Tully Banta-Cain life and biography

Tully Banta-Cain is an American football defensive end and linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at California.

Career Transactions
Tully Banta-Cain was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (239th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft ... Signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an unrestricted free agent (3/3/07) ... Released by the 49ers (2/11/09) ... Signed by the Patriots as a free agent (2/18/09).

Career Highlights

* Banta-Cain returned to the Patriots in 2009 after having played for the Patriots for four seasons from 2003-06.
* Set a career-high with 10.0 sacks and 60 total tackles in 2009.
* Became just the second Patriot player (Mike Vrabel, 2007) to record 10 sacks in teh past 14 seasons.
* For his career, Banta-Cain has played in 98 games with 25 starts and has recorded 187 tackles (121 solo), 22.5 sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 71 special teams tackles.
* Banta-Cain played for the San Francisco 49ers for two seasons (2007-08), appearing in 28 games with 10 starts.
* Banta-Cain is one of 9 players on the 2010 Patriots who have earned Super Bowl rings with New England. He was a part of the Patriots' 2003 and 2004 championship squads.

2010 (9/1)
* Sacked Ben Roethlisberger for a eight-yard loss on third-and-10 in the second quarter and combined with Gerard Warren for another sack late in the fourth quarter. Also credited with two tackles against the Steelers (11/14).
* Made six tackles against Cleveland (11/7).
* Tallied five tackles in a reserve role against Minnesota, including a stop of Adrian Peterson for a two-yard loss in the third quarter (10/31).
* Made one tackle against the Chargers (10/24).
* Played in a reserve role at LB against the Ravens (10/17).
* Made two tackles against the Dolphins (10/4).
* Registered one sack, a quarterback hit and eight tackles in a start against the Jets (9/19).
* Combined with Myron Pyror for a Carson Palmer sack for a loss of four-yards on third-and-two, completing the Patriots' first defensive possession of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals (9/12).

2009 (16/10, 1/1)
* Played in all 16 games with 10 starts and finished the season with a career high 60 total tackles and 10.0 sacks. Also added two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 15 quarterback hits.
* Set a single-game career high with a three sack performance at Buffalo (12/20), all of which came in the final quarter to preserve a 17-10 Patriots victory.
* He had three games in 2009 with at least two sacks with 2.0 in the season-opener vs. Buffalo (9/14), 2.0 vs. New York Jets (11/22) and 3.0 at Buffalo (12/20).
* Forced a fumble that was recovered by Derrick Burgess vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/22) on a 7-yard sack of Mark Sanchez in the fourth quarter.
* Started in the postseason game vs. Baltimore (1/10) and finished with seven total tackles and one interception.

2008 (12/0 - San Francisco)
* Played in 12 games and recorded seven tackles (4 solo) and 19 special teams stops.
* Was utilized as an outside pass-rusher and was a core member of special teams units.
* Inactive for the first four games of the season.
* Made his season debut vs. New England (10/5) and recorded three assisted tackles and 0.5 sacks while also playing on special teams.

2007 (16/10 - San Francisco)
* Played in all 16 games and set then career-highs in starts (10) and tackles (59) after joining the 49ers as an unrestricted free agent.
* Finished with 59 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two passes defensed, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.
* Recovered a fumble in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown in overtime at Arizona (11/25). It marked his first career touchdown as he jumped on the fumble in the end zone after DE Ronald Fields sacked QB Kurt Warner and forced a fumble. Became only the third player in NFL history to end an overtime game with a fumble recovery for a touchdown, but his was the first to be recovered in the end zone. The others were by Johnnie Cooks of the Baltimore Colts at New England (52 yards on Sep. 4, 1983) and Glenn Cadrez of Denver vs. Seattle (37 yards on Dec. 19, 1999).
* Established a career-high nine tackles to go along with one sack at Carolina (12/2).
* Totaled eight tackles and one sack vs. Tampa Bay (12/23).

2006 (16/5, 3/2)
* Finished fourth on the Patriots with a then career-high 5.5 sacks.
* Started his first career NFL game at outside linebacker in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over Buffalo (9/10). Provided the initial pass rush from the outside during Ty Warren's safety of JP Losman in the fourth quarter.
* Saw significant action as a reserve at outside linebacker at Minnesota (10/30).
* Registered three tackles (2 solo), two and a half sacks and two quarterback hits in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings. Dropped Brad Johnson for a 2-yard sack with a fierce pass rush at the end of the second quarter. Teamed with Jarvis Green to drop Brooks Bollinger for a 9-yard sack in the fourth quarter. Came off the edge and sacked Bollinger for a 9-yard loss in the fourth quarter.
* Started at outside linebacker against Detroit (12/3) and registered five tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions.
* Started at outside linebacker against Houston (12/17). Registered a career-high seven tackles (3 solo), two sacks and a forced fumble in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans.
* Halted a Texans drive by strip-sacking David Carr for a 6-yard loss on a third-and-six play in the second quarter but the fumble was recovered by Chester Pitts at the Houston 16-yard line. Blitzed off left guard and sacked Carr for an 8-yard loss in the second quarter.
* Started at outside linebacker and collected five solo tackles and a quarterback hit in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars (12/24).
* Started at outside linebacker in the Patriots' playoff contest against the Jets (1/7). Registered three solo tackles, two sacks, three quarterback hits and a pass defensed. Sacked Chad Pennington for a 2-yard loss on the Jets' first play from scrimmage in the first quarter. Came off the edge and dropped Pennington for a 12-yard sack late in the fourth quarter.
* Started at outside linebacker and collected a fumble recovery in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers (1/14). Recovered a Philip Rivers fumble after a Mike Vrabel strip-sack on a fourth-and-11 play in the first quarter.

