Greg Spires

Infobox NFLactive


name=Greg Spires
|width=
caption=
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentposition=Defensive end
birthdate=birth date and age|1974|08|12
birthplace=Marianna, Florida
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=265
debutyear=1998
debutteam=New England Patriots
college=Florida State
draftyear=1998
draftround=3
draftpick=83
pastteams=
* New England Patriots (1998-2000)
* Cleveland Browns (2001)
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2002-2007)
* Oakland Raiders (2008)*:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only|status=Active
highlights=
* Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)
nfl=SPI609432

Gregory Tyrone Spires (born August 12, 1974 in Marianna, Florida is an American football who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.

Spires has also been a member for the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Oakland Raiders. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII.

College career

Greg Spires played college football at Florida State University as a Seminole. He was a four-year letterman from 1994-1998. His NFL Draft status dropped to the third round as a result of a cracked fibula entering the end of his junior year. It carried through to three games of his senior season. Also, Spires did not start in his junior season. Throughout his college career, he played the positions of linebacker, nose guard, and defensive end. Greg Spires was redshirted in 1993.

Professional career

New England Patriots

After being drafted by the New England Patriots (3rd round, 83rd selection overall), Spires played in 15 games including the playoff appearance that the Patriots had. He recorded two sacks against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the postseason. During the 1999 season, he played 11 games until he suffered a hip injury against the Buffalo Bills on November 28, 1999 and eventually was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the 1999 season. In 2000, Greg Spires had a great year. He played in all 16 games, and started two of them. Spires recorded a career high 6 sacks and tied Willie McGinest for the team lead. Spires also forced three fumbles. He was resigned by the Patriots on April 30, 2001. Because of team issues, Greg Spires was released by the Patriots towards the start of the 2001 season, on September 3, 2001. He was claimed and signed by the Cleveland Browns the very next day.

Cleveland Browns

Greg Spires' career with the Cleveland Browns was short-lived. Despite being there for just one season, Spires played in all 16 games and started 4. He recorded four sacks that season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Greg Spires became an unrestricted free agent after the 2001 season and was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Spires found a place with the Bucs and was their perennial starter at left defensive end from 2002 to 2007. He came at just the right time, as the Bucs sailed through the playoffs and won Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders. He totaled 47 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended lining up opposite right defensive end Simeon Rice. Because of the chemistry of this defense, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the best pass defense and best overall defense in the NFL. Greg Spires, since then, has played through being one of the top-tier defenses in 2003, 2004, and 2005 (where they finished first again). He helped the Buccaneers to the playoffs, but they lost in the wild card round to the Washington Redskins. On February 27, 2008 the Buccaneers released him.

Oakland Raiders

On May 10, 2008 he signed with the Oakland Raiders. He was later released on August 25, 2008.

Personal

Greg Spires has one daughter, Leila. His nickname while in Tampa Bay was "The Crane", inspired by his "unsung-hero" performance on the defensive side of the ball.

He is also known as "Big Stew" by close friends from Ft. Myers, FL, where he grew up and went to school and has lots of friends.

External links

* [http://www.gregspires.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.patriots.com/alumni/index.cfm?ac=alumnibiosdetail&bio=430 New England Patriots bio]
* [http://www.raiders.com/Team/PlayerBio.aspx?id=44112 Oakland Raiders bio]
* [http://www.buccaneers.com/team/playerdetail.aspx?player=Spires,Greg,94&bioyear=Pro Tampa Bay Buccaneers bio]