NFL CAREER – Since arriving in New Orleans in 2006 Shanle has been one of the Saints’ top defenders, and he had what might have been his best season last year, shattering his career-high with 145 tackles. He started 16 games for the first time in his career in 2008 and had eight or more stops in 10 contests from his weakside linebacker spot. Equally adept at blitzing, dropping into coverage and plugging against the run, Shanle has been an important addition since acquired in a trade from Dallas on the eve of the 2006 training camp. In his 46 games in New Orleans since, he has had 358 tackles, six sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while rarely leaving the field. Initially a seventh-round pick out of Nebraska in 2003 by St. Louis, Shanle spent most of his rookie year with the Rams, playing in six games before being claimed off waivers by Dallas late in the season. With the Cowboys, he was a special teams standout in 2004 before starting eight games in 2005. Though he has also started at strong-side 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 (251^st overall) of 2003 NFL Draft.

2008 – Started 16 games at weakside linebacker, registering 145 tackles (79 solo) to rank second on the team…Also had eight pass defenses, a forced fumble and a pair of sacks…Had 10 or more tackles in six games…Posted five tackles, tipped away a pass and forced a fumble near the goal line to stop a scoring opportunity for Denver, Sept. 21…Notched 11 tackles (8 solo) and deflected two passes vs. San Diego, his second-straight game with double-digit stops… Posted 14 tackles vs. Green Bay, Nov. 14, 11 and a sack the following week at Tampa Bay, and a career-high 15 (10 solo) vs. Atlanta, Dec. 7…Recorded six tackles (three solo), a sack and deflected a pass vs. Carolina, Dec. 28. 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 (56 solo) to tie for third on the team…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 200th 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 then 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. 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 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 in tackles with 50 and added 1.5 sacks. 2004 – Ranked fourth on Cowboys with 15 special teams tackles…Late in year became a starter at strong-side linebacker and recorded 26 tackles in final three games…Made first NFL start at SLB at Philadelphia, Dec. 19, and had eight tackles…Recorded 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.