Greg Spires Gregory Tyrone Spires ( born August 12 , 1974 ) is an American football player who is currently a free agent . He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft . He played college football at Florida State . Spires has also been a member for the Cleveland Browns , Tampa Bay Buccaneers , and Oakland Raiders . He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII . College career . Greg Spires played college football at Florida State University as a Seminole . He was a four - year letterman from 1994 - 1998 . His NFL Draft status dropped to the third round as a result of a cracked fibula entering the end of his junior year . It carried through to three games of his senior season . Also , Spires did not start in his junior season . Throughout his college career , he played the positions of linebacker , nose guard , and defensive end . Greg Spires was redshirt ed in 1993 . Professional career . New England Patriots . After being drafted by the New England Patriots ( 3rd round , 83rd selection overall ) , Spires played in 15 games including the playoff appearance that the Patriots had . He recorded two sacks against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the postseason . During the 1999 season , he played 11 games until he suffered a hip injury against the Buffalo Bills on November 28 , 1999 and eventually was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the 1999 season . In 2000 , Greg Spires had a great year . He played in all 16 games , and started two of them . Spires recorded a career high 6 sacks and tied Willie McGinest for the team lead . Spires also forced three fumbles . He was resigned by the Patriots on April 30 , 2001 . Because of team issues , Greg Spires was released by the Patriots towards the start of the 2001 season , on September 3 , 2001 . He was claimed and signed by the Cleveland Browns the very next day . Cleveland Browns . Greg Spires ' career with the Cleveland Browns was short - lived . Despite being there for just one season , Spires played in all 16 games and started 4 . He recorded four sacks that season . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Greg Spires became an unrestricted free agent after the 2001 season and was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . Spires found a place with the Bucs and was their perennial starter at left defensive end from 2002 to 2007 . He came at just the right time , as the Bucs sailed through the playoffs and won Super Bowl XXXVII against the Oakland Raiders . He totaled 47 tackles , 3 . 5 sacks , one forced fumble , one fumble recovery , and one pass defended lining up opposite right defensive end Simeon Rice . Because of the chemistry of this defense , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the best pass defense and best overall defense in the NFL . Greg Spires , since then , has played through being one of the top - tier defenses in 2003 , 2004 , and 2005 ( where they finished first again ) . He helped the Buccaneers to the playoffs , but they lost in the wild card round to the Washington Redskins . On February 27 , 2008 the Buccaneers released him . Oakland Raiders . On May 10 , 2008 he signed with the Oakland Raiders . He was later released on August 25 , 2008 . Personal . Greg Spires has one daughter , Leila .