Matt Murphy ( American football tackle ) Matthew " Matt " Jarrid Murphy is an American football player in the National Football League . Murphy was selected in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions . He is currently a free agent . Early life . Murphy was born to Michael and Dawn Murphy on 23 February 1980 in New Haven , Michigan . His uncle , Dwight Lee had played football in college at Michigan State where he had earned an All - American honorable mention . He attended New Haven High School where he played six positions on the football team : defensive end , defensive tackle , fullback , linebacker , tight end , and wide receiver . During his senior year in 1996 , Murphy compiled 80 tackles on defense and the Detroit Free Press named him an All - Met player . College career . Murphy attended the University of Maryland , where he played as a tight end for the Terrapins . He was the first player to commit to the Maryland ' s then new head coach Ron Vanderlinden . He sat out the 1997 season as a redshirt ( college sports ) before acting as the second - string tight end behind Eric James . That season , Murphy saw action in six games but recorded no receptions . In 1999 , Murphy was moved from tight end to defensive end . He saw action against Western Carolina Catamounts , West Virginia , and North Carolina , recording a tackle in each of the latter two games . In 2000 , he saw action in all eleven of the Terps ' games , including a start as a defensive end against Virginia . He returned to the tight end role later in the season . Murphy recorded two tackles and no receptions . Murphy missed 2001 spring practice due to shoulder surgery . In 2001 , Murphy played in eleven games making twelve receptions for 137 yards , with a long of 34 yards . That season was Maryland ' s best in over a decade , with the team finishing with a 10 – 2 record , securing the Atlantic Coast Conference championship , and a Bowl Championship Series berth against fifth - ranked Florida . Professional career . Murphy was selected in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions ( 253rd overall ) . That season , he saw action in one game against the Minnesota Vikings , where he made one reception for a gain of eight yards . On 2 September 2003 , Murphy was released and then the following day re - signed to the Lions practice squad . On 10 December 2003 , he was signed by the Houston Texans . He remained with the Texans for three years , playing one , eleven , and nine games in the 2003 , 2004 , and 2005 seasons , but did not compile any further statistics until 2005 . Then , Murphy made two receptions for 26 yards , one for 14 and one for 12 yards . Houston then released Murphy and he signed with the Seattle Seahawks in the 2006 off - season , but was released on 2 September 2006 . On 22 November 2006 , Murphy was picked up by the Buffalo Bills . He played two games each for Buffalo in the 2006 and 2007 seasons , but compiled no statistics . Prior to the 2008 season , Murphy injured his shoulder during practice with a partial rotator cuff tear . He was subsequently released from the Buffalo Bills , before being signed and then waived by the Denver Broncos .