Saddle Brook’s Steve Longa Signs With NFL's Detroit Lions

SADDLE BROOK, N.J. — Steve Longa, who starred at Saddle Brook High School, has been signed by the Detroit Lions as a member of their practice squad.

Saddle Brook's Steve Longa has been signed by the Detroit Lions as a member of the practice squad. Longa was picked up after being waived by the Seattle Seahawks.
Photo Credit: *Seahawks.com*

Faith Ballantine-Armonaitis

09/09/2016 5:00 a.m.

Longa was picked up after being waived by the Seattle Seahawks as teams trimmed their roster to 53 to get ready for the opening of the season this week.

Longa, an un-drafted free agent from Rutgers, signed with the Seahawks immediately after the NFL draft. He left the university after his junior season as an All Big 10 selection after the leading the league in tackles as a junior.

NFL teams can sign up