Greg Spires factoids

By Os Davis  |   Wednesday, May 14, 2008  |  Comments( 108 )

Oakland Raiders
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The Oakland Raiders picked up 10-year veteran Greg Spires last weekend, signing the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer to a one-year deal. The acquisition is generally considered part of the effort to fill the vacuum at right defensive end created by Chris Clemons’ departure in free agency, though Spires has spent most of his career on the left. (And, to be honest, the Raiders are generally pretty thin on either side.) Spires looks to make the final roster perhaps as a starter, but the pass-rush specialist should see lots of quality time in the 2008 season.

A few factoids for you all on the newest to wear the silver and black, then.

The possibilities

Of 160 regular-season games in a career spent with Tampa Bay, the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, Spires has played in 147. Perhaps playing a factor in his release from the Buccaneers, however, was the stretch of six games Spires missed last year thanks to a calf injury. Prior to the injury, Spires had been enjoying the best run of his career with Tampa Bay, prospering in the Cover 2 scheme. From 2004-2006, Spires was a model of consistency in starting every regular-season game and the Bucs’ sole playoff outing, averaging 53 tackes (38 solo) per season and sack totals of eight, four and five.

The stats

Spires’ peak season statistically was 2004, when he totaled eight sacks to go with 61 tackles (47 solo) for the Bucs. In 2000, he punished QBs for six sacks in his junior NFL season with the Patriots. And just two years ago, Spires turned in a five-sack, 51-tackle season spending some time at DT and playing from either side of the line.

The money

Terms of Spires’ deal with the Raiders were undisclosed, but the man was expecting to pull down $3.8 million with the Buccaneers in 2008.

The interpersonal connections

Spires’ linebackers coach from his Patriot days was Rob Ryan, now DC for Oakland; Spires’ defensive coordinator at Tampa Bay was Monte Kiffin, father of Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin.

The local newspaper note

Spires played high school football for the Mariner (Florida) Fighting Tritons, whose uniform colors are black and silver.

The university years

Spires stayed local, playing four years for the Florida State Seminoles; he got time at linebacker in addition to his time on the line and turned in a monster senior year, with 32 tackles (17 solo), 10 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a second-team All-ACC nod. He was selected by the Patriots in Round 3 of the draft at No. 83 overall.

The nickname

“The Crane.”

The trivia

In almanac format: Spires’ first two NFL sacks came against Elvis Grbac and Doug Flutie (whoa, flashback); in a game with Cleveland in 2001, had a career-high five tackles against the Tennessee Titans; was a “USA Today All-Joe” in 2005; has one Super Bowl ring, earned with Tampa Bay against … ah, you know the rest.

The line from Spires

"I want to go out on my terms,” said Spires on Monday, “Oh yeah. I'm hungry."

Summing up all things and folks gridiron throughout the year at RealFootball365.com
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's...
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CommentsComments: 108  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
02:01 AM
05/14/2008
Nice one Os:-) As I stated a couple of days ago when word leaked he was going to sign with the Raiders, he's going to be a nice...
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No.2
Raiderusmaximus		02:47 AM
05/14/2008
Awesome Awesome Awesome! Way to go AL and Rob ryan. Beware AFC West because the Raiders are ready to make heads roll. All you...
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No.3
RaiderSensation		02:51 AM
05/14/2008
I'm now starting to believe that Spires will make the final cut. There was an article saying that he was moving his family to the...
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