Tommy Kelly Tommy Kelly ( born December 27 , 1980 ) is an American football player who currently plays defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders . Early years . After a standout basketball career at Jackson ' s Provine High School , he signed a football scholarship with Mississippi State University , where he played in 22 games and earned 16 starts , making 82 tackles , including 15 for loss and two quarterback sack s . He was signed as a free agent in 2004 by the Oakland Raiders . Professional career . 2004 season . After being signed in 2004 as an undrafted rookie free agent , Tommy Kelly alternated between 3 - 4 DE and 4 - 3 DT . In the very few plays that he saw action , he was able to rack up 4 sacks , including 3 weeks in a row from week 7 through week 9 . 2005 season . In 2005 , the Raiders moved away from the 3 - 4 defense , with Tommy Kelly finding a spot as the RE . Lacking the prototypical size and speed for an RE , Tommy Kelly still fared well in his sophomore season , doing well to stop the run . However , it wasn ' t until he began to see time at DT that he saw the sacks starts coming once again . In week 9 alone , Kelly racked up a total of 3 quarterback sacks — reaching Kansas City veteran Trent Green . In each instance , Kelly had lined up as a DT rather than the RE that he had been playing as previously in the year . By the end of the season , Kelly had a total of 4 . 5 sacks . 2006 season . In the offseason between the 2005 season and the 2006 season , Raider DT Ed Jasper told reporters that Tommy Kelly would be an absolute monster once he fully realized his talents and abilities . Due to these comments , as well fellow Raider DT and Pro Bowl er Warren Sapp taking Kelly under his wing , expectations were high for the young defensive lineman as the Raiders entered the 2006 season . News that he would become a full - time defensive tackle also perked up the ears of the Raider Nation considering the success that he had been experiencing on the interior line his 1st two seasons . However , the 2006 season came and went without those hopes and dreams of greatness being realized . Tommy Kelly only managed a meager 3 . 5 sacks , the lowest total of his professional career . This was not what was expected . He had received consistent playing time all season and he was playing the interior line , the spot where his pass rushing skills were his strength . Not only did he fail to reach the QB as many times as hoped , but Kelly also looked weak at the point of attack — many times being pushed backward on running plays . Much of the Raiders ' woes against the run were , in fact , blamed on Kelly . 2007 season . Kelly played in 7 games in 2007 , recording 30 tackles and 1 sack before suffering a season ending knee injury while playing against the Tennessee Titans . He was placed on injured reserve by the Oakland Raiders on October 31 , 2007 . 2008 Offseason . On February 28 , 2008 , the Oakland Raiders signed Kelly to the largest contract ever given to a defensive tackle on the eve of free agency . Kelly , a defensive end moving to defensive tackle in 2008 , signed a seven - year , $ 50 . 5 million contract with $ 18 . 125 million in guarantees and $ 25 . 125 million in the first three years . Kelly can play every spot on the defensive line , but he replaced retired Warren Sapp at the three technique for the 2008 season . 2008 Season . On September 15 , 2008 , Kelly was arrested for driving under the influence . Kelly finished the 2008 season with 55 tackles ( 31 solo ) and just 4 . 5 sacks matching his career high set in 2005 . The 2008 came once again and went , once again , without Kelly realizing his talents and abilities . He failed to live up to the contract he signed almost 12 months earlier . 2009 season . Kelly finished the season with just 55 tackles again ( 37 solo ) and a career low 1 sack . Kelly earned the label underachiever because of his lack of success of stopping the run and sacking the quarterback . 2010 season . Tommy Kelly ' s career appears to have taken a course for better things with the fortunate announcement of moving 6 - time Pro Bowl er Richard Seymour from defensive end to defensive tackle . Seymour ' s successes stopping the run and pass rushing on the left side no doubt helped Kelly at right defensive tackle . At the end of the season , Kelly had 60 tackles and 7 sacks and was named as an alternate in the 2011 Pro Bowl . 2011 season . On opening day of the 2011 NFL season , still at right defensive tackle next to Seymour , he recorded 2 tackles and a sack as the Raiders defeated the Denver Broncos . In week 10 , he recorded 3 tackles , a game - ending sack and a forced fumble as the Raiders beat the San Diego Chargers . The next week , when the Raiders won against the Minnesota Vikings , he recorded 3 tackles , two sacks and an interception off of a deflected pass .