Phillip Merling Phillip Blaine Merling ( born April 19 , 1985 ) is an American football defensive end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft . He played college football at Clemson University . He was also a member of the Green Bay Packers . Early years . Played tight end and defensive end at Fork Union Military Academy in 2004 . He totaled 38 catches for 647 yards and five touchdowns on offense and on defense he added five sacks , 51 tackles , and eight pass breakups . He had 20 catches for 430 yards and four scores as a senior and totaled 96 tackles and thirty four sacks as a senior . For that performance he was the MVP at Fork Union . After his senior year he played in the Tennessee / Kentucky All - Star game . He was also First - team All - state and All - region as a senior Prior to Fork Union , Merling attended Calhoun County High School in Saint Matthews , SC , for three years . Merling was also All - conference , All - region , and All - area in basketball as a sophomore and junior . He averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a senior and averaged 15 points and 13 rebounds as a junior . College career . He appeared in 38 games at Clemson , starting his final 26 . He delivered 146 tackles ( 99 solos ) , 12 sacks for minus 80 yards , 31 stops for losses totaling 152 yards and 45 quarterback pressures . In 2007 , he recorded 78 total tackles ( first among defensive linemen ) , including 17 tackles - for - loss and seven sacks . He was instrumental to the Tigers ’ top 10 national ranking in scoring and total defense . Was voted Second - team All - ACC for his efforts . He was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week three times , more than any other ACC player . It marked the first time since 2001 that a Clemson player was named ACC Player of the Week three times . He started all 13 games of the 2006 season , finishing with 46 total tackles on Clemson ' s top - 16 total and scoring defense . Merling had had 10 tackles for loss , second - most on the team behind Gaines Adams . Merling also recorded three sacks , 20 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble that year . Merling played 271 snaps during his true freshman season in 2005 . Won the 12th Man Award for the defense as a freshman and was a Second - team freshman All - America defensive end by Rivals . com . Professional career . Pre - draft . Merling underwent a successful laparscopic by athletic pubalgia surgeon Dr . William Myers to repair a sports hernia . As a result he did not participate in most drills at the combine or the Clemson Pro day due to his recovery from surgery . However , on April 25 , 2008 , Merling had a private " pro day " for scouts and " performed well " . Merling worked out hard for about 45 minutes . " The kid ' s a pretty safe pick , " one scout said . " He ' s not going to get outflanked , " another said , referring to Merling ' s stoutness at the point of attack . No numbers have been released from the workout . Measurables . Height : 6 ' 4½ " Weight : 271 lbs 40 - yard time : 4 . 63 , 4 . 73 , 4 . 84 ( pre - combine ) 225 - pound bench press : 17 reps Miami Dolphins . Merling was selected 32nd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins . In Week 17 of the 2008 season , he intercepted a Brett Favre pass and returned it for a touchdown , helping the Dolphins clinch the 2008 AFC East Division championship . Before the 2010 season he suffered a torn Achilles ' Tendon and was ruled out for the season , although he was activated before the Dolphins ' Week 13 game with Cleveland . Merling was waived by the Dolphins on April 23 , 2012 . He had only made seven tackles over the last two seasons . Green Bay Packers . Merling signed with the Green Bay Packers on May 23 , 2012 . He was released by the Green Bay Packers on November 6 , 2012 Washington Redskins . The Washington Redskins signed Merling to a reserve contract on January 8 , 2013 . Personal . Merling was arrested in Broward County , Florida on May 26 , 2010 and charged with aggravated battery against a pregnant female . Merling was the second of two defensive linemen for the Miami Dolphins , Tony McDaniel being the first , to be arrested and charged with battery against a female during the 2010 offseason . The charges were later dropped by the Broward State Attorney ' s office after the accusing female moved back to her home state of South Carolina and did not return to testify against him .