- Played each of the past four seasons (2008-11) with Miami after being drafted by the Dolphins in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
- Appeared in all 16 games with one start in 2009, registering career highs in tackles (33), sacks (2½) and passes defensed (three).
- As a rookie in 2008, picked off Jets QB Brett Favre in the regular-season finale and returned the interception 25 yards for a TD. Became the first Miami rookie since LB Zach Thomas (Nov. 17, 1996) to post an INT return for a TD.
- An early entrant into the NFL Draft, he lettered all three seasons (2005-07) at Clemson, earning second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior in 2007.
- Earned ACC Player of the Week honors three times as a junior, becoming the first Tiger defensive lineman since 1983 to accomplish that feat in a single season.
Pro Highlights:
- Signed with Green Bay as a free agent on May 23, 2012.
- Played each of the past four seasons (2008-11) with Miami after being drafted by the Dolphins in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
- Appeared in 47 games with four starts during his time with the Dolphins, recording 66 tackles (50 solo), 3½ sacks, an interception he returned for a TD, eight passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
- His best season came in 2009 when he appeared in all 16 contests with one start and recorded career highs in tackles (33), sacks (2½) and passes defensed (three).
- As a rookie in ’08, picked off Jets QB Brett Favre in the regular-season finale and returned the interception 25 yards for a TD, becoming the first Miami rookie since LB Zach Thomas (Nov. 17, 1996) to post an INT return for a TD.
- Played in 10 games with one start in 2011 and registered four tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed.
- Was limited to just five games in 2010 after spending the first 11 contests on the reserve/non-football injury list with an Achilles injury.
2011 SEASON: Appeared in 10 games with one start, recording four tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed…Inactive (healthy scratch) in Week 3 and Weeks 6-10…Vs. New England (Sept. 12): Earned his first start since Jan. 3, 2010, vs. Pittsburgh…Vs. Philadelphia (Dec. 11): Posted a solo tackle and matched his career high with two passes defensed.
2010: Was limited to just five games after spending the opening 11 contests on the reserve/non-football injury list due to an Achilles injury…Was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list on Aug. 31 and was activated on Nov. 30…Registered three tackles (all solo) and a pass defensed on the season…Vs. Buffalo (Dec. 19): Posted a season-high two tackles (both solo)…At New England (Jan. 2): Contributed a solo tackle and a pass defensed.
2009: Played in all 16 games with one start…Posted career highs in tackles (33), solo tackles (24), sacks (2½) and passes defensed (three)…Added a fumble recovery…At Atlanta (Sept. 13): Registered a career-high five tackles (all solo) in the season opener. Sacked QB Matt Ryan for an 8-yard loss in the third quarter…At San Diego (Sept. 27): Posted two tackles (one solo) and recovered a QB Philip Rivers fumble in the second quarter after he was sacked by LB Joey Porter…Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 25): Registered four tackles (three solo) and shared a 7-yard sack of QB Drew Brees with Porter in the third quarter…At Carolina (Nov. 19): Recorded three tackles (two solo) and brought down QB Jake Delhomme for a 9-yard sack in the second quarter…At Buffalo (Nov. 29): Posted two solo tackles and a career-high two passes defensed.
2008: Appeared in all 16 contests with a career-high two starts as a rookie…Finished the season with 26 tackles (20 solo), a sack, an interception he returned for a TD, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed…Vs. N.Y. Jets (Sept. 7): Made his pro debut and recorded two tackles (both solo)…At Arizona (Sept. 14): Started the first game of his career, opening at NT, and registered a season-high four tackles (three solo)…At New England (Sept. 21): Started for the second straight week, this time at RE, and posted the first sack of his career when he brought down QB Matt Cassel for a 4-yard loss in the first quarter. Finished the game with three tackles (two solo) and added his first career fumble recovery when he scooped up a Cassel fumble after he was sacked by Porter in the fourth quarter...At St. Louis (Nov. 30): Matched his season high with four tackles (three solo) and added a pass defensed…At N.Y. Jets (Dec. 28): Posted his first career interception when he picked off Favre late in the first half and returned the interception 25 yards for a TD. Became the first Miami rookie to have an INT return for a score since Thomas returned an interception 26 yards for a TD vs. Houston on Nov. 17, 1996. Also became the first Dolphins rookie defensive player to score a TD since LB Derrick Pope had a 1-yard fumble recovery for a score at San Francisco on Nov. 28, 2004…Vs. Baltimore (AFC Wild Card, Jan. 4): Made his playoff debut in a reserve role and registered two tackles (one solo)…2008 NFL Draft: Selected by the Dolphins with the first of their two second-round picks (No. 32 overall). Became just the third Clemson defensive end to be selected in the top 32 since 1967, joining Jeff Bryant in 1982 (No. 6 overall by Seattle) and Gaines Adams in 2007 (No. 4 overall by Tampa Bay).
