Ryan Tucker

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Cleveland Browns
currentnumber=72
currentpositionplain=Offensive guard
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|6|12
birthplace=Midland, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=6
weight=320
debutyear=1997
debutteam=St. Louis Rams
college=Texas Christian
draftyear=1997
draftround=4
draftpick=112
pastteams=
* St. Louis Rams (1997–2001)
* Cleveland Browns (2002-present)
nfl=TUC287361

Ryan Tucker (born June 12, 1975 in Midland, Texas) is an American football player who currently plays offensive guard for the Cleveland Browns. He was the starting center during his last two seasons at Texas Christian University after moving from left tackle and was a two-time All-Conference selection.

High school years

Tucker attended Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Texas.

College career

Tucker played college football for Texas Christian University.

In 1996 he was charged with and plead no contest to assault. "State District Judge Don Leonard sentenced the 22-year-old to a five-year deferred sentence and fined him $5,000. The judge also ordered Tucker to pay $9,677 in restitution and complete 800 hours of community service for his part in the attack". He was one of four others involved in a bar fight that left former TCU student Bryan Boyd with a fractured skull and several other injuries. To this day, he is severely wounded with paralysis, memory loss, and permanent brain damage [http://www.texnews.com/1998/texas/barfight0408.html]

Professional career

t. Louis Rams

He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round (121st overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he played in seven games and made his NFL debut at the Green Bay Packers on November 2. The 1998 season was masked by a neck injury that made him inactive for nine games. In 1999 he played in all 16 regular season games and three post season games including Super Bowl XXXIV. He scored his first NFL touchdown at the Detroit Lions on November 7. In 2002 he started in all 16 games for the first time in his career. He helped the Rams offense to 7,075 total yards for the season which is an NFL record. The 2001 season saw him play in 16 games with 15 starts, he was again part of a rampant offense and he also played in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Cleveland Browns

On March 7, 2002 Tucker signed with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent. In his first season with the Browns he started 14 games. In his second season with the Browns, Tucker started in all 16 games and was the only offensive player to take part in every snap. 2004 was a season which was troubled by injury. He started in seven games but a knee injury forced him to miss the remainder of the campaign. In 2005, Tucker again started in all 16 games.On December 1, 2006, the Browns announced that Tucker will miss the remainder of the season with an undisclosed mental disorder. "It is a treatable disorder. Ryan has been battling this condition since before the season began, and has been actively receiving treatment. At this time, it is in his best interest to focus entirely on his medical treatment and concentrate on his recovery," team physician Anthony Miniaci said in a statement.

On March 4, 2007, Tucker told The Cleveland Plain Dealer that he feels "great" and plans on returning to his starting spot next season. "It's a whole new chapter in my life and I'm ready to get on with it. I absolutely plan on coming back and starting for the Browns this season," Tucker told the newspaper. Tucker wouldn't disclose the exact nature of his mental illness."A lot of things have changed as far as medications and things like that, and I haven't had any problems," Tucker told the newspaper. "Everything's been fixed. My family's doing really well, my health is excellent and I feel as good as I ever have." [http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports/117300138451580.xml&coll=2]

On August 3, 2007, it was announced that Tucker tested positive for steroids. He was suspended for the first four games of the regular season.

External links

* [http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/player.php?id=164 Browns Player Bio]