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Andre Tierre Royal (born December 1, 1972) is an American former professional
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
player who was a
linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and typically line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and so back up the defensive linemen. They play closer to the line ...
for five seasons with the
Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
and
Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
of the
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Alabama Crimson Tide The Alabama Crimson Tide refers to the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletic varsity teams that represent the University of Alabama, located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide teams compete in the Na ...
. In the NFL, Royal had 140 career tackle s, 6 solo sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Royal was traded to the Indianapolis Colts following several off-the-field incidents prior to the start of the season with the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
.


College career

Royal played at the
University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...
under head coach
Gene Stallings Eugene Clifton Stallings Jr. (born March 2, 1935) is a former American football player and coach. He played college football at Texas A&M University (1954–1956), where he was one of the "Junction Boys", and later served as the head coach at hi ...
. He was part of the 1992-1993 national championship team. He later took part in the 1995
Senior Bowl The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football all-star game played annually in late January or early February in Mobile, Alabama, which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those players who have completed their college eligibility. Pr ...
.


Professional career

Royal, signed a guaranteed $4.085 million contract with the Saints as a free agent after previously attaining All-Pro status with the Carolina Panthers, and was expected to start at strong-side linebacker. He was replaced in the Saints' final exhibition game by backup Keith Mitchell. After reporting to Saints training camp 20 or 30 players including Royal, were involved in a team publicized hazing event in
La Crosse, Wisconsin La Crosse ( ) is a city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. Positioned alongside the Mississippi River, La Crosse is the largest city on Wisconsin's western border. La Crosse's population was 52,680 as of the 202 ...
. Several rookies, including Cam Cleeland, were hit with a pillowcase filled with coins as they had to walk through 20 to 30 players lined up on each side of a dormitory hallway. Six players were singled out and named in a lawsuit including: Royal, Brady Smith, Brian Jones, Isaac Davis, Troy Davis, and Keith Mitchell. Defensive line coach, Walt Corey was also named as a defendant. Royal admitted to participating in the incident but said he did not hit the rookies with any objects as the defendants were accused of doing. The Saints' settled with the injured player. The settlement covered all the players except Royal whose suit was dismissed. After being accused of faking a head injury by Coach Mike Ditka in a team meeting; Ditka and Royal engaged in a highly publicized and televised shouting match. Ditka fined Royal $50,000 which Royal appealed to the NFL. Ditka was found to have been "baiting a player" and was fined $50,000.00 instead. In the trade with the Colts, the Saints acquired tight end
Scott Slutzker Scott Lawrence Slutzker (born December 20, 1972) is an American former professional football tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 1996 NFL draft. He played his col ...
from the Colts for Royal, having been short-handed at that position because of injuries, including that of No. 2 draft pick Cam Cleeland. Royal went on to star on the field for the Indianapolis Colts leading the Defense across from Offensive All-Pro,
Peyton Manning Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the In ...
. However, after playing two seasons with the Colts, Royal's NFL Career came to an end from the effects of several head injuries.NFLPA Royal had offered to voluntarily give up the last 2 years' salary on his four-year contract with the Colts in exchange for being allowed to retire at the end of the first season with the Colts. Despite Royal's official retirement from the NFL in 2001, several teams approached him about returning to the NFL including the
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
, who offered Royal a 2-year deal following his retirement. Although Andre Royal never played football before moving to Northport, Alabama during his 8th grade year in junior high school, he went on to earn a four-year college scholarship to the
University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...
where he studied criminal justice and played on the 1992 NCAA Division I National Football Championship Team. He also had an all-pro career in the NFL, playing on the inaugural team of the Carolina Panthers and in several NFC Championship games. Royal returned to the University of Alabama to complete and earn his college degree in 2014.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royal, Andre 1972 births Living people People from Northport, Alabama Players of American football from Alabama American football linebackers Alabama Crimson Tide football players Carolina Panthers players Indianapolis Colts players