Ed Taʻamu Ed Ta ' amu ( born November 8 , 1979 ) is an arena football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent . He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round ( 132nd overall ) of the 2002 NFL Draft . He played college football at Utah . Ta ' amu has played for the Minnesota Vikings , Houston Texans , Spokane Shock ( af2 ) and Kansas City Brigade . As a rookie in the National Football League in 2002 , he was one of 28 Samoa n players in the league . As well , as of October 4 , 2008 , he was one of 16 Polynesia n players in the Arena Football League . High school career . Ta ' amu attended Iolani School where he was an All - America Honorable Mention as a senior in 1997 . College career . Ta ' amu attended the University of Utah , where he was a two - year starter . Ta ' amu was an academic non - qualifier in 1997 , meaning he did not have the grades to play football . He joined the team in 1998 , as a backup defensive end , as well as backup long snapper . On the season , he recorded three tackles . In 1999 , he was a backup defensive tackle , a position where he did not receive much playing time , so in turn , he was switched to offensive line . In 2000 , he started all but one game . Career summary . Ta ' amu was a two - time All - Mountain West Conference selection . He recorded 123 knockdowns blocks , including a school record 25 against Brigham Young during his senior season . Ta ' amu was graded at 86 . 8 % for blocking consistency and played in 20 of 26 games during his final two seasons . He also set new school weight room records with a 625 - pound squat and 412 - pound hang clean . As a senior he also bench pressed 455 pounds . He was also selected to the All - Mountain West Conference Second - team , as well as a First - team selection by the " Las Vegas Review Journal " and " Collegefootballnews . com " . Professional career . Pre - draft . Ta ' amu received an invitation to the 2002 NFL Scouting Combine . He was rated as the sixth best guard out of 43 . He was projected to be drafted in the third to fourth round of the draft . National Football League . Ta ' amu was selected in the fourth round ( 132nd overall ) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings on April 21 , and was signed on July 17 . However , he suffered a knee injury and was waived by the team on September 2 , 2002 . The next day , he was signed to the Vikings practice squad . Then on October 16 , he was placed on the practice squad ' s injured reserve , ending his season . He was then signed by the Houston Texans on January 8 . He was later placed on the Physically Unable to Perform ( PUP ) list on July 25 . He was then waived by the Texans on September 2 , 2003 . af2 . He spent the next two years rehabbing his knee before being able to compete in a full season of professional football for the Spokane Shock of af2 , in 2006 . He played alongside future Kansas City Brigade teammates Charles Frederick , Jerome Stevens , Chris Cook , and Neil Purvis . That season , the Shock won ArenaCup III . Arena Football League . On January 5 , 2007 Ta ' amu signed with the Kansas City Brigade of the Arena Football League . However , when the AFL folded , he became a free agent and now plays for the Spokane Shock Kansas City Brigade . As a rookie in 2007 , he began the season on injured reserve . He then started the final four games of the season , including the first ever playoff game in franchise history . In 2008 , he recorded three tackles . After the season , he was released by the Brigade . Spokane Shock . After a year of waiting , the AFL was reformed and when the Spokane Shock became part of the revamped AFL , Ta ' amu was once again signed by Spokane in the off season and is on the active roster . Personal . In 2002 , Ta ' amu was one of 28 Samoa n players in the National Football League , the most notable being Tiaina " Junior " Seau . As of October 4 , 2008 , Ta ' amu was one of 16 Polynesia n players in the Arena Football League .