Vinny Ciurciu Vincenzo Ciurciu ( born May 2 , 1980 ) is an American football linebacker that is currently a National Football League free agent . He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2003 . He played college football at Boston College . Ciurciu has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Minnesota Vikings , New England Patriots and Detroit Lions . Early years . Ciurciu played high school football at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale , New Jersey after playing one season in Elmwood Park Memorial High School in Elmwood Park , New Jersey . He was garnished all - state honors at linebacker as a junior and senior . He rushed for 1 , 260 yards and 25 touchdowns his senior year . College career . Ciurciu began his college career at Clemson University as a freshman fullback in 1998 . He played in 23 games between 1998 and 1999 , totaling 30 carries , four catches , and one touchdown . After head coach Tommy West was fired from Clemson , Tommy Bowden was hired as head coach , and brought in a new offensive plan . This resulted in Ciurciu getting lost in the mix and prompted him to transfer to Boston College . He sat out the 2000 season at BC per transfer rules . Ciurciu moved to linebacker for the Eagles and led the team in tackles as a junior in 2001 with 87 tackles and two interceptions , and ranked second on team as a senior in 2002 with 102 tackles and one interception . Professional career . First stint with Panthers . After going undrafted in the 2003 NFL Draft , Ciurciu was signed by the Carolina Panthers on May 2 , 2003 , but was released on August 31 , 2003 . He was re - signed to the Panthers practice squad three days later . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . On October 8 , 2003 , the Buccaneers signed Ciurciu off the Panthers practice squad to their active roster . He was released by the Buccaneers on December 2 , 2003 . Second stint with Panthers . Ciurciu was re - signed to the Panthers practice squad on December 5 , 2003 . He was elevated to their active roster on December 20 , where he spent the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs , including the Panthers ' appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII . In 2004 , Ciurciu played in all 16 games and started four games , for an injured Dan Morgan , at middle linebacker , and registered a career high 33 tackles , 25 of them solo tackles . In three of his four starts , he had 7 or more tackles . In 2005 he ranked second on team with 14 special teams stops . His one start of the year came against Miami on September 25 at outside linebacker in place of Will Witherspoon . In 2006 he led Carolina with a career - best 18 special teams tackles 11 of them solo tackles , and again played in all 16 games . Minnesota Vikings . Ciurciu signed with the Minnesota Vikings following the 2006 season . In 2007 , he tied for second among Vikings with 15 special teams tackles despite missing three games during the season with injuries . In 2008 he played in 14 games with one start and totaled eight tackles . He was released by the Vikings in March 2009 after his total of tackles plummeted from 15 in 2007 to eight in 2008 . At the finish of his career with Minnesota , Ciurciu appeared in 27 regular seasons games , totaling 23 tackles on special teams . New England Patriots . The New England Patriots signed Ciurciu on May 4 , 2009 . He was released on September 4 , 2009 . Detroit Lions . The Detroit Lions signed Ciurciu October 22 , 2009 . He was re - signed on March 5 , 2010 . On September 3 , 2011 , it was announced that Vinny Ciurciu would be suspended from four regular season games for violating the league ' s substance abuse policy .