COLLEGE: Was a three-year letterman for the Tigers and started his final two seasons…Appeared in 38 games while starting his final 26 contests…Registered 146 tackles (99 solo), including 31 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 45 QB pressures…Added four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and seven passes defensed…Majored in sociology…Junior season (2007): Started all 13 games at LDE and earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors…Ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 78 tackles (51 solo), including 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 21 QB pressures…Also caused two fumbles and recovered another…Became the first Tiger defensive lineman since 1983 to earn ACC Player of the Week recognition three times in the same season…Earned the honors for his season-high 10-tackle performance at Georgia Tech (Sept. 29) and for his two-sack outings vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 10) and vs. Boston College (Nov. 17)…Sophomore season (2006): Started all 13 contests…Recorded 46 tackles (31 solo), including 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and four passes defensed…Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss behind only Adams…Made 30 of his 46 tackles during the last six games of the season…Posted five tackles and a sack in the Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky (Dec. 29)…Freshman season (2005): Played in all 12 games as a true freshman, earning second-team Freshman All-American honors from Rivals.com…Was the recipient of Clemson’s 12th Man Award for the defense…Registered 22 tackles (17 solo), including four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble….His 271 snaps were second most among the Tigers’ true freshmen…Registered his first career sack at North Carolina State (Oct. 13).
PERSONAL: Given name Phillip Blaine Merling…Born in Portsmouth, Va. …Single…His position coach at Clemson was his uncle, Chris Rumpf, who also was his head coach in high school for his first three years…High school: Attended Fork Union Military Academy in 2004, where he played DE and TE…Earned team MVP honors after catching 38 passes for 647 yards (17.0 avg.) and five TDs and adding five sacks, 51 tackles and eight passes defensed…Attended Cordova High in Memphis, Tenn., as a senior, where he earned first-team all-state and first-team all-region honors…Played TE and DE and had 20 catches for 430 yards (21.5 avg.) and four TDs, along with 34 tackles and four sacks…Was also an All-Dixie team selection by SuperPrep and an All-Atlantic Region choice by PrepStar…Attended Calhoun High in Saint Matthews, S.C., for his first three years, where he played for Rumpf…Was named the team’s defensive MVP as a junior…Was an all-conference, all-region and all-area selection in basketball as a sophomore and junior…Averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a senior…Hobbies/interests: Lists Michael Jordan as his favorite athlete, Martin as his favorite TV show and Menace 2 Society as his favorite movie…Enjoys listening to rap and R&B music…Names Atlanta as his favorite city to vacation to…Residence: Saint Matthews, S.C.
- Played each of the past four seasons (2008-11) with Miami after being drafted by the Dolphins in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
- Appeared in all 16 games with one start in 2009, registering career highs in tackles (33), sacks (2½) and passes defensed (three).
- As a rookie in 2008, picked off Jets QB Brett Favre in the regular-season finale and returned the interception 25 yards for a TD. Became the first Miami rookie since LB Zach Thomas (Nov. 17, 1996) to post an INT return for a TD.
- An early entrant into the NFL Draft, he lettered all three seasons (2005-07) at Clemson, earning second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior in 2007.
- Earned ACC Player of the Week honors three times as a junior, becoming the first Tiger defensive lineman since 1983 to accomplish that feat in a single season.
Pro Highlights:
- Signed with Green Bay as a free agent on May 23, 2012.
- Played each of the past four seasons (2008-11) with Miami after being drafted by the Dolphins in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.
- Appeared in 47 games with four starts during his time with the Dolphins, recording 66 tackles (50 solo), 3½ sacks, an interception he returned for a TD, eight passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
- His best season came in 2009 when he appeared in all 16 contests with one start and recorded career highs in tackles (33), sacks (2½) and passes defensed (three).
- As a rookie in ’08, picked off Jets QB Brett Favre in the regular-season finale and returned the interception 25 yards for a TD, becoming the first Miami rookie since LB Zach Thomas (Nov. 17, 1996) to post an INT return for a TD.
- Played in 10 games with one start in 2011 and registered four tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed.
- Was limited to just five games in 2010 after spending the first 11 contests on the reserve/non-football injury list with an Achilles injury.
2011 SEASON: Appeared in 10 games with one start, recording four tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed…Inactive (healthy scratch) in Week 3 and Weeks 6-10…Vs. New England (Sept. 12): Earned his first start since Jan. 3, 2010, vs. Pittsburgh…Vs. Philadelphia (Dec. 11): Posted a solo tackle and matched his career high with two passes defensed.
2010: Was limited to just five games after spending the opening 11 contests on the reserve/non-football injury list due to an Achilles injury…Was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list on Aug. 31 and was activated on Nov. 30…Registered three tackles (all solo) and a pass defensed on the season…Vs. Buffalo (Dec. 19): Posted a season-high two tackles (both solo)…At New England (Jan. 2): Contributed a solo tackle and a pass defensed.
