Brandon Meriweather Brandon Meriweather ( born January 14 , 1984 ) is an American football safety for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for the University of Miami , and was drafted by the New England Patriots with the 24th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft . Meriweather has also played for the Chicago Bears . Early years . Meriweather ' s mother gave birth to him when she was 13 years old . Meriweather started living with his adopted parents at age 11 . Meriweather attended Apopka High School in Apopka , Florida where he helped lead his school to the Florida Class 6A state championship as a senior in 2001 . He started as a kick returner , returning four kicks for touchdowns as a senior . He also lettered in track and basketball . College career . Meriweather received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami and play for the Miami Hurricanes football team . In 2002 , Meriweather played in three games and had three total tackles before injuring his ankle , and was given a medical redshirt by the NCAA . In 2003 , Meriweather played the majority of the season on special teams and in different nickel and dime packages . He got his first start against West Virginia as a nickel back . He finished the year with 22 tackles , one interception and five pass break - ups . Meriweather played in all 12 games of the 2004 season but only started seven because of a nagging shoulder injury . He contributed 62 tackles , a half sack , two forced fumbles , five pass break - ups and two interceptions . He received the team ' s 2004 Hard Hitter Award . Meriweather was named to the All - America team as voted by the Football Writers Association of America ( FWAA ) and was also selected first - team All - ACC in 2005 . He was also a semi - finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award . He led the team with a career - high 115 tackles , seven pass break - ups , one sack , one fumble recovery , two forced fumbles and three interceptions . He received the team ' s Hard Hitter Award for the second consecutive season . In 2006 Meriweather was a member of the 50th Anniversary " Playboy " Preseason All - America Team and was also on the Thorpe Award watch list for the second straight year . In 12 games , Meriweather registered 91 tackles , one sack , eight pass break - ups and one interception . He was also a semi - finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award , and was voted first - team All - ACC and All - American . He left Miami with the record for most tackles by a defensive back with 293 . Meriweather was invited to the Senior Bowl at the end of the season . Controversies . Shooting incident . On July 21 , 2006 Meriweather was involved in a shooting incident when teammate Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks . In self - defense , Meriweather returned fire and shot at the unidentified shooters three times . Meriweather was not charged with a crime because his gun was owned legally . Miami - FIU Brawl . During the Miami - FIU brawl on October 14 , 2006 , Meriweather was seen stomping multiple times on several Florida International players on the ground . Meriweather was ultimately suspended by the ACC and Miami for his role in the incident . It is believed that his actions during the brawl and the shooting incident may have caused his draft stock to slip . Professional career . New England Patriots . Meriweather was selected in the first round ( 24th overall ) of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots . During his rookie season most of his time was spent on special teams , and he finished the season with 28 tackles . He played in Super Bowl XLII as a third safety in the Patriots ' defense behind Rodney Harrison and James Sanders . During his second season in 2008 , Meriweather recorded his first career interception in Week 2 off New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre . After starting strong safety Rodney Harrison suffered a season - ending injury against the Denver Broncos in Week 7 , Meriweather started the final 11 games . In Week 14 , Meriweather recorded his first career sack to stifle a late - game Seattle Seahawks drive and secure a Patriots victory . He finished the season with 83 tackles , two sacks , and four interceptions . In Week 7 , Meriweather had two interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , including one returned 39 yards for a touchdown , and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week . He started all 16 games and finished the 2009 season with 83 tackles and five interceptions , and was named to his first Pro Bowl as a replacement to the injured Jairus Byrd . Brandon Meriweather was not part of the Patriots base defense to begin the 2010 season , something which Meriweather described as a coaching decision as a result of him freelancing in the defense during training camp . After being replaced as a starter in Weeks 2 and 3 by James Sanders , Meriweather returned to his starting role in Week 4 . In Week 6 , Meriweather was penalized for a helmet - to - helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap . While Heap walked off the field and would later return , the hit , grouped together with other helmet - to - helmet hits on defenseless receivers from NFL players during the week , sparked controversy over the protection of players . The NFL took action the following Tuesday when they fined Meriweather $ 50 , 000 for the hit . Following the game , the league announced that it would begin suspending players for dangerous hits , particularly those involving helmet to helmet hits on defenseless receivers . In 16 games played ( 13 starts ) , Meriweather recorded 68 tackles , three interceptions , and six passes defensed . He was named to his second Pro Bowl following the season . During final cuts on September 3 , 2011 , Meriweather was released by the New England Patriots . Chicago Bears . Meriweather signed with the Chicago Bears on September 4 , 2011 to a one - year deal . After Week 4 of 2011 NFL season against the Carolina Panthers , he was fined $ 20 , 000 for a helmet - to - helmet hit against Steve Smith . The week after he was fined $ 25 , 000 for an unnecessary roughness penalty due to a late hit after the end of a play against the Detroit Lions . Former Bears wide receiver , Tom Waddle , negatively criticized Meriweather ' s tackling technique stating that it doesn ' t show any regard for the safety of other players . Washington Redskins . Meriweather signed a two - year , $ 6 million contract with the Washington Redskins on March 15 , 2012 . In practice on September 3 , he suffered a sprain in the medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee . After missing the first three games , he was expected to make his 2012 season debut in Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He ended up colliding with Aldrick Robinson during pre - game warmups and both were inactive for the game , due to Meriweather re - injuring his knee and Robinson out with a concussion . He would finally make his debut for the Redskins in their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 18 , where he had a significant impact early in the game registering one interception and multiple hard hitting tackles , but left in the second half with a right knee injury . It was confirmed the next day that Meriweather suffered a right ACL tear and would miss the remainder of the 2012 season on injured reserve . Controversy . Arrest on Suspicion of DWI . On April 25 , 2012 , Meriweather was arrested in Arlington County , Virginia , on suspicion of driving while intoxicated , according to a press account . Meriweather was initially stopped for speeding on westbound I - 66 , according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck , who also said that officers detected an odor of alcohol on his breath and performed a field sobriety test , which Meriweather failed . Sternbeck further stated that Meriweather refused a breathalyzer test , was arrested and spent the night in the Arlington County jail . According to the press account , " Police say Meriweather claimed he was driving home from a club in D . C . , but couldn ’ t remember the name of the club . "