Rod Payne Rod Payne ( born June 14 , 1974 ) is a former professional American football center who was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League . He is also a former All - American center who played for the University of Michigan Michigan Wolverines football team from 1993 - 1996 . He won a Super Bowl with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens . He became a high school football coach and was named the 2007 " South Florida Sun - Sentinel " Class 3A - 2A - 1A Coach of the Year . In March 2009 , Payne was announced as the Defensive Line Coach for Florida Atlantic University , marking his first foray into coaching at the collegiate level . After leaving Florida Atlantic , Payne was named the Head Football Coach at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton , Florida . College . A native of Miami , Florida , Payne was an All - Dade County offensive lineman and wrestler at Miami Killian High School . Payne started 40 games during his four years at the University of Michigan , including 37 consecutive games . Payne was twice named first team All Big Ten and in 1996 was named the Most Valuable Player on the Michigan team , a team co - captain ( with Jarrett Irons ) , and a first team All - American by the American Football Coaches Association . Payne was an ambidextrous center . Payne once broke his right wrist during the Michigan - Michigan State Paul Bunyan Trophy game and proceeded to snap the ball for the rest of his game with his left hand . Professional career . He was selected in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals . He was a backup with the Bengals from 1997 - 1998 and was released in September 1998 . His playing career was shortened by numerous injuries . He sat out the 1999 NFL season and had surgery on both knee s . The Bengals had released him during the 1999 season knowing he was injured , which caused Payne to file a grievance , which was settled . He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in April 2000 and was released at the end of training camp . He was signed to the Ravens ' 2000 practice squad in November , and he won a Super Bowl ring with them in Super Bowl XXXV . Over the course of his career , Payne had twelve surgeries to repair his numerous football - related injuries . In 2006 , Payne co - author ed a 2006 book called " Centered by a Miracle " ( Sports Publishing , ISBN 1 - 59670 - 145 - 5 ) with his friend and sportswriter Steve Rom . The publisher describes the book as follows : " After Steve was diagnosed with leukemia , Rod left his job as co - host of a daily sports radio talk show in Ann Arbor , his first post - football career , to help rally his friend back to health . Steve ' s future , once again , became clear . So too , however , did the challenges that lay ahead . What ensued was a 10 - month battle for survival , one that would ultimately turn these friends into brothers . " Since retiring , Rod has taught special education and been a managing partner of a health club . Rod has served on the board of the Michigan Letterwinners M Club Alumni Association . Since retiring from football , Payne has operated a shop in Ann Arbor , Michigan where he customized cars , hosted a sports talk radio show in Ann Arbor , taught special education , been a personal trainer , and served as managing partner of a gym in the Ann Arbor area area . He is also a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes ( FCA ) . Rod , who was an only child himself , is married and has one child . He was living in Boca Raton , Florida and coaching the football and wrestling teams at Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale , Florida . Payne was selected the " South Florida Sun - Sentinel " Class 3A - 2A - 1A Coach of the Year in 2007 after he led the Lions to a 7 – 3 record following his 1 – 9 first season at Westminster in 2006 . In 2008 , Rod assumed the head coaching duties at Felix Varela High School in Kendall , Florida after a 2007 season where they posted a 3 – 7 record . Varela competes in Class 6A , the largest and most competitive class . On March 13 , 2009 Payne was announced as the new Defensive Line Coach at Florida Atlantic University under legendary coach Howard Schnellenberger at the University ' s campus in Boca Raton , FL . Schnellenberger retired following the 2011 season . He signed to coach Spanish River High School for the 2012 season .