Paul Kruger ( American football ) Paul Eugene Kruger Jr . ( born February 15 , 1986 ) is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft . He played college football at Utah . Early years . Kruger was an All - conference and preseason All - America quarterback as a senior in 2003 at Timpanogos High School in Orem , Utah . He was the team captain and lettered all four years . Kruger was ranked in the top 30 quarterbacks nationally by Student Sports . From 2005 - 2007 he served a 2 year mission for the LDS church in the Kansas City area ( The Missouri Independence Mission ) . College career . After an all - conference sophomore season in 2008 , he decided to forego his final two years of college eligibility to enter the 2009 NFL Draft . He was a member of two undefeated teams : signed with the University of Utah Utes as a quarterback in 2004 and was a redshirt on the 12 - 0 , Fiesta Bowl champion team . He started at right end for Utah ' s 2008 13 - 0 , Sugar Bowl champion team . Career statistics . Source : Kruger redshirted his freshman year of 2004 , after which he served a two - year mission in Kansas and Missouri for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints , returning to the football field in the fall of 2007 . In 2007 he was a " Sporting News " and Scout . com second - team Freshman All - American . He was also honorable mention All - Mountain West . Kruger played in all 13 games and started the last 11 at right end . His 63 tackles were the most among the league ' s freshman linemen and the second - best freshman total at any position and ranked fourth on the team . He also had 7 . 5 tackles for loss , three sacks , five pass breakups , three fumble recoveries , a forced fumble and an interception . Kruger helped lead a Utes ’ defense that ranked 11th in the nation against the run ( 99 . 2 ypg ) and 11th - overall in total defense ( 289 . 2 ypg ) . Due to an off - field injury ( see Personal section ) , He was held out of spring practices but returned to the field in the fall . As a sophomore in 2008 , he was a first - team All - Mountain West defensive lineman . " Sports Illustrated " and " College Football News " named him honorable mention All - America n . He played and started in all 13 games at right end . He led Utah and ranked second in the conference in tackles for loss ( 16 . 5 ) and was third in the league in sacks ( 7 . 5 ) . He had seven pass breakups , which ranked second on the team , as well as two forced fumbles . His 61 total tackles ranked fifth on the team . He had four sacks ( all solo ) against Utah State that tied the school record and was the best single - game total in the country . His five TFL in that same game was the second - best mark in school history . He intercepted a pass against BYU and returned it 30 yards . Professional career . 2009 NFL Draft . Kruger was considered a top defensive end prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft . Baltimore Ravens . On April 25 , 2009 , Kruger was selected in the second round ( 57th overall pick ) of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens . On November 29 , 2009 , in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers , Kruger intercepted a Dennis Dixon pass in overtime and returned it 22 yards to set the Ravens up for a game - winning 29 - yard field goal by kicker Billy Cundiff . During the 2010 offseason Kruger was looking to bulk up in order to make the move from linebacker to defensive end in Baltimore ' s 3 - 4 defense mostly because of the lack of playing time he saw at OLB . 2010 was a frustrating year for Kruger playing in a new position as a 3 - 4 DE , he only recorded one tackle , and one sack in very limited playing time , playing in just 11 games and no starts . He deflected two passes . After a 2010 season in which he struggled to get playing time at defensive end , he was moved back to outside linebacker in the Ravens hybrid 3 - 4 defensive scheme in 2011 . He saw much more action in 2011 playing as a situational pass rusher , coming in and replacing Ravens veteran linebacker Jarret Johnson for 3rd down passing situations . He managed to rack up 5 . 5 regular season sacks in his new role , along with 15 tackles . In addition to this , he also recorded a sack against New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the AFC championship game . The Ravens would go on to lose this game 23 - 20 . During the 2012 season , Kruger would become a significant part of the Ravens defense . In Week 10 , against the Oakland Raiders , Kruger deflected a pass and picked an interception in a 55 - 20 win . During Week 16 against the New York Giants , he sacked quarterback Eli Manning in a 33 - 14 victory . During the Wild card round in the 2012 playoffs , he forced Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck to fumble . The Ravens would win 24 - 9 . In the Divisional Round against the Denver Broncos , he sacked quarterback Peyton Manning and recovered a fumble in which the Ravens would go on to win 38 - 35 in double overtime . In Super Bowl XLVII , he had two sacks on critical junctures of the game , forcing the 49ers to kick field goals . Cleveland Browns . Kruger signed with the Cleveland Browns to a five - year $ 40M contract on March 12 , 2013 . Personal . Kruger went through two serious childhood accidents . He almost died in his Uncle ' s jeep accident at age 13 . In college at Salt Lake City , Utah , ( January 29 , 2008 ) a street stabbing left him with a 6 . 5 inch scar on his chest . A screwdriver was driven through the back of a Ute teammate and brass knuckles were used to break the nose and shatter the cheekbone of his younger brother . The fight left Kruger with " life - threatening injuries " that required nearly 50 staples to close the incisions made during a four - hour surgery . References . Matt Vensel ( April 05 , 2012 ) . " Ravens expect ' a heck of a year ' from Paul Kruger " . " Baltimore Sun website " . Retrieved April 05 , 2012 .