junior seau

Junior Seau has been around way too long not to have a good line ready when asked about playing the Chargers for just the second time in his splendid career.
"The best thing about this is my two favorite teams are playing on Sunday and I have a great seat," Seau said earlier this week from Foxborough, Mass.

Seau actually could be just sitting and watching the game � perhaps even at his Mission Valley restaurant � if only he had stayed retired in the summer of 2006.



Associated Press
Junior Seau, chosen by the Patriots to be a team captain, plays his former team tomorrow.
But his "graduation," as he put it that August day at Chargers Park, lasted just a few days before the New England Patriots called and Seau agreed to play a 17th NFL season last year � and an 18th this year.

"They haven't kicked me out yet," Seau said.

When a broken arm sidelined him after 11 games last season, he missed the January playoff game between the Chargers and Patriots. Barring something unforeseen before tomorrow night, Seau will get his first chance since 2003 to play against the team that will retire his No. 55 as soon as he "graduates" for keeps.

Which will be when, exactly?

"You know how I play: one day at a time," Seau said. "I come to work every day and after that I pray for the rest."

He has been coming to work in the NFL since 1990, when the Chargers used the fifth overall pick in the draft to select the former Oceanside High and USC star. And he has played enough games so that tomorrow night he will appear in No. 243, tying Bill Romanowski for second place among linebackers. (Clay Matthews holds the record with 278.)

Long-lasting LBs
Most games played by a linebacker in NFL history:

PLAYER YEARS GAMES

Clay Matthews 1978-1996 278

Bill Romanowski 1988-2003 243

Junior Seau 1990-2007 242

Kevin Greene 1985-1999 228

Rickey Jackson 1981-1995 227


Seau wouldn't say the pursuit of a Super Bowl ring is what drives him � "Playing the game is enjoyable for me still," he said � but he did allow that "having a chance to win every week is definitely a key factor."

And, Seau added, "Hopefully at the end of the season we'll look back and say we did something great."

At 38, he doesn't play the same role he did when he was going to 12 straight Pro Bowls for the Chargers. In fact, after starting all but four of his first 241 games, Seau now comes off the bench, playing inside and outside linebacker. He even appeared at fullback last week in New England's goal-line offense.

"That was fun," Seau said, although he conceded it wasn't as much fun as the night in 1999 when he caught a touchdown pass while playing tight end in an exhibition game at Qualcomm Stadium. "To be 38 years old and playing both ways � I hope there are other opportunities ahead."

It doesn't sound as though anyone with the Patriots is eager to see him leave. Seau was elected a team captain and coach Bill Belichick called him "one of the most respected players on this team."

Nose tackle Vince Wilfork agreed, saying, "You see this guy running around (and) you think he's a second-or third-year guy. He plays with so much aggressiveness. He brings a lot of leadership, a lot of knowledge. To play 18 years, that's amazing. You just don't do that, playing the position he plays."

Just six current Chargers remain from the 2002 season, Seau's last in San Diego. The only one he will actually face tomorrow (unless he plays offense) is also the one with whom he remains the closest.


"He's looking good," running back LaDainian Tomlinson said. "He's still doing the same things he usually does. He can read a play right away. He can get to the ball. He's communicating like he always does. He's the same old Junior."
As for what he learned from Seau, Tomlinson said, "My work ethic. I learned the way to prepare for a game. I learned how to come out here and practice and work like you're preparing for a game and getting ready for a game, so when you get in the game it's a lot easier. That's what he taught me."

For his part, Seau said he's proud of Tomlinson, and not just because he believes LT is the best player in the league.

"It's so nice to see him mature and make the transition to where he is now, influencing other people," Seau said. "He gets it. I'm proud of him. We're fortunate to have crossed paths."

Staff writer Kevin Acee contributed to this report.
Junior Seau X Patriot to the Chargers: [SAY-ow] (born Tiaina Seau, Jr. on January 19, 1969 in San Diego, California) is an American football linebacker who plays for the New England Patriots. Seau is notable for his 12 career Pro Bowl selections and 16 seasons for the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins. Seau retired in 2006 for four days, then signed a one-year contract with New England to help their lack of linebackers at the start of the season. He officially re-signed with the team on May 21, 2007.

Contents
1 High School years
2 College career
3 Professional career
4 Trivia
5 Junior Seau Foundation
6 External links
7 Notes and references



[edit] High School years
Seau attended Oceanside High School, and was a good student and a letterman in football, basketball, and track & field. As a football player, Seau was a starter at linebacker and tight end., and as a senior, he was named the Avocado League Offensive Player of the Year. In basketball, Seau was named the California Interscholastic Federation San Diego Section Player of the Year as a senior. In track & field, he was the Avocado League Champion on the shot put as a senior.


[edit] College career
Seau was an All-American at the University of Southern California and was the college teammate of quarterbacks Todd Marinovich and Rodney Peete and defensive back Mark Carrier, and was taken in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft by Bobby Beathard's Chargers as the 5th overall pick.


[edit] Professional career
Seau quickly became one of the most popular players on the team, receiving the nickname "Tasmanian Devil". His well-known "Lightning Bolt" dance (after the Chargers' logo) and fist-pumping after his defensive plays was disliked by opposing teams, but well-liked by fans. He played in 12 straight Pro Bowls with the Chargers, and missed only two games in his first seven years of play. In every season with the team, he was the leading tackler. In 1991, he created the Seau Foundation, which raises money for drug awareness, child abuse prevention, and college scholarships. Seau also owns a clothing line, Say-Ow, as well as Seau's Restaurant in Mission Valley, San Diego. In 1994, Seau assisted his team to a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXIX, most notably by logging 16 tackles in the AFC Championship Game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In April of 2003 he was acquired via trade by the Miami Dolphins, where he had another strong season. But a torn pectoral muscle in 2004 ended his season prematurely and in 2005 he hurt his ankle to end his season.

On March 6, 2006, Seau was released from the Dolphins because of his injury troubles. His 16-year career includes 1,566 tackles, 1,239 solo, 327 assists, 52 sacks, 76 pass deflections, 15 interceptions, 210 interception return yards, 12 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries, 66 return yards, and 1 touchdown, earning him 12 Pro Bowl invitations.

Seau announced his retirement on August 14th, 2006 after signing a one-day contract with the San Diego Chargers at an emotional press conference. He called his retirement a "graduation", because he was not going to stop working. He contested that he was merely moving on to the next phase of his life. [1] However, on August 18th, it was announced that Seau had signed a contract with the New England Patriots, for an undisclosed amount.[2]

Seau sustained a broken forearm while tackling Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson for a loss on November 26, 2006. Benson's heel caught Seau's forearm as Seau was making the tackle. Seau was placed on the IR of the Patriots.

On May 21, 2007 "The Boston Globe" reported that Seau re-signed with the New England Patriots for the 2007 season.[2]

The Los Angeles Times reported in September 2007 that Seau was named one of the Patriots' seven captains.