Jim Maxwell ( American football ) James Maxwell ( born August 8 , 1981 in Johnsonville , South Carolina ) is an American football linebacker who most recently played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League . He was signed by the NFL New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004 . He played college football at Gardner - Webb . Maxwell has also played for the San Francisco 49ers , Miami Dolphins , and Cincinnati Bengals . Early years . Maxwell attended Johnsonville High School in Johnsonville , South Carolina where he was a letterman in football . Maxwell graduated from Johnsonville in 1999 as a salutatorian . College career . At the beginning of his college football career his coach asked him if he wanted to sit on the bench or play defense . Maxwell started all 42 games in which he played during his four - year collegiate career at Gardner - Webb from 2000 to 2003 . He finished his career with 306 tackles , 10 sacks , four interceptions , 11 fumble recoveries and eight forced fumbles . He was a first - team All - Big South Conference selection as a senior in 2003 when he tallied 116 tackles , three sacks and an interception . He graduated with a degree in business administration . Professional career . New York Giants . Maxwell went undrafted in the 2004 NFL Draft and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Giants on April 27 , 2004 . He was waived by the team following training camp on August 30 but was re - signed to the practice squad . Maxwell was promoted to the active roster on September 14 and remained there the final 14 games of the regular season . He recorded seven tackles and a sack on defense and 11 stops on special teams . Prior to the 2005 season , Maxwell was recognized by the NFL for completing his college studies and earning an MBA from Gardner - Webb . He was able to earn the degree by taking advantage of the Continuing Education Program , offered by the NFL Player Development Department . In 2005 , Maxwell once again was waived by the Giants at the conclusion of the preseason . San Francisco 49ers . On October 11 , the San Francisco 49ers signed him to their active roster , where he stayed for 11 games . On the year , he recorded seven tackles on defense , and finished third on team on with 14 stops on special teams . He also recovered a fumble on special teams . Maxwell was waived by the 49ers on September 2 , 2006 . Miami Dolphins . With linebacker Derrick Pope nursing a hamstring injury prior to Week 6 , the Dolphins signed Maxwell to their active roster on October 11 . He ended up playing in a reserve role eight games during the season and was inactive three times . He made his Dolphin debut in a special teams role on October 15 against the New York Jets . He finished the season with three solo tackles and one assisted tackle . Cincinnati Bengals . Jim Maxwell ' s debut with the Cincinnati Bengals came on December 15 , 2007 in a 13 - 20 loss at San Francisco . Despite the team loss , Maxwell recorded his first two tackles as a Bengal . He was released during final cuts on August 30 , 2008 . The Bengals re - signed Maxwell on December 17 after linebacker Victor Hobson was waived .