yards and one score.
Jordan Norwood (2005-08), WR, Cleveland Browns
Buffalo Bills 13, Cleveland Browns 6
After being added to the Browns’ active roster on Nov. 30, Norwood was on the inactive list for the second consecutive week.
Jared Odrick (2006-09), DT, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 10, New York Jets 6
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 36, Chicago Bears 7
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 13, Cleveland Browns 6
Posluszny made nine tackles, including tying for the team high with six solos, in Buffalo’s victory over Cleveland.
Andrew Quarless (2006-09), TE, Green Bay Packers
Detroit Lions 7, Green Bay Packers 3
Quarless started at tight end for Green Bay, leading the team in receptions (5) and yards (62).
Michael Robinson (2002-05), RB, Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers 40, Seattle Seahawks 21
Robinson started at fullback for the second consecutive game, leading Seattle in rushing with 33 yards on three carries. He also registered one tackle on special teams.
Bryan Scott (1999-02), S, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills 13, Cleveland Browns 6
Scott had one tackle on defense and recovered a key fumble early in the fourth quarter in the Bills’ win over the Browns. He also recorded two tackles on special teams.
Tim Shaw (2002, 2004-06), LB, Tennessee Titans
Indianapolis Colts 30, Tennessee Titans 28
Shaw made one tackle on defense and one on special teams in the Titans’ narrow Thursday night loss to the Colts.
A.Q. Shipley (2005-08), C, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles 30, Dallas Cowboys 27
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
Miami Dolphins 10, New York Jets 6
Shuler was one of eight Dolphins on the inactive list for their road game with the New York Jets.
Cameron Wake (2000, 2002-04), LB, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins 10, New York Jets 6
Wake continues to pile up sacks at a torrid pace, recording two for a loss of 13 yards to go along with five solo tackles in Miami’s victory over the Jets. With 14 for the season, Wake is the NFL leader in sacks.
Derrick Williams (2005-08), WR, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions 7, Green Bay Packers 3
Williams was placed on season-ending injured reserve on December 10 with an ankle injury.