Tommy Polley Tommy William Polley ( born January 18 , 1978 in Baltimore , Maryland ) was an American football player in the NFL . He originally played for the St . Louis Rams from 2001 to 2004 before signing with the Ravens as a free agent in 2005 . He played only one season with the Ravens before signing with the Saints on June 2 , 2006 . Polley grew up in Baltimore and played football for Dunbar High School . He was a Top 50 Basketball prospect according to Hoop Scoop . Early years . Polley was hailed as one of the top prep athletes in the nation during his senior year at Dunbar High School in Baltimore , which is regarded as one of the top producers of basketball talent in the country . He was " USA Today ’ s " Player - of - the - Year in Maryland after recording 208 tackles ( 136 solo ) , 16 sacks and eight interceptions as a senior . He also caught 34 passes for 567 yards and three TDs . He led his team to back - to - back state championships as a junior and senior and was named Baltimore area Defensive Player - of - the - Year after both his junior and senior campaigns . He was also regarded as one of the country ’ s top 60 basketball prospects and led the Poets to four straight state titles — averaged 20 . 4 points , 10 . 7 rebounds and 8 . 1 assists per game as a senior . College career . Polley enrolled at Florida State University as a scholarship player . He ended his collegiate career with 289 tackles ( 170 solo ) and was a semi - finalist for the Butkus Award , Third - team Football News All - America n , First - team All - ACC selection , and a finalist for the ACC ’ s Brian Piccolo Award ( as a result of his courageous comeback from the injury he suffered in the Sugar Bowl ) . In his final season at FSU , Polley had 100 tackles with 53 solo tackles , 7 tackles for a loss , 2 sacks , broke up 7 passes , and recovered a team - high 3 fumbles and forced one . The defensive leader and captain took the Seminoles to another National Championship ( 2001 Orange Bowl ) , even though his team ultimately lost 13 - 2 to the Oklahoma Sooners . In his junior year in 1999 Polley had an outstanding season when he led Florida State with 109 tackles ( 67 solos ) and also had six stops for loss . He earned First - team All - ACC accolades . In his Sophomore Year ( 1998 ) he started 12 of 13 games at both outside linebacking posts and had 59 total tackles ( 37 solo ) and had two tackles for loss . 1997 was his redshman Year ( and he totaled 21 tackles with 13 solo stops in first year of action and played in all 12 games and had at least one tackle in eight games . In 1996 he Redshirted along with most of his class . Professional career . Polley was drafted by the St . Louis Rams on the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft . He finished his rookie season with 67 tackles ( 50 solo ) . Polley went on to have a solid 6 - year NFL career , amassing 304 tackles with 224 solo stops , and retired in 2007 after a shoulder injury sidelined him for most of the season . After 4 seasons with the Rams , he finished his career by spending one - year with the Baltimore Ravens and his final year with the New Orleans Saints . Personal . Polley now is an assistant coach at Aberdeen High School in Aberdeen , MD .