Ed Ta'amu
Encyclopedia
Ed Ta'amu is an arena football
offensive lineman who currently plays for the Spokane Shock
of the newly reformed Arena Football League. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Utah
.
Ta'amu has played for the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans
, Spokane Shock
(af2
) and Kansas City Brigade
.
As a rookie in the National Football League in 2002, he was one of 28 Samoa
n players in the league. As well, as of October 4, 2008, he was one of 16 Polynesia
n players in the Arena Football League.
where he was an All-America Honorable Mention as a senior
in 1997.
, as well as backup long snapper
. On the season, he recorded three tackles. In 1999, he was a backup defensive tackle, a position where he did not receive much playing time, so in turn, he was switched to offensive line. In 2000, he started all but one game.
altercation with a man who was firing off illegal fireworks
.
Ta'amu allegedly threw a punch at a man after the following events occurred. The man was firing illegal fireworks, and one of his missiles landed in an area near Ta'amu's home, where Ta'amu and some of his friends were standing, causing him to ask the man to stop. The man, however, continued firing and Ta'amu repeated his request and did not hit the man until the alleged victim kicked a can that he was using to launch the rockets into Ta'amu's chest
, at which point Ta'amu punched the victim. As a result of the incident, he was suspended for the first three games of the season. However, that decision was later reduced to two games, anger management counseling and performing community service. He was ultimately convicted of the assault charge.
However, Ta'amu came back and played well enough to be selected to play in the Senior Bowl
.
selection. He recorded 123 knockdowns blocks, including a school record 25 against Brigham Young during his senior season.
Ta'amu was graded at 86.8% for blocking consistency and played in 20 of 26 games during his final two seasons. He also set new school weight room records with a 625-pound
squat and 412-pound hang clean. As a senior he also bench pressed 455 pounds. He was also selected to the All-Mountain West Conference Second-team, as well as a First-team selection by the Las Vegas Review Journal and Collegefootballnews.com.
(* represents NFL Combine)
by the Minnesota Vikings
on April 21, and was signed on July 17. However, he suffered a knee
injury and was waived by the team on September 2, 2002. The next day, he was signed to the Vikings practice squad. Then on October 16, he was placed on the practice squad's injured reserve
, ending his season. He was then signed by the Houston Texans
on January 8. He was later placed on the Physically Unable to Perform
(PUP) list on July 25. He was then waived by the Texans on September 2, 2003.
his knee before being able to compete in a full season of professional football for the Spokane Shock
of af2
, in 2006
. He played alongside future Kansas City Brigade
teammates Charles Frederick, Jerome Stevens, Chris Cook, and Neil Purvis. That season, the Shock won ArenaCup III
.
in 2007
, he began the season on injured reserve. He then started the final four games of the season, including the first ever playoff game in franchise history. In 2008
, he recorded three tackles. After the season, he was released by the Brigade.
n players in the National Football League, the most notable being Tiaina "Junior" Seau
. As of October 4, 2008, Ta'amu was one of 16 Polynesia
n players in the Arena Football League.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
offensive lineman who currently plays for the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
of the newly reformed Arena Football League. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Utah
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
.
Ta'amu has played for the Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
(af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
) and Kansas City Brigade
Kansas City Brigade
The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach...
.
As a rookie in the National Football League in 2002, he was one of 28 Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n players in the league. As well, as of October 4, 2008, he was one of 16 Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n players in the Arena Football League.
High school career
Ta'amu attended Iolani SchoolIolani School
Iolani School, located at 563 Kamoku Street in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a private coeducational college preparatory school serving over 1,800 students. Founded in 1863 by Father William R. Scott, it was the principal school of the former Anglican Church of Hawaii. It was patronized by Kamehameha IV...
where he was an All-America Honorable Mention as a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
in 1997.
College career
Ta'amu attended the University of Utah, where he was a two-year starter. Ta'amu was an academic non-qualifier in 1997, meaning he did not have the grades to play football. He joined the team in 1998, as a backup defensive endDefensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
, as well as backup long snapper
Long snapper
In American football and Canadian football, the term long snapper refers to a player who is a specialized center during punts, field goals, and extra point attempts. His job is to snap the ball as quickly and accurately as possible....
. On the season, he recorded three tackles. In 1999, he was a backup defensive tackle, a position where he did not receive much playing time, so in turn, he was switched to offensive line. In 2000, he started all but one game.
2001 Assault charge
Ta'amu was charged with misdemeanor assault after a Fourth of JulyIndependence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
altercation with a man who was firing off illegal fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
.
Ta'amu allegedly threw a punch at a man after the following events occurred. The man was firing illegal fireworks, and one of his missiles landed in an area near Ta'amu's home, where Ta'amu and some of his friends were standing, causing him to ask the man to stop. The man, however, continued firing and Ta'amu repeated his request and did not hit the man until the alleged victim kicked a can that he was using to launch the rockets into Ta'amu's chest
Chest
The chest is a part of the anatomy of humans and various other animals. It is sometimes referred to as the thorax or the bosom.-Chest anatomy - Humans and other hominids:...
