Andre Wadsworth Andre Wadsworth ( born October 19 , 1974 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League ( NFL ) for three seasons . He played College football for Florida State University , and earned All - American honors . Wadsworth was selected in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and he played professionally for the Cardinals . Early years . Wadsworth was born in St . Croix , U . S . Virgin Islands . He attended Class A Florida Christian School in Miami - Dade County , Florida , where he starred at tight end for the Florida Christian Patriots high school football team . He was named first - team All - Dade County and voted all - conference and second - team all - state as a defensive lineman . He also returned a kickoff for 98 yards for a touchdown . College career . Wadsworth was recruited by only one small college , Stony Brook in New York . Wadsworth decided to attend Florida State University , and played for the Florida State Seminoles football team as a walk - on and eventually earned an athletic scholarship . He received second - team All - Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) honors his freshman , sophomore and junior seasons ( 1994 – 1996 ) as a defensive tackle . Despite being a potential top - 10 NFL Draft pick after his junior season , he stayed for his senior year , citing a pinched nerve in his neck that forced him out of four games in 1996 as a concern regarding his physical capabilities to perform for scouts at full capacity . He switched from defensive tackle to left defensive end for his senior season , registering 59 tackles , 19 tackles for a loss and 16 quarterback sack s , placing him second in both categories in the school ' s all - time records . One of four finalists for the Lombardi Award , he was named first - team All - ACC and a consensus first - team All - American . He was also selected ACC Player of the Year , and ACC Defensive Player of the year in 1997 . Professional career . 1998 NFL Draft . Wadsworth bench pressed 500 pounds and had a personal best in the squat of 690 . The Steelers ' college personnel director , Tom Modrak , said : " He ' s like a missile when he comes off the ball . He can keep his pads low and still run full speed . He ' s flexible , and he ' s around 280 pounds . " Wadsworth was regarded as the No . 1 prospect in the 1998 NFL Draft . He was selected 3rd overall by the Arizona Cardinals , making him the highest - selected player in Florida State history . Arizona Cardinals . A lengthy holdout ensued , centered almost directly on both his demand to be paid closer to the contracts signed by the two previous picks , Indianapolis Colts ' Peyton Manning out of University of Tennessee at No . 1 and the San Diego Chargers ' Ryan Leaf from Washington State University at No . 2 rather than one closer to Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson selected by the Oakland Raiders at No . 4 , and a provision allowing him to void the contract before expiration if he chose to do so . The holdout lasted until the night before the season - opener ( 44 days ) with a six - year , $ 42 million contract including a $ 10 . 49 million signing bonus ( Manning received $ 11 . 6 million on a $ 48 million contract , Leaf got $ 11 . 2 million on a five - year contract totaling $ 31 . 2 million ) , though the player - triggered option out was never consummated . He played in all 16 games his rookie season , finishing with 5 . 0 sacks and 57 tackles , including 42 solo . Bothered by a knee injury in 1999 , he still managed to play in 11 games , tallying 2 . 0 sacks , 26 tackles , and his only career interception . Off - season knee surgery , the second of his career , held him out from most of the off - season activities , but still managed 13 tackles and one sack in nine games . At the conclusion of the 2000 season , Wadsworth underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee , the third surgery on that knee in his career , and arthroscopic surgery on the left on January 3 with non - team physician Richard Steadman . Possibly due to concerns after teammate Eric Swann ' s semi - recovery from nine knee surgeries , the Arizona Cardinals released Wadsworth before offering a one year , $ 512 , 000 tender that was eventually pulled off the table within days after it went unsigned . On January 28 , 2007 the " St . Petersburg Times " reported that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were planning to give Wadsworth , now 32 , a workout . The New York Jets gave Wadsworth a workout later in the offseason . On March 26 , 2007 , the New York Jets signed Wadsworth to a minimum - based salary contract . Wadsworth was also said to be healthy enough to compete for an outside linebacker position . On September 1 , 2007 , the Jets released him .