Roman Phifer Roman Zubinsky Phifer ( born March 5 , 1968 ) is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League . He is currently the assistant linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . Phifer ' s documentary film " Blood Equity " was released in November , 2009 . Phifer played for the New England Patriots , the New York Jets , the St . Louis Rams , and the New York Giants where he played in 211 NFL games and made 1134 tackles , 882 were solo , 252 assisted , 29 sacks , and 11 interceptions and was a Four - time Pro Bowl Alternate . Phifer played football and majored in history at the University of California Los Angeles and is a graduate of South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte , North Carolina . High school career . South Mecklenburg High School . Phifer was a two - time All - Conference selection , earning All - County and Charlotte Post Athlete of the Year honors as a senior at South Mecklenburg . He was a three - year letterman in football and basketball and also competed in track and field in the high jump ( 6 ′ 6 ″ ) and triple jump ( 44 ′ 8 ″ ) . College career . UCLA . As a senior at UCLA , Phifer totaled 71 tackles ( 9 for a loss ) 3 interceptions and 3 sacks and was named an honorable mention All - America . He missed the 1989 season due to an off - field problem . Their prior year , 1988 , Phifer was primarily a special teams player , recorded 14 tackles ( seven unassisted ) on defense . As a Sophomore in 1987 he recorded 27 tackles , including one for a loss . He redshirted his freshman year of 1986 . Professional career . Pre Draft . Pre - draft measurables Phifer was 6 ' 2 " and 230 pounds and bench pressed 380 pounds and ran a 4 . 73 forty - yard dash . Scouts said , " An underrated outside linebacker who came on strong his senior year . Very good open field tackler with legitimate speed and cover ability , Uses his quickness in rushing the passer . " Rams . He was drafted in the 2nd round ( 31st overall pick ) in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Rams out of UCLA . While at UCLA one of his roommates was the late Eric Turner . On July 17 , 1991 , Phifer signed a 3 - year $ 1 . 5 million contract with the Rams , including a $ 450 , 000 signing bonus . He started as a rookie in 1991 until an ankle injury ended his season . Phifer was a starter for the Rams from 1992 – 1998 . Phifer led the Rams in tackles in 1993 from his " Will ' " or outside linebacker position . In the summer of 1994 the restricted free agent Phifer signed a tender - offer of $ 649 , 000 . However , since Phifer and his agent felt there were no negotiations he was reluctant to sign a further deal . Phifer had another solid season in 1994 . However , during the confusion of the Rams moving from Los Angeles to St . Louis , Phifer signed a four - year , $ 8 . 5 million contract that includes a $ 2 . 5 million signing bonus . He was the Rams ' Ed Block Courage Award winner in 1995 . He was also a Pro Bowl alternate in 1995 and led the Rams in tackles 1995 with 125 to go with his 3 sacks , 3 interceptions a forced fumble and a fumble recovery . He again led Rams tackles in 1996 with 122 , when he was again voted a Pro Bowl alternate . In his years with the Rams he played under several different defensive coordinators . Under his first coach the Rams featured the Chicago Bears - style " 46 " defense that was brought in by recent Tennessee Titans Head coach Jeff Fisher . The next season it changed to a less pressure defense to more of a standard NFL defenses . In 1995 that changed with a new defensive coordinator who introduced the Rams " Jet " defense , where the lineman were in pass rush mode at all times . A couple of years later he began to play in Bud Carson ' s multiple defenses where Roman was asked to rush the passer more . In the " Jet " defense he was often the only LBer on the field and was asked to cover running backs in coverage and still stop running plays . It was under Carson ' s defense that Phifer would play the equivalent of a safety on one play and the equivalent of defensive end on another play and a run - stuffing linebacker on another and a pass - cover linebacker as yet a fourth way to play defense . In 1998 he had a career - high 6 . 5 sacks and 71 tackles with an intercetion a forced fumble and a fumble recoverey on an improving Rams defense , with his career high in sacks being the result of playing standup defensive end some of the snaps . Jets . The Rams stated they wanted to keep Phifer but reportedly acted too slow to sign Phifer and on March 6 , 1999 , he signed a 3 - year $ 8 . 9 million contract with the New York Jets . Less than six days later the Rams signed Patriot linebacker Todd Collins so replace Phifer . Phifer played two seasons for the Jets getting 4 . 