, at which point Ta'amu punched the victim. As a result of the incident, he was suspended for the first three games of the season. However, that decision was later reduced to two games, anger management counseling and performing community service. He was ultimately convicted of the assault charge.
However, Ta'amu came back and played well enough to be selected to play in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
.
Career summary
Ta'amu was a two-time All-Mountain West ConferenceMountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
selection. He recorded 123 knockdowns blocks, including a school record 25 against Brigham Young during his senior season.
Ta'amu was graded at 86.8% for blocking consistency and played in 20 of 26 games during his final two seasons. He also set new school weight room records with a 625-pound
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
squat and 412-pound hang clean. As a senior he also bench pressed 455 pounds. He was also selected to the All-Mountain West Conference Second-team, as well as a First-team selection by the Las Vegas Review Journal and Collegefootballnews.com.
Pre-draft
Ta'amu received an invitation to the 2002 NFL Scouting Combine. He was rated as the sixth best guard out of 43. He was projected to be drafted in the third to fourth round of the draft.| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||
| Wt. Weight In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:... |
40-yard dash |
20-yard short shuttle 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone drill 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vertical jump Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
Bench Press Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... 225 lb. reps |
Broad Jump Standing long jump The standing long jump is an athletics event. It was an Olympic event until 1912.In performing the standing long jump, the jumper stands at a line marked on the ground with their feet slightly apart. The athlete takes off and lands using both feet, swinging their arms and bending their knees to... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 335 lb. | *5.30 | X | X | *29" | *28 | X' |
(* represents NFL Combine)
National Football League
Ta'amu was selected in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
on April 21, and was signed on July 17. However, he suffered a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
injury and was waived by the team on September 2, 2002. The next day, he was signed to the Vikings practice squad. Then on October 16, he was placed on the practice squad's injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
, ending his season. He was then signed by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 8. He was later placed on the Physically Unable to Perform
Physically Unable to Perform
Players can be labeled Physically Unable to Perform in the National Football League if they suffer from football-related injuries during the preseason...
(PUP) list on July 25. He was then waived by the Texans on September 2, 2003.
af2
He spent the next two years rehabbingPhysical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
his knee before being able to compete in a full season of professional football for the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
of af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, in 2006
2006 af2 season
The 2006 AF2 season was the seventh season of the AF2, the Arena Football League's minor league. The league champions were the Spokane Shock who capped off an impressive inaugural season with a win over the Green Bay Blizzard in Arena Cup VII.-Standings:...
. He played alongside future Kansas City Brigade
Kansas City Brigade
The Kansas City Command is a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. The team was founded before the 2006 season. Former Kansas City Chiefs Strong safety Kevin Porter served as head coach...
teammates Charles Frederick, Jerome Stevens, Chris Cook, and Neil Purvis. That season, the Shock won ArenaCup III
ArenaCup III
ArenaCup III was the 2002 edition of the af2's championship game, in which the National Conference Champions Florida Firecats were defeated by the American Conference Champions Peoria Pirates in Peoria, Illinois by a score of 65 to 47 .-External links:*...
.
Arena Football League
On January 5, 2007 Ta'amu signed with the Kansas City Brigade of the Arena Football League. However, when the AFL folded, he became a free agent and now plays for the Spokane ShockSpokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
Kansas City Brigade
As a rookieRookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
in 2007
2007 Kansas City Brigade season
The 2007 Kansas City Brigade season was the second season for the franchise. They made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, going 10-6 as compared to the 3-13 record in 2006...
, he began the season on injured reserve. He then started the final four games of the season, including the first ever playoff game in franchise history. In 2008
2008 Kansas City Brigade season
The 2008 Kansas City Brigade season is the third season for the franchise, second in the American Conference's Central Division. After starting the season with 6 consecutive losses, the Brigade finished the season with a 3-13 record, however still the worst record in the American...
, he recorded three tackles. After the season, he was released by the Brigade.
Spokane Shock
After a year of waiting, the AFL was reformed and when the Spokane Shock became part of the revamped AFL, Ta'amu was once again signed by Spokane in the off season and is on the active roster.Personal
In 2002, Ta'amu was one of 28 SamoaSamoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n players in the National Football League, the most notable being Tiaina "Junior" Seau
Junior Seau
Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted fifth overall by the San Diego Chargers during the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was the progenitor of the "NFL-USC linebacker".A ten-time All-Pro and...
. As of October 4, 2008, Ta'amu was one of 16 Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
n players in the Arena Football League.
See also
External links
- Kansas City Brigade bio
- Bio at ArenaFootball.com