2009: Played in all 16 games with one start…Posted career highs in tackles (33), solo tackles (24), sacks (2½) and passes defensed (three)…Added a fumble recovery…At Atlanta (Sept. 13): Registered a career-high five tackles (all solo) in the season opener. Sacked QB Matt Ryan for an 8-yard loss in the third quarter…At San Diego (Sept. 27): Posted two tackles (one solo) and recovered a QB Philip Rivers fumble in the second quarter after he was sacked by LB Joey Porter…Vs. New Orleans (Oct. 25): Registered four tackles (three solo) and shared a 7-yard sack of QB Drew Brees with Porter in the third quarter…At Carolina (Nov. 19): Recorded three tackles (two solo) and brought down QB Jake Delhomme for a 9-yard sack in the second quarter…At Buffalo (Nov. 29): Posted two solo tackles and a career-high two passes defensed.
2008: Appeared in all 16 contests with a career-high two starts as a rookie…Finished the season with 26 tackles (20 solo), a sack, an interception he returned for a TD, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed…Vs. N.Y. Jets (Sept. 7): Made his pro debut and recorded two tackles (both solo)…At Arizona (Sept. 14): Started the first game of his career, opening at NT, and registered a season-high four tackles (three solo)…At New England (Sept. 21): Started for the second straight week, this time at RE, and posted the first sack of his career when he brought down QB Matt Cassel for a 4-yard loss in the first quarter. Finished the game with three tackles (two solo) and added his first career fumble recovery when he scooped up a Cassel fumble after he was sacked by Porter in the fourth quarter...At St. Louis (Nov. 30): Matched his season high with four tackles (three solo) and added a pass defensed…At N.Y. Jets (Dec. 28): Posted his first career interception when he picked off Favre late in the first half and returned the interception 25 yards for a TD. Became the first Miami rookie to have an INT return for a score since Thomas returned an interception 26 yards for a TD vs. Houston on Nov. 17, 1996. Also became the first Dolphins rookie defensive player to score a TD since LB Derrick Pope had a 1-yard fumble recovery for a score at San Francisco on Nov. 28, 2004…Vs. Baltimore (AFC Wild Card, Jan. 4): Made his playoff debut in a reserve role and registered two tackles (one solo)…2008 NFL Draft: Selected by the Dolphins with the first of their two second-round picks (No. 32 overall). Became just the third Clemson defensive end to be selected in the top 32 since 1967, joining Jeff Bryant in 1982 (No. 6 overall by Seattle) and Gaines Adams in 2007 (No. 4 overall by Tampa Bay).
COLLEGE: Was a three-year letterman for the Tigers and started his final two seasons…Appeared in 38 games while starting his final 26 contests…Registered 146 tackles (99 solo), including 31 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 45 QB pressures…Added four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and seven passes defensed…Majored in sociology…Junior season (2007): Started all 13 games at LDE and earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors…Ranked fifth on the team with a career-high 78 tackles (51 solo), including 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 21 QB pressures…Also caused two fumbles and recovered another…Became the first Tiger defensive lineman since 1983 to earn ACC Player of the Week recognition three times in the same season…Earned the honors for his season-high 10-tackle performance at Georgia Tech (Sept. 29) and for his two-sack outings vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 10) and vs. Boston College (Nov. 17)…Sophomore season (2006): Started all 13 contests…Recorded 46 tackles (31 solo), including 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and four passes defensed…Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss behind only Adams…Made 30 of his 46 tackles during the last six games of the season…Posted five tackles and a sack in the Music City Bowl vs. Kentucky (Dec. 29)…Freshman season (2005): Played in all 12 games as a true freshman, earning second-team Freshman All-American honors from Rivals.com…Was the recipient of Clemson’s 12th Man Award for the defense…Registered 22 tackles (17 solo), including four tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble….His 271 snaps were second most among the Tigers’ true freshmen…Registered his first career sack at North Carolina State (Oct. 13).
PERSONAL: Given name Phillip Blaine Merling…Born in Portsmouth, Va. …Single…His position coach at Clemson was his uncle, Chris Rumpf, who also was his head coach in high school for his first three years…High school: Attended Fork Union Military Academy in 2004, where he played DE and TE…Earned team MVP honors after catching 38 passes for 647 yards (17.0 avg.) and five TDs and adding five sacks, 51 tackles and eight passes defensed…Attended Cordova High in Memphis, Tenn., as a senior, where he earned first-team all-state and first-team all-region honors…Played TE and DE and had 20 catches for 430 yards (21.5 avg.) and four TDs, along with 34 tackles and four sacks…Was also an All-Dixie team selection by SuperPrep and an All-Atlantic Region choice by PrepStar…Attended Calhoun High in Saint Matthews, S.C., for his first three years, where he played for Rumpf…Was named the team’s defensive MVP as a junior…Was an all-conference, all-region and all-area selection in basketball as a sophomore and junior…Averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a senior…Hobbies/interests: Lists Michael Jordan as his favorite athlete, Martin as his favorite TV show and Menace 2 Society as his favorite movie…Enjoys listening to rap and R&B music…Names Atlanta as his favorite city to vacation to…Residence: Saint Matthews, S.C.
