Earl Jerome Little (born March 10, 1973) 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 ...

safety Safety is the state of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings The word 'safety' entered the English language in the 1 ...

in the

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(NFL) for nine years from 1997 to 2005 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 ...

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...

, and

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

. Little played

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at the

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Professional career

New Orleans Saints

Little was signed as an undrafted free agent before the 1997 NFL season by the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

, and later joined the New Orleans Saints. He started on special teams and was a backup cornerback. His special teams coach, Bobby April, always praised Little outstanding special teams play. During the third preseason game vs the Denver Broncos, he made a big hit and he was taken off the field because of a concussion. Little missed the last preseason game and the first three games of the 1999 season. He was released by the Saints on October 24, 1999.

Cleveland Browns

He was picked up by the Browns off Waivers from the Saints on October 26, 1999. After having an outstanding season, Little signed a three-year multimillion-dollar contract. After having three good seasons (2001–2003), the Browns rewarded him with a five-year multimillion-dollar contract. He spent six seasons with the Browns until being released on 1 April 2005.

Green Bay Packers

Little was signed as a free agent on April 15, 2005. Little pulled his hamstring on October 4, 2005 on Monday Night Football vs Carolina Panthers. He was placed on injured reserve. To make room for a roster spot, he was released on November 23, 2005. Even though he was done for the remainder of the season, Little received his full salary for the 2005 season.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Little, Earl 1973 births Living people American football safeties Cleveland Browns players Green Bay Packers players Miami Hurricanes football players Michigan Wolverines football players New Orleans Saints players Players of American football from Miami