Tommy Kelly
Encyclopedia
Tommy Kelly is an American football
player who currently plays defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders
.
career at Jackson's Provine High School
, he signed a football scholarship
with Mississippi State University
, where he played in 22 games and earned 16 starts
, making 82 tackles
, including 15 for loss and two quarterback sack
s. He was signed as a free agent
in 2004
by the Oakland Raiders.
rookie
free agent, Tommy Kelly alternated between 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT. In the very few plays that he saw action, he was able to rack up 4 sacks, including 3 weeks in a row from week 7 through week 9.
. In each instance, Kelly had lined up as a DT rather than the RE that he had been playing as previously in the year. By the end of the season, Kelly had a total of 4.5 sacks.
told reporters that Tommy Kelly would be an absolute monster once he fully realized his talents and abilities. Due to these comments, as well fellow Raider DT and Pro Bowl
er Warren Sapp
taking Kelly under his wing, expectations were high for the young defensive lineman as the Raiders entered the 2006 season. News that he would become a full-time defensive tackle also perked up the ears of the Raider Nation considering the success that he had been experiencing on the interior line his 1st two seasons.
However, the 2006 season came and went without those hopes and dreams of greatness being realized. Tommy Kelly only managed a meager 3.5 sacks, the lowest total of his professional career. This was not what was expected. He had received consistent playing time all season and he was playing the interior line, the spot where his pass rushing skills were his strength. Not only did he fail to reach the QB as many times as hoped, but Kelly also looked weak at the point of attack—many times being pushed backward on running plays. Much of the Raiders' woes against the run were, in fact, blamed on Kelly.
. He was placed on injured reserve
by the Oakland Raiders
on October 31, 2007.
Kelly can play every spot on the defensive line, but he is scheduled to replace retired Warren Sapp
at the three technique for the 2008 season.
. Kelly finished the 2008 season with 55 tackles (31 solo) and just 4.5 sacks matching his career high set in 2005. The 2008 came once again and went, once again, without Kelly realizing his talents and abilities. He failed to live up to the contract he signed almost 12 months earlier.
er Richard Seymour
from defensive end to defensive tackle. Seymour's successes stopping the run and pass rushing on the left side no doubt helped Kelly at right defensive tackle. At the end of the season, Kelly had 60 tackles and 7 sacks and was named as an alternate in the 2011 Pro Bowl
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who currently plays defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
After a standout basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
career at Jackson's Provine High School
Provine High School
Provine High School is a public school in Jackson, Mississippi. It is part of the Jackson Public School District.Provine High School, also called "Ram City", serves students in grades 9–12 in the West Jackson area. Students from subdivisions such as Northwest Hills Terrace, The Queens, Country Club...
, he signed a football scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
with Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
, where he played in 22 games and earned 16 starts
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
, making 82 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, including 15 for loss and two quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s. He was signed as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
by the Oakland Raiders.
2004 season
After being signed in 2004 as an undraftedUndrafted
An undrafted sportsperson or undrafted free agent is specific type of sportsperson who plays, or attempts to play, in a professional sports league without first being selected in a draft....
rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
free agent, Tommy Kelly alternated between 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT. In the very few plays that he saw action, he was able to rack up 4 sacks, including 3 weeks in a row from week 7 through week 9.
2005 season
In 2005, the Raiders moved away from the 3-4 defense, with Tommy Kelly finding a spot as the RE. Lacking the prototypical size and speed for an RE, Tommy Kelly still fared well in his sophomore season, doing well to stop the run. However, it wasn't until he began to see time at DT that he saw the sacks starts coming once again. In week 9 alone, Kelly racked up a total of 3 quarterback sacks—reaching Kansas City veteran Trent GreenTrent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
. In each instance, Kelly had lined up as a DT rather than the RE that he had been playing as previously in the year. By the end of the season, Kelly had a total of 4.5 sacks.
2006 season
In the offseason between the 2005 season and the 2006 season, Raider DT Ed JasperEd Jasper
Edward Jasper is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M....
told reporters that Tommy Kelly would be an absolute monster once he fully realized his talents and abilities. Due to these comments, as well fellow Raider DT and Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
taking Kelly under his wing, expectations were high for the young defensive lineman as the Raiders entered the 2006 season. News that he would become a full-time defensive tackle also perked up the ears of the Raider Nation considering the success that he had been experiencing on the interior line his 1st two seasons.
However, the 2006 season came and went without those hopes and dreams of greatness being realized. Tommy Kelly only managed a meager 3.5 sacks, the lowest total of his professional career. This was not what was expected. He had received consistent playing time all season and he was playing the interior line, the spot where his pass rushing skills were his strength. Not only did he fail to reach the QB as many times as hoped, but Kelly also looked weak at the point of attack—many times being pushed backward on running plays. Much of the Raiders' woes against the run were, in fact, blamed on Kelly.
2007 season
Kelly played in 7 games in 2007, recording 30 tackles and 1 sack before suffering a season ending knee injury while playing against the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 31, 2007.
2008 Offseason
On February 28, 2008, the Oakland Raiders signed Kelly to the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle on the eve of free agency. Kelly, a defensive end moving to defensive tackle in 2008, signed a seven-year, $50.5 million contract with $18.125 million in guarantees and$ 25.125 million in the first three years .Kelly can play every spot on the defensive line, but he is scheduled to replace retired Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
at the three technique for the 2008 season.
2008 Season
On September 15, 2008, Kelly was arrested for driving under the influenceDriving under the influence
Driving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
. Kelly finished the 2008 season with 55 tackles (31 solo) and just 4.5 sacks matching his career high set in 2005. The 2008 came once again and went, once again, without Kelly realizing his talents and abilities. He failed to live up to the contract he signed almost 12 months earlier.
2009 season
Kelly finished the season with just 55 tackles again (37 solo) and a career low 1 sack. Kelly earned the label underachiever because of his lack of success of stopping the run and sacking the quarterback.2010 season
Tommy Kelly's career appears to have taken a course for better things with the fortunate announcement of moving 6-time Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour
Richard Vershaun Seymour is an American football defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots sixth overall in the 2001 NFL Draft...
from defensive end to defensive tackle. Seymour's successes stopping the run and pass rushing on the left side no doubt helped Kelly at right defensive tackle. At the end of the season, Kelly had 60 tackles and 7 sacks and was named as an alternate in the 2011 Pro Bowl
2011 Pro Bowl
The 2011 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2010 season. It took place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii...
.