Na'il Diggs
Encyclopedia
Na'il Diggs is an American football
linebacker
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers
in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Ohio State
. Diggs has also played for the Carolina Panthers
and St. Louis Rams
. His first
name means “successful one” in Arabic.
at the Ohio State University
. He spent his last two years at strongside linebacker after beginning college career as a defensive end. As a senior Diggs led the Buckeyes with 94 tackles, 15 tackles for losses and 6 sacks. In all he played in 37 games recording 202 tackles, 18 sacks and one interception, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception. He graduated with a degree in aviation.
in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
. On June 20, 2000, Diggs signed a three year $1.2 million contract that included a $300,000 signing bonus. On September 11, 2000, Diggs was name Sports Illustrateds Special Teams Player of the Week by Peter King
. Diggs played in 13 games with 12 starts at strongside linebacker and was named All-Rookie by the PFWA after posting 54 tackles, one fumble recovery and four passes defensed. In 2001 he started all 16 games at strongside linebacker and produced 92 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and six passes defensed. In 2002 Diggs again started all 16 games at strongside linebacker and finished second on the team with 111 tackles, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and seven passes defensed. Diggs was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December 2002, after making 37 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and two passes defensed in five games.
In the 2003 off-season Diggs signed a four-year, $10.5 million contract after the Packers matched an offer sheet for the same amount from the Detoit Lions. In 2003 Diggs moved to weakside linebacker from and started all 16 games and had 123 tackles, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions and eight passes defensed. An injury kept Diggs out of the final two games in 2004, snapping his consecutuve games started streak at 74. Diggs did start 14 games at weakside linebacker had 116 tackles, 1.0 sack, two passes defensed and one blocked kick. In 2005 Diggs returned to strongside linebacker and appeared in nine games with six starts. Before he was injured he generated 45 tackles, one fumble recovery. On March 2, 2006, he was released by the Packers.
who had left the Panthers to sign with the St. Louis Rams. In 2006 Diggs appeared in 15 games with 10 starts totaled 68 tackles, and three passes defensed.
On March 2, 2007, Diggs re-signed with the Panthers for another year (for $1.35 million) and for that season Diggs played in all 16 games with 10 starts and made 49 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and five passes defensed. On December 29, 2007, the Diggs accepted a three-year extension for $7 million ($2.7 million of it guaranteed). In 2008 Diggs started all 16 contests as the strongside linebacker and recorded 62 tackles, 1.0 sack, one interception, and two passes defensed. 2009 was Diggs' final season with the Panthers and he remained at strongside linebacker and played in 15 games with 11 starts and recorded 42 total tackles and a forced fumble. On March 5, 2010, the Panthers released Diggs.
On August 29, 2011, he was released by the Rams.
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...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
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 drafted by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 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 Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
. Diggs has also played for the 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...
and St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. His first
name means “successful one” in Arabic.
College career
Diggs played college footballCollege 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 the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. He spent his last two years at strongside linebacker after beginning college career as a defensive end. As a senior Diggs led the Buckeyes with 94 tackles, 15 tackles for losses and 6 sacks. In all he played in 37 games recording 202 tackles, 18 sacks and one interception, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception. He graduated with a degree in aviation.
Green Bay Packers
Diggs was drafted by the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. On June 20, 2000, Diggs signed a three year $1.2 million contract that included a $300,000 signing bonus. On September 11, 2000, Diggs was name Sports Illustrateds Special Teams Player of the Week by Peter King
Peter King (sportswriter)
Peter King is an American sportswriter. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated and its Web site, including the weekly multiple-page column Monday Morning Quarterback. He is the author of five books, most notably Inside the Helmet, as well as a TV analyst and reporter...
. Diggs played in 13 games with 12 starts at strongside linebacker and was named All-Rookie by the PFWA after posting 54 tackles, one fumble recovery and four passes defensed. In 2001 he started all 16 games at strongside linebacker and produced 92 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and six passes defensed. In 2002 Diggs again started all 16 games at strongside linebacker and finished second on the team with 111 tackles, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions and seven passes defensed. Diggs was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for December 2002, after making 37 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and two passes defensed in five games.
In the 2003 off-season Diggs signed a four-year, $10.5 million contract after the Packers matched an offer sheet for the same amount from the Detoit Lions. In 2003 Diggs moved to weakside linebacker from and started all 16 games and had 123 tackles, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble, two interceptions and eight passes defensed. An injury kept Diggs out of the final two games in 2004, snapping his consecutuve games started streak at 74. Diggs did start 14 games at weakside linebacker had 116 tackles, 1.0 sack, two passes defensed and one blocked kick. In 2005 Diggs returned to strongside linebacker and appeared in nine games with six starts. Before he was injured he generated 45 tackles, one fumble recovery. On March 2, 2006, he was released by the Packers.
Carolina Panthers
On April 20, 2006, Diggs was signed by the Carolina Panthers to a one-year $627,000 contract. The Panthers viewed Diggs as a replacement for weakside Will WitherspoonWill Witherspoon
-Carolina Panthers:Witherspoon was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Witherspoon was the latest addition to new coach John Fox's overhaul of the defense, and Witherspoon's versatility at linebacker helped the Panthers total the second-best defense in the...
who had left the Panthers to sign with the St. Louis Rams. In 2006 Diggs appeared in 15 games with 10 starts totaled 68 tackles, and three passes defensed.
On March 2, 2007, Diggs re-signed with the Panthers for another year (for $1.35 million) and for that season Diggs played in all 16 games with 10 starts and made 49 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and five passes defensed. On December 29, 2007, the Diggs accepted a three-year extension for $7 million ($2.7 million of it guaranteed). In 2008 Diggs started all 16 contests as the strongside linebacker and recorded 62 tackles, 1.0 sack, one interception, and two passes defensed. 2009 was Diggs' final season with the Panthers and he remained at strongside linebacker and played in 15 games with 11 starts and recorded 42 total tackles and a forced fumble. On March 5, 2010, the Panthers released Diggs.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams signed Diggs on April 7, 2010, to a two-year contract. The terms have not been disclosed. In his career Diggs has been the primary starter for his team four seasons at weakside linebacker and six at strongside linebacker. Diggs earned the starting strongside linebacker job in the 2010 preseason and kept the job until he tore a pectoral muscle late in the season.On August 29, 2011, he was released by the Rams.