5 sacks , 3 forced fumbles in 1999 along with 2 interceptions and 50 tackles . In 2000 he had 45 tackles and 4 sacks . After the 2000 season the Jets released Phifer in an effort to " revamp the linebacking corps " into a younger group and also to switch from a 3 - 4 defense to a 4 - 3 , causing Phifer to not be able to earn the approximately $ 2 . 5 million due in 2001 of his 3 - year contract signed in 1999 . Patriots . The New England Patriots signed Phifer to a 1 - year veteran minimum contract of $ 520 , 000 . Phifer started 16 games and recorded 93 tackles for the 2001 Super Bowl Champion Patriots . He also had 2 sacks , defensed 5 passes , intercepted a pass , forced 2 fumbles and recovered 2 fumbles . Even more he provided leadership and was essential to the Patriots success . " Roman Phifer is the MVP of the season , " said cornerback Terrell Buckley , " He may be overlooked , and he would never campaign for the honor but he deserves it . " Phifer making the Super Bowl was one of the side - show stories of Super Bowl week with the St . Louis and the Boston - area papers doing feature stories on Phifer ' s Rams connection and now playing them in the " big game " He helped the Patriots to win Super Bowl XXXVI and was rewarded on the off season . On June 21 , 2002 , the Patriots offered Phifer a 3 - year $ 4 . 5 million contract with $ 1 . 8 million in signing bonuses . When the season finally came around in 2002 Phifer made 109 tackles and started 14 games and was again an alternate to the AFC - NFC Pro Bowl . In 2003 he had 100 tackles and batted away 5 passes as the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII . In the Super Bowl , Phifer made 5 tackles and nearly intercepted a Jake Delhome pass , but it would have been nullified due to a roughing call on tackle Richard Seymour . After the season Phifer was a Pro Bowl Alternate for the fourth time in his career . The 2004 season saw Phifer play a backup role in the Patriot defense . He struggled with an injured calf and his role had diminished as well . He ended the season with 40 tackles , a sack , and interception , a fumble recovery and knocked down two passes as the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville , Florida . Phifer ' s contract expired at the end of the season . He was released on February 27 , 2005 . Giants . He had a short stint with the New York Giants in 2005 , signing a veteran - minimum contract that yielded him approximately $ 150 , 000 for two weeks work . He came in for one last chance and to bring leadership to the Giants , perhaps similar to what he brought to the Patriots in his 2001 season . In his career he played in 211 games . 1134 tackles , 882 were solo , 252 assisted , 29 sacks , and 11 interceptions . Coaching career . Broncos . On February 9 , 2009 , Phifer was hired as the assistant linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos , assisting linebackers coach Don Martindale . Phifer helped outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil achieve a league - leading and franchise record 17 sacks on the season and Pro Bowl berth , as well as making inside linebacker D . J . Williams a Pro Bowl alternate after ranking 11th in the league with a team - high 122 tackles . Film producing career . Blood Equity . In 2009 Phifer produced his first documentary film entitled " Blood Equity " , which covers the lives of several former NFL players , both big stars and rank - and - file players . The film features testimonials from NFL legends like Mike Ditka , Tony Dorsett , Darryl " Moose " Johnston and Willie Wood among others about the hardships and struggles of life after football . " He ' s like the Godfather of football , and you definitely get that from him when he lights up that cigar . These guys are like brothers , and he ' s just trying to speak on their behalf , " says Rico McClinton of Iron Mike Ditka ( McClinton produced the film along with Phifer and Joe Ruggiero ) . The Los Angeles Times , in reviewing the documentary stated , " Everybody who plays leaves with something , " says retired New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson in the documentary " Blood Equity " but , sadly , he doesn ' t mean a glorious pension or athletic pride . He ' s referring to the physical and mental struggles of ex - football players who feel monetarily neglected by the now $ 7 . 1 - billion sport and its union when , as studies increasingly show , the game ' s built - in brutality — and fierce pride in playing injured — leads to a post - career life of constant medical care . . . ( Footage of Baltimore Colts legend John Mackey not recognizing family photos is especially heartbreaking . ) " Blood equity is distributed by Walking Shadows and is sold in popular online retailers such as Barnes and Noble , Amazon , Hastings , Alibris , among others . Phifer is hoping that his message reaches those who have rooted for NFL players during their playing years .