Greg White
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Tampa Bay Buccaneers — No. 91 | |
| Defensive End | |
| Date of birth: July 25, 1979 | |
| Place of birth: Newark, New Jersey | |
| Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | Weight: 268 lb (122 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
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| 2007 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |
| Career history | |
| College: Minnesota | |
| NFL Draft: 2002 / Round: 7 / Pick: 229 | |
Teams:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Greg White (born July 25, 1979) is an American football defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. White attended the University of Minnesota and was drafted in 2002 by the expansion Houston Texans, but failed to make the roster.
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[edit] Orlando Predators (2006-2007)
In January 2006, White signed a contract to play for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League. In his 2-year stint in Orlando, White compiled 17 sacks, including an AFL-record 15 in 2007. He was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Year in 2007.
[edit] NFL career
After the Predators were eliminated from the 2007 playoffs, Head Coach Jay Gruden (the younger brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden) recommended White to the Buccaneers head coach, who promptly invited him to training camp with the team.
[edit] 2007 season
After making the cut at training camp, White was instantly thrust into the limelight on the Buccaneers defensive line. The release of veteran Pro Bowl end Simeon Rice shortly before the start of the pre-season, injuries to free agent acquisition Patrick Chukwurah and the fact that top five 2007 NFL Draft pick Gaines Adams was deemed not ready led to White seeing extended playing time on the field.
In the game against the Atlanta Falcons in November 2007 White turned in a career performance. Starting opposite fellow rookie Gaines Adams he sacked Falcons QB Byron Leftwich twice and forced two fumbles, one of which was returned for a touchdown by Ronde Barber. The Bucs won the game 31-7 to take a 2 game lead at the top of the NFC South. After the game, Coach Jon Gruden was quoted as saying:
"Every time he makes a play, I can hear my brother up in the press box saying: 'I told you so.' But he's a good kid, a good guy, a hard worker, and he does have natural pass-rush ability. He's raw a little bit in terms of the big picture, but I give a lot of credit to Greg White. We got him late in training camp, and he's made a real impression on all of us."[1]
[edit] 2008 Season
White reportedly plans to ask for a trade if he's not offered a new contract, he wants a long term deal or an incentive-laden short-term contract, before the 2008 NFL Draft. As an exclusive rights free agent he can't negotiate with other teams. White is due only $370,000 in 2008. White was not required to show up for Tampa Bay's offseason conditioning programs since he did not have a contract, but he has worked out with the team every day since the season ended. He later backed off though about demanding a trade, after the Bucs offered a new contract. [2] The Bucs will move White from right end to left end, a position he has never played.
