Tom Briggs (football player)

Infobox NFLactive


name=Tom Briggs
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currentteam=Tampa Bay Storm
currentnumber=93
currentposition=Defensive lineman
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birthdate=birth date and age|1970|05|12
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heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=270
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college=West Virginia
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undraftedyear=1993
pastteams=
* CFL Birmingham Barracudas (1995)
* CFL Anaheim Piranhas (1997)
* AFL Portland Forest Dragons (1998-1999)
* AFL Oklahoma Wranglers (2000-2001)
* AFL Dallas Desperados (2002-2003)
* AFL Austin Wranglers (2004-2006)
* AFL Tampa Bay Storm (2007-present)
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si

Tom Briggs (born May 12, 1970) is an Arena Football League defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Storm [http://www.tampabaystorm.com/storm/sub.cfm?pageid=1239] . Briggs played at West Virginia University in college, before playing in the Canadian Football League and with other AFL teams.

Briggs enters the 2009 season ranked third all-time with 50 career sacks and fifth all-time with 21 career forced fumbles in AFL history.

Collegiate career

Tom Briggs began his collegiate career in 1990, where he only recorded 2 tackles. In 1991, Briggs recorded 44 tackles, 5 sacks, three fumbles recoveries, and one forced fumble. In 1992, he totaled 47 tackles, 7 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Professional career

Early career

In 1993, Briggs went undrafted in the NFL Draft and joined onto the Atlanta Falcons training camp roster. Following his short stint in the National Football League, Briggs moved onto the Canadian Football League with the Birmingham Barracudas and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Arena Football League

In 1997, Briggs left the CFL for the Arena Football League and the Portland Forest Dragons. That season he recorded only 8 tackles before moving to the Anaheim Piranhas to end the season. For the 1998 season, Briggs rejoined the Forest Dragons and finished the year with 11 tackles, 3 sacks, one forced fumble and two coveries. In Brigg's final season in Portland, 1999, he finished the year with 12 tackles, two fumble recoveries, an interception, and two forced fumbles.

In 2000, Briggs moved with Portland as they became the Oklahoma Wranglers. He finished the year with 16 tackles, 4 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. The next season, his final in Oklahoma, Briggs finished with 9 tackles, 5 sacks and a forced fumble. During his tenure with the Wranglers, Briggs earned Second Team All-Arena honors in 2000 and was named to the 2001 All-Ironman Team.

In 2002, Briggs moved to the Dallas Desperados and became the team's all-time leader of sacks in a season with 10 sacks and became the career leader with 12.5 in his two seasons there. He also totaled 60 tackles and four forced fumbles in his two seasons as a Desperado. In his final season, he earned First-team All-Arena, the Lineman of the Year Award, and was named to the All-Ironman Team.

In 2004, Briggs returned to the Oklahoma franchise as they became the Austin Wranglers. In his debut season in Austin, Briggs set the franchise record of 8.5 sacks in a season, along with recording 21 tackles and two fumble recoveries. That season he was named to the First-team All-Arena squad. In 2005, Briggs recorded 25 tackles, and in his final season he totaled only 5 tackles with a forced fumble.

In 2007, Briggs joined the Tampa Bay Storm. Despite playing half of the season with a broken hand, Briggs recorded 28.5 tackles, 5 sacks, and four forced fumbles.

In 2008, Briggs finished with 14 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery in his second season in Tampa Bay. Briggs also had two defensive touchdowns on the season.

External links

* [http://www.tampabaystorm.com/storm/sub.cfm?pageid=1239 2007 Tampa Bay Storm roster]
* [http://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=183 Tom Briggs stats]