2005 (13/0, 2/0)
* Participated in 13 regular-season games and collected three special teams tackles.
* Pinned the Broncos deep in their own territory by downing Josh Miller's 48-yard punt at the Denver 2-yard line (10/16).
* Registered two special teams tackle on coverage units against Tampa Bay (12/17).
* Saw significant action at outside linebacker against Miami (1/1) and collected five tackles (2 solo) and 0.5 sacks. Teamed with Ty Warren to stuff Gus Frerotte for a 3-yard sack in the second quarter. Combined with Matt Chatham to stuff Ricky Williams for a 3-yard loss on a rush off right tackle in the fourth quarter.

2004 (16/0, 3/0)
* Finished second on the team with 23 special teams tackles.
* Registered his first career interception against Buffalo (11/14).
* Recorded his first career fumble recovery in the season finale against San Francisco (1/2).
* Saw action as a reserve on defense at St. Louis (11/7) and tallied four defensive tackles (2 solo), setting a career high that he also tied later in the season.
* Had the most statistically productive game of his career to that point against Buffalo (11/14), tallying three tackles (2 solo), 1.5 sacks and an interception while also leading the team with four special teams tackles. Dropped Drew Bledsoe for a solo sack and a loss of a yard, then later teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to sack Bledsoe for a 5-yard loss. Registered his first career interception when he picked off a J.P. Losman pass intended for Tim Euhus.
* Led the team with three special teams tackles at the N.Y. Jets (12/26). Recovered a fumble on a bouncing kickoff that knocked off of a Jets player just before halftime.
* Registered four tackles (2 solo) and a fumble recovery against San Francisco (1/2). Recovered a Maurice Hicks fumble at the Patriots' 34-yard line, starting a Patriots drive that ended in a touchdown.

2003 (9/0, 2/0)
* Played in nine of the final 10 games after being activated off the Physically Unable to Perform List (10/19/03).
* Registered eight special teams tackles in nine games. Patriots special teams ranked second in the NFL in punt coverage, allowing just 6.3 yards per punt return.
* Registered his first career sack against Buffalo (12/27).
* Made his NFL debut in the Patriots thrilling 19-13 overtime victory over the Dolphins (10/19). Made a special teams stop on Charlie Rogers on the opening kickoff of overtime.
* Registered three special teams tackles in the Patriots' 30-26, come-from-behind victory over the Broncos on Monday Night Football (11/3). Stopped Deltha O'Neal for a one-yard loss on Ken Walter's 64-yard free kick following an intentional safety in the fourth quarter, setting up a key three-and-out.
* Saw action at outside linebacker in the second half against Buffalo (12/27) and participated on special teams. Registered his first career sack, dropping Drew Bledsoe for a seven-yard loss.

College

* Banta-Cain played four seasons at California (1999-2002) after redshirting in 1998.
* Recorded 112 tackles (91 solos), 26.5 sacks for 230 yards, 52 stops behind the line of scrimmage, three fumble recoveries and eight forced fumbles in 39 games. Only Andre Carter (31, 1997-200) and Regan Upshaw (28, 1993-95) had more quarterback sacks in a career for the Bears.
* His 52 stops for losses ranked fourth in school annals.
* Arrived at Cal as an outside linebacker, but made the switch to rush end before his sophomore year.
* All-Pac 10 Conference first-team choice in 2002, as he finished second in the conference in sacks and tackles for losses.
* Named team Defensive Most Valuable Player. Recorded 39 tackles (30 solos) with 13 sacks for 100 yards and 22 stops for losses of 126 yards.
* Recipient of the Brick Muller Award in 2001, given to the teamís Most Valuable Defensive Lineman.
* Recipient of the Bob Tessier Award as the teamís most improved lineman in 2000.

Personal

* Tully Banta-Cain was born the son of Adam Cain and Joya Banta on Aug. 28, 1980 in Mountain View, Calif.
* Father played football in the Navy.
* Attended Fremont (Mountain View, Calif.) High.
* Played a number of positions, including tailback, tight end, defensive end, linebacker and kick returner.
* Earned first team all-league honors as an outside linebacker his senior season after being named the leagueís Defensive Player of the Year as a junior.
* Also gained more than 1000 yards as a running back.
* Majored in american studies at California.
* Tully and his wife, Brigette, have one child.

Extra
* Tully's first name is the product of a dream his mother had the night before he was born.
* Owns his own clothing line called Black Klown Clothier (www.blacklownclothier.com), specializing in high-end street wear.
* Also started a recording career with Hip Hop and R&B music at www.Noca-Cain.com. Banta-Cain's father was the lead singer for a funk band that played in the Bay Area.
* Owns his own website www.tullybantacain.com
* On Oct. 30, 2006, Tully celebrated the birth of his first child, and that night he was inspired to set a then career-high with 2.5 sacks in the Patriots' 31-7 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

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