Scott Shanle

Scott Allen Shanle (born November 23, 1979) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally selected with the 37th pick of the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft from the University of Nebraska by the St. Louis Rams. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.

Early years

Shanle attended St. Edward High School in St. Edward, Nebraska, where he played eight-man football as a running back and defensive back. While there, his team went 29-3 over final three seasons and Shanle earned All-State and Player of the Year honors. In track he ran the 100,200 and 4x100 meter relay. Set school records in both the 100M and 200M with times of 10.67 and 22.3 seconds.

Shanle also earned varsity letters in track and basketball.

College career

Originally a walk-on at the University of Nebraska, he played in every game over four seasons. He earned a scholarship after he redshirted in the fall of 2008. He was Nebraska’s starter at the Sam linebacker position for each of his last three seasons and finished fourth on the team in tackles in 2002 with 71 stops and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors as well. In addition to his 71 tackles he added five tackles for loss and two sacks and hurried opposing quarterbacks six times.

In 2001 he made 56 tackles (eight for losses) and had eight pass breakups on the year to tie the linebacker record. He had a position and had three sacks on the year. Shanle played in all twelve games with ten starts in 2000, and made 55 tackles, including 30 solos. He recorded four tackles for loss and a sack. He was a backup Sam linebacker in 1999 and played in every game, primarily on special teams.

Professional career

Pre-draft

St. Louis Rams

Shanle made his NFL debut against the New York Giants on September 7, 2003. He also saw special teams action in six games for St. Louis. He was waived by the Rams on December 9, 2003 after battling hamstring injurymost of his first season.

He was named one of the best 50 draft picks in St. Louis Rams history.^[2]

Dallas Cowboys

Shanle was claimed by the Dallas Cowboys on December 10, 2003. In 2004 he ranked fourth on the Cowboys roster with 15 special teams tackles. He became a starter at strongside linebacker and recorded 26 tackles in final three games. In 2005 he served as the Cowboys' nickel middle linebacker for the first several weeks of the season. After injuries forced Dat Nguyen into retirement, Shanle then moved into the starting lineup. He battled injury setbacks in the season's latter stages, but tied for seventh on the team in tackles with 50 and added 1.5 sacks.

New Orleans Saints

Shanle was acquired in a trade with Dallas for a conditional draft pick during training camp and went to start 15 games at WLB, and led team with 77 solo stops, and his 117 total tackles and four sacks, a forced fumble and two pass defenses. In 2007 he played in and started in 14 games, and recorded 96 tackles (56 solo), a pass defense, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss. In 2008 was named New Orleans Saints Defensive MVP for the 2008 season. In 2009, he was a starting outside linebacker on the Saints' Super Bowl championship team and was the leading tackler during their playoff run that included wins over Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, and Peyton Manning.

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