NFL CAREER – In 2007, Shanle continued the consistent play he established the year before, opening all 14 games he played in and tying for third on the team with 96 tackles while adding a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Shanle had six stops or more in 11 games – including a career-high 12 vs. Tampa Bay – from his starting weakside linebacker spot, where he has the speed to chase down ball-carriers, blitz and drop into coverage. Acquired in a 2006 trade with Dallas during training camp, Shanle immediately developed into an important part of the defense and one of the unit’s top playmakers that season with a career-high 117 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble. Originally a seventh-round pick out of Nebraska in 2003 by St. Louis, Shanle spent most of his rookie season with the Rams, playing in six games before being claimed off waivers by Dallas late in the year. With the Cowboys, he was a special teams standout in 2004 before starting eight games in 2005. Though he has also started at strongside linebacker and in the middle during his NFL career, he has found a home at weakside linebacker in New Orleans.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by Saints to a four-year contract, 2/9/07; Acquired by New Orleans from Dallas Cowboys for an undisclosed draft pick, 8/23/06; Claimed off waivers by Dallas, 12/10/03; Waived by St. Louis Rams, 10/9/03; Reinstated by NFL, 10/29/03; Received a four-game suspension from NFL, 9/26/03; Chosen by St. Louis in seventh round (251st overall) of 2003 NFL Draft.

2007 – Played in 14 games, all starts, missing two (vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 4 and vs. St. Louis, Nov. 11) with a hamstring injury…Had six or more stops in all but three contests…Recorded 96 tackles to tie for third on the team, and his 56 solo stops ranked fourth on the club…Added a pass defense, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss…Tied for team-high with eight tackles, including notching 200^th career tackle, at Tampa Bay, Sept. 16…Registered five tackles before leaving the game with a hamstring injury at San Francisco, Oct. 28…Injury forced him to the inactive list for the next two games…Returned to starting lineup at Houston, Nov. 18 and had seven stops (five solo) and a special teams tackle…Posted a career-high 12 tackles (six solo) vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 2…Dec. 16 vs. Arizona had seven stops and picked up a fumble, returning it 26 yards to set up a touchdown…At Chicago, Dec. 30, notched 11 tackles (six solo) and a forced fumble, which was recovered by DT Antwan Lake. 2006 – Acquired in a trade with Dallas for a conditional draft pick during training camp and went on to become one of the club’s most productive defenders…Played in every contest, starting 15 at WLB, and led team with 77 solo stops, and his 117 total tackles only trailed LB Scott Fujita…Posted four sacks to lead linebacker corps and rank fourth on club and added a forced fumble and two pass defenses…Reached seven or more tackles in 12 contests…Recorded eight tackles and a forced fumble at Green Bay, Sept. 17…Notched five tackles and a sack vs. Atlanta, Sept. 25…Lone non-start of season came at Carolina, Oct. 1 but had 10 tackles and a sack for a 12-yard loss…Led team with 10 stops (seven solo) and deflected a pass at Tampa Bay, Oct. 5…Posted team-high eight tackles and a sack at Pittsburgh, Nov. 12…Had a team-high seven stops, a pass defense and a sack at NY Giants, Dec. 24…Recorded five tackles and a sack vs. Philadelphia in NFC Divisional Playoff vs. Philadelphia, 1/13/07…Added nine stops (six solo) and a pass defense at Chicago in NFC Championship Game. 2005 – Served as Cowboys’ nickel middle linebacker for first several weeks of season…After injuries forced MLB Dat Nguyen into retirement, Shanle moved into starting lineup…Battled injury setbacks in the season's latter stages, but tied for seventh on team in tackles with 50 and added 1.5 sacks...Notched three stops vs. Detroit, Nov. 20, but suffered a sprained ankle that sidelined him the next week. 2004 – Ranked fourth on Cowboys with 15 special teams tackles…Late in year became a starter at strongside linebacker and recorded 26 tackles in final three games…Made first NFL start at SLB at Philadelphia, Dec. 19, and had eight tackles…Recorded career-high 14 tackles vs. Washington, Dec. 26 in second NFL start. 2003 – Made NFL debut in Rams opener at N.Y. Giants, Sept. 7 and saw special teams action in six games for St. Louis…Served four-game NFL suspension from late September through October…Waived by Rams Dec. 9 and claimed by Dallas Dec. 10…Inactive for Cowboys final three games and Wild Card playoff game.

COLLEGE – Earned All-Big 12 honorable mention selection as a senior at Nebraska after collecting 71 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble…As a junior in 2001, he finished fifth on Cornhuskers with 56 stops, three sacks and a fumble recovery…Started nine of 11 games as a sophomore, finishing with 55 tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble…As a redshirt freshman, saw action in every game on special teams.

PERSONAL – Graduated from Nebraska in 2002 with a degree in family and consumer science…Standout running back and defensive back at St. Edward (Neb.) HS who played eight-man football, earning All-State and Player of the Year honors…High school team went 29-3 over final three seasons…Earned prep letters in track and basketball…He and wife, Erin, have two sons, Jagger and Kingston.