Samari Rolle

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Baltimore Ravens
currentnumber=22
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1976|8|10
birthplace=Miami, Florida
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=175
debutyear=1998
debutteam=Tennessee Oilers
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (2000)
* All-Pro selection (2000)
college=Florida State
draftyear=1998
draftround=2
draftpick=46
pastteams=
* Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1998-2004)
* Baltimore Ravens (2005-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=275
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=9.5
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=28
nfl=ROL531110

Samari Toure Rolle (pronEng|rolle) (born August 10 1976 in Miami, Florida) is an American football cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted by the Tennessee Oilers in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.

Rolle was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000.

Early years

Rolle attended Miami Beach High School in Miami Beach, Florida, where he was named Super Prep Dixie Defensive Player of the Year and was a Dream Team selection by Blue Chip Illustrated. As a senior, he tallied 62 tackles and six interceptions on defense, and threw for 1,217 yards and eight touchdowns at quarterback, he also rushed for 402 yards and returned three punts for touchdowns. He also played in the Super 24 Florida-Georgia All-Star Game.

College career

Rolle played College football at Florida State University. He played in 38 games with 24 starts and made 12 interceptions and 111 tackles in his four year career. In his senior season he was named First-Team All-ACC and "Football News" Third-Team All-America. Four of his 12 career interceptions came against rival Miami Hurricanes.

Professional career

Tennessee Oilers/Titans

Rolle was selected by the Tennessee Oilers in the second round (46th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he played in 15 games and finished the campaign with 30 tackles. The following year, he recorded 69 tackles, three sacks and four interceptions. He shares the franchise record with three interceptions in one game in 1999 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was selected to the 2000 Pro Bowl after recording a seven interception season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. In 2001, he made 56 tackles and three interceptions. The following season he started in every game and finished the season with 48 tackles and two interceptions. In 2003, he only played in 13 games after dislocating his elbow, but finished the season with 31 tackles and six interceptions. He was released by Tennessee at the end of the 2004 season for salary cap reasons and finished the campaign with 28 tackles.

Baltimore Ravens

Rolle signed for the Baltimore Ravens as an unrestricted free agent on March 7 2005. His first year in Baltimore was decent as he recorded 41 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 11 pass deflections. However, in 2006 he struggled against the deep ball in several early games, most notably in week 6 against the Panthers where Rolle gave up two long touchdowns to Drew Carter and Steve Smith. [ [http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=2186 McAlister, Rolle: Covered And Uncovered] ] However Rolle rebounded and played relatively well in the second half of the season. He finished the season with 52 tackles and three interceptions.

Through week 10 of the 2007 NFL season, Rolle missed five games due to an undisclosed illness. On November 14, 2007, talk show hosts filling in on the Anita Marks show on Baltimore ESPN Radio 1300AM mentioned that Rolle was being treated for seizures, but no further elaboration was provided. On November 21, 2007, Rolle disclosed that the illness was epilepsy. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3122595 Rolle says epilepsy under control; 'I'm not scared'] ] He finished the season playing in only six games and ended the campaign with 22 tackles and one interception.

Rolle missed the beginning of the Raven's 2008 training camp, because of the death of his father. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp08/news/story?id=3500252&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines Ravens excuse Rolle from start of camp due to father's death] ]

Referee controversy

Following a December 3, 2007 Monday Night Football game against the 11-0 New England Patriots, Rolle alleged that head linesman Phil McKinnely repeatedly referred to him as a boy. Rolle said that he was making plans to call his agent and file a complaint with the NFL. [ [http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10510809| Rolle claims official called him 'boy'] ]

Personal

Rolle is the cousin of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco and former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

Rolle wears the number #22 as a tribute to his high school teammate and former Ravens cornerback Duane Starks. [ [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=1144 Baltimore Ravens bio] ]

On June 13, 2007 Rolle was in South Africa on board a small commuter airplane returning from a safari when the door at the back of the plane flew off. [ [http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007May15/0,4670,FBNJaguarsTaylor,00.html Jaguars' Taylor Gets Scare in Africa] ] Rolle was on the plane with his wife along with Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, Jacksonville Jaguars running back Fred Taylor, their respective wives and three other people. [ [http://www.examiner.com/a-756752~Rolle_survives_ordeal__tunes_out_voices.html?cid=rss-Baltimore Rolle survives ordeal, tunes out voices] ] However, no one was seriously hurt and the flight landed safely.

His name "Samari" means strength.

References

External links

* [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Players/Active/Samari_Rolle.aspx Baltimore Ravens bio]