Jimmy Kennedy ( American football ) Jimmy Wayne Kennedy ( born November 15 , 1979 ) is an American football defensive tackle who is currently playing for the New York Giants as of August 2011 in the National Football League . He was drafted by the St . Louis Rams 12th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft . He played college football at Penn State . Kennedy has also been a member of the Denver Broncos , Chicago Bears , Jacksonville Jaguars , and Minnesota Vikings . Early years . Kennedy attended Roosevelt High School in Yonkers , where he was a three - year starter on both offense and defense . Under Coach Tony DeMatteo , Kennedy earned All - America n , All - city , All - conference , All - state , and team MVP honors . He also won a local High School Heisman trophy sponsored by the Downtown Athletic Club . In Kennedy ' s junior season , Roosevelt High was 12 – 0 and won the state championship . In his three years as a starter the team was 30 – 3 . After his senior season of 1998 Kennedy played in the Governor ' s Bowl , in which the best prep players of New York played the best high school players in New Jersey . College career . A four - year starter at Penn State University , Kennedy was named the 2002 Big Ten Defensive Lineman - of - the - Year and was a two - time first - team All - Big Ten selection . A semi - finalist for the Lombardi Award , Kennedy finished his career with 213 tackles , 14 sacks , and 39 tackles - for - loss . He earned a Bachelor of Science in rehabilitation services in 2002 . In his freshman season Kennedy played in 12 games , starting 6 , and recorded 33 tackles and batted away 4 passes . In 2000 , as a sophomore , Kennedy started all 11 games for Penn State and recorded 42 tackles and 6 sacks . As a junior , in 2001 , he made 51 tackles and logged 1 . 5 sacks and was voted All - Big Ten for the first time . As a senior in 2002 Kennedy was named a First - team All - America by " The Sporting News " , and Walter Camp Football Foundation , " The NFL Draft Report " , and third - team honors from the Associated Press . He recorded 87 tackles , 5 . 5 sacks and batted away 3 passes in 2002 . Professional career . St . Louis Rams . The 6 ' 4 " , 320 lb . defensive tackle was the first round pick ( # 12 overall ) of the St . Louis Rams in the 2003 NFL Draft . On July 30 , 2003 , Kennedy signed a 5 - year $ 9 million contract that included a $ 5 million signing bonus . The following year , Kennedy played in the final 9 games of the season , starting 5 of them . During this time , he posted 16 tackles and one pass defensed . Kennedy started both postseason games where he registered nine tackles and one sack . On January 8 , 2005 he recorded two tackles and one sack . He tracked down Matt Hasselbeck for a six - yard loss in the last minute of the fourth quarter of the Rams ’ 27 – 20 win . By 2005 , Kennedy had earned a spot as the Rams ' nose tackle , played in 15 games and started the first 9 games of the season . With a chance to finally play , Kennedy made a respectable 33 tackles , 3 sacks , and 1 forced fumble . On September 18 , 2005 , he posted four tackles with two sacks of Kurt Warner along with first career forced fumble . In 2006 Kennedy started all 16 games at nose tackle for the Rams for the first time in his career and recorded 39 tackles , one sack , one pass defensed , one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries Denver Broncos . Kennedy was traded to the Denver Broncos on June 8 , 2007 , for a 6th round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft . On September 1 , 2007 , the Broncos released him . Chicago Bears . On December 11 , 2007 the Chicago Bears signed Kennedy and he played in the final three games of the 2007 season , making three tackles . The Bears declined to match the Jacksonville Jaguars ' s offer to Kennedy in the offseason . Jacksonville Jaguars . Kennedy signed a one - year , $ 655 , 000 contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on March 4 , 2008 . He played six games with the Jaguars , making 5 tackles and a sack before being waived mid - season on November 24 , 2008 . Minnesota Vikings . The Minnesota Vikings signed Kennedy on December 3 , 2008 , to help fill the void created when Pro Bowl defensive tackles Pat Williams and Kevin Williams were suspended , but the NFL could not enforce their punishment after local judges stalled the matter indefinitely . He had a solid year as the backup in the 2009 season recording 3 sacks in limited playing time . He became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2008 and 2009 season , but was re - signed both years . On July 28 , 2011 , he was released . New York Giants . The New York Giants signed Kennedy on August 23 , 2011 . After recording four tackles in the first five weeks of the season , Kennedy was suspended four games for violating the league ' s policy on performance - enhancing drugs on October 11 . He became a free agent after the season .