Sam Adams ( American football ) Samuel Aaron Adams , Jr . ( born June 13 , 1973 ) is a former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League ( NFL ) for fourteen seasons . He played college football at Texas A & M University , and earned All - American honors . He was originally drafted by the Seattle Seahawks eighth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft , and he also played professionally for the Baltimore Ravens , Oakland Raiders , Buffalo Bills , Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos of the NFL . Adams was a three - time Pro Bowl selection and a two - time All - Pro . Early years . Adams was born in Houston , Texas . He attended Cypress Creek High School in Houston , and he was part of the Cypress Creek Cougars defense that included fellow future NFL player Dan Neil . At Cy - Creek , Adams was not only the Prep Southwest Defensive Player of the Year in football , but a state champion in the shot put , placing second in the nation among high school track and field athletes . College career . Adams attended Texas A & M University , where he was a starter for the Texas A & M Aggies football team for three years . He was the Southwest Conference ( SWC ) Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 1991 and a first - team freshman All - American . He was a first - team All - SWC selection in 1992 after making 56 tackles , including 4 . 5 quarterback sack s . In his junior year , 1993 , he led the team in tackles for loss ( 13 ) , sacks ( 10 . 5 ) , forced fumble s ( 5 ) , and fumble recoveries ( 3 ) , while making 78 tackles . He was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American , and was named national defensive player of the year by " Sports Illustrated " . He was also the Southwest Conference defensive player of the year , as well as the runner - up for the Lombardi Award . He finished his Texas A & M football career with 169 total tackles , 23 tackles for a loss , 20 . 5 sacks , seven forced fumbles , three fumble recoveries , and two interceptions . He was also was a member of the Texas A & M track team , throwing the shot and discus and for his accomplishments on the track and on the gridiron , Adams was inducted into the Texas A & M Hall of Fame in 2001 . Professional career . Adams was selected in the first round ( eighth overall ) by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1994 NFL Draft , and he played for the Seahawks from to . He made several starts during his rookie year , splitting time between defensive tackle and defensive end . In his second season , he sacked Mark Brunell of the Jacksonville Jaguars for a safety , scoring his first points of his professional career . He also blocked a field goal in overtime against the Arizona Cardinals . He played several more years for Seattle , making the AFC Pro Bowl team as an alternate in 1997 . In 2000 he signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens , and helped lead a dominating defense in the league to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV . That season he was also named as a starter in the Pro Bowl for the first time , a feat he would repeat the following season . In 2002 he was a free agent once again , and this time he signed with the Oakland Raiders . He started 14 of 16games that season , missing one due to injury and played in the other game , but did not start . He was on the team that went to Super Bowl XXXVII . In 2003 , Adams signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent and helped anchor the defensive line there . His first game for Buffalo was a memorable one , as he registered a sack , two tackles , and an interception against Tom Brady that was returned for a touchdown ( his second career TD ) . He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2003 for the second time in his career . On March 1 , 2006 , Adams was released by the Bills due to salary cap issues . On March 31 , 2006 , Adams signed a three - year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals , reuniting him with head coach Marvin Lewis who was the defensive coordinator for the Ravens when Adams played for them . In what Marvin Lewis called " a very difficult decision " , the Bengals released Adams on May 14 , 2007 . He further commented , " But the timing is such that it provides Sam the opportunity to obtain a roster spot with another team . " Adams signed with the Denver Broncos on June 4 , 2007 . He was released on December 4 , 2007 . Personal . Adams and his wife Erika have two sons , Sam and Terin , and a daughter , Tea Alexis . His father , Sam Adams Sr . , played guard in the NFL for the New England Patriots ( 1972 – 1980 ) and New Orleans Saints ( 1981 ) . Adams was also the owner of the Everett Hawks of the arenafootball2 ( af2 ) , and he also owned an af2 team in Cincinnati , Ohio called the Cincinnati Jungle Kats that played one season in 2007 . Adams is nicknamed " The Man Mountain " . He is still a very popular figure in Seattle ; he raised the " 12th Man " flag during a 2012 Sunday Night Football game against the San Francisco 49ers .