Cedric Killings
Encyclopedia
Cedric Laquon Killings is former American football
defensive tackle of the National Football League
. He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers
as an undrafted
free agent
in 2000. He played college football
at Carson-Newman.
In his eight-year career, Killings played for the 49ers, Cleveland Browns
, Carolina Panthers
, Minnesota Vikings
, Washington Redskins
and the Houston Texans
. He retired following the 2007 NFL season
after suffering a fractured vertebra with the Texans.
and also earned All-Dade and All-State honors in the discus
and shot put
.
Killings was on the 53 man roster for the Vikings for 14 games in 2003, but was inactive.
Killings signed with the Redskins and was assigned to Rhein Fire in the 2004 NFL Europe enhancement allocation program on February 9, 2004. He was assigned #78 during the 2004 pre-season. He was released by the Redskins on September 5, 2004.
The Washington Redskins re-signed Killings for depth on Dec. 8, 2004, when the team placed defensive end Phillip Daniels on injured reserve. Although Killings was on the 53-man roster and was assigned #91, he was not activated for any of the remaining four games.
Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 2, 2005 and resigned by Redskins on March 8, 2005.
In 2005, Killings played in ten regular season games with the Washington Redskins, and started in one. In addition, he played in two playoff games.
Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 11, 2006 and resigned by the Redskins on March 16, 2006 He was released by the Redskins on September 2, 2006 and signed by Houston Texans on November 14, 2006 He was released by Texans on Sept. 1, 2007 and resigned by Texans on Sept. 14, 2007.
Killings was placed on the reserve/injured list on Sept. 25, 2007 with a neck injury.
on September 23, 2007 and had to be taken off the field in a stretcher. Trainers said he was complaining of numbness in his lower extremities, but was able to move them. He also sustained a deep cut under his right eye. A Houston Methodist Hospital
spokesperson said that Killings could move all of his extremities but was complaining of numbness coming and going in his lower back area.
The NFL's rules were subsequently changed. They now state that once the ball has been kicked, no more than two receiving team players can be within 2 yards of each other on the same yard line, or as Texans special teams coach Joe Marciano puts it, “shoulder pad to shoulder pad.”
“Everybody else has to be 3 yards away,” Marciano said. “So we're telling our guys 4 yards to stay out of any gray area. The penalty is just too severe to take chances.”
Violation of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive tackle of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as an undrafted
Undrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2000. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Carson-Newman.
In his eight-year career, Killings played for the 49ers, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
and the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He retired following the 2007 NFL season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
after suffering a fractured vertebra with the Texans.
Early years
He was an All-Dade and All-State performer as a senior at Miami Central High SchoolMiami Central High School
Miami Central Senior High School, commonly referred to as Central Rockets, is a secondary school located at 1781 NW 95th Street in West Little River, unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA. The school serves most of the northern fringes of the city of Miami as well as parts of North Miami,...
and also earned All-Dade and All-State honors in the discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
and shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
.
Professional career
Killings was signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco 49ers on April 27, 2000. He was released by the 49ers on August 29, 2001. He was signed by Cleveland Browns on October 16, 2001, but released by the Browns on November 7, 2001. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers on November 28, 2001 and granted free agency on March 1, 2002. Killings was signed by the Minnesota Vikings on June 20, 2002 and released by the Vikings on September 1, 2002. He was resigned by Vikings on October 29, 2002 and released by Vikings on December 10, 2002 He was resigned by the Vikings on December 16, 2002.Killings was on the 53 man roster for the Vikings for 14 games in 2003, but was inactive.
Killings signed with the Redskins and was assigned to Rhein Fire in the 2004 NFL Europe enhancement allocation program on February 9, 2004. He was assigned #78 during the 2004 pre-season. He was released by the Redskins on September 5, 2004.
The Washington Redskins re-signed Killings for depth on Dec. 8, 2004, when the team placed defensive end Phillip Daniels on injured reserve. Although Killings was on the 53-man roster and was assigned #91, he was not activated for any of the remaining four games.
Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 2, 2005 and resigned by Redskins on March 8, 2005.
In 2005, Killings played in ten regular season games with the Washington Redskins, and started in one. In addition, he played in two playoff games.
Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 11, 2006 and resigned by the Redskins on March 16, 2006 He was released by the Redskins on September 2, 2006 and signed by Houston Texans on November 14, 2006 He was released by Texans on Sept. 1, 2007 and resigned by Texans on Sept. 14, 2007.
Killings was placed on the reserve/injured list on Sept. 25, 2007 with a neck injury.
Career-ending injury
Killings was involved in a head-to-head collision during the second quarter of a game against the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
on September 23, 2007 and had to be taken off the field in a stretcher. Trainers said he was complaining of numbness in his lower extremities, but was able to move them. He also sustained a deep cut under his right eye. A Houston Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital
The Methodist Hospital is a hospital located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Established in 1919 as an outreach ministry of The United Methodist Church, Methodist is one of the most comprehensive teaching hospitals in the United States, with leading specialists in every field of...
spokesperson said that Killings could move all of his extremities but was complaining of numbness coming and going in his lower back area.
NFL Rule Change
The Texans' Harry Williams, a receiver, and Cedric Killings, a defensive lineman, both saw their careers end in sudden, frightening fashion because of wedge-related neck injuries last season.The NFL's rules were subsequently changed. They now state that once the ball has been kicked, no more than two receiving team players can be within 2 yards of each other on the same yard line, or as Texans special teams coach Joe Marciano puts it, “shoulder pad to shoulder pad.”
“Everybody else has to be 3 yards away,” Marciano said. “So we're telling our guys 4 yards to stay out of any gray area. The penalty is just too severe to take chances.”
Violation of this rule will result in a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.