Cedric Killings Cedric Laquon Killings ( born December 14 , 1977 in Miami , Florida ) is former American football defensive tackle of the National Football League . He was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2000 . He played college football at Carson - Newman . In his eight - year career , Killings played for the 49ers , Cleveland Browns , Carolina Panthers , Minnesota Vikings , Washington Redskins and the Houston Texans . He retired following the 2007 NFL season after suffering a fractured vertebra with the Texans . Early years . He was an All - Dade and All - State performer as a senior at Miami Central High School and also earned All - Dade and All - State honors in the discus and shot put . Professional career . Killings was signed as an undrafted free agent by San Francisco 49ers on April 27 , 2000 . He was released by the 49ers on August 29 , 2001 . He was signed by Cleveland Browns on October 16 , 2001 , but released by the Browns on November 7 , 2001 . He was signed by the Carolina Panthers on November 28 , 2001 and granted free agency on March 1 , 2002 . Killings was signed by the Minnesota Vikings on June 20 , 2002 and released by the Vikings on September 1 , 2002 . He was resigned by Vikings on October 29 , 2002 and released by Vikings on December 10 , 2002 He was resigned by the Vikings on December 16 , 2002 . Killings was on the 53 man roster for the Vikings for 14 games in 2003 , but was inactive . Killings signed with the Redskins and was assigned to Rhein Fire in the 2004 NFL Europe enhancement allocation program on February 9 , 2004 . He was assigned # 78 during the 2004 pre - season . He was released by the Redskins on September 5 , 2004 . The Washington Redskins re - signed Killings for depth on Dec . 8 , 2004 , when the team placed defensive end Phillip Daniels on injured reserve . Although Killings was on the 53 - man roster and was assigned # 91 , he was not activated for any of the remaining four games . Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 2 , 2005 and resigned by Redskins on March 8 , 2005 . In 2005 , Killings played in ten regular season games with the Washington Redskins , and started in one . In addition , he played in two playoff games . Killings was granted unconditional free agency on March 11 , 2006 and resigned by the Redskins on March 16 , 2006 He was released by the Redskins on September 2 , 2006 and signed by Houston Texans on November 14 , 2006 He was released by Texans on Sept . 1 , 2007 and resigned by Texans on Sept . 14 , 2007 . Killings was placed on the reserve / injured list on Sept . 25 , 2007 with a neck injury . Career - ending injury . Killings was involved in a head - to - head collision during the second quarter of a game against the Indianapolis Colts on September 23 , 2007 and had to be taken off the field in a stretcher . Trainers said he was complaining of numbness in his lower extremities , but was able to move them . He also sustained a deep cut under his right eye . A Houston Methodist Hospital spokesperson said that Killings could move all of his extremities but was complaining of numbness coming and going in his lower back area . NFL Rule Change . The Texans ' Harry Williams , a receiver , and Cedric Killings , a defensive lineman , both saw their careers end in sudden , frightening fashion because of wedge - related neck injuries last season . The NFL ' s rules were subsequently changed . They now state that once the ball has been kicked , no more than two receiving team players can be within 2 yards of each other on the same yard line , or as Texans special teams coach Joe Marciano puts it , “ shoulder pad to shoulder pad . ” “ Everybody else has to be 3 yards away , ” Marciano said . “ So we ' re telling our guys 4 yards to stay out of any gray area . The penalty is just too severe to take chances . ” Violation of this rule will result in a 15 - yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct . Personal . Killings and his wife Shavon have two sons , Cadrien and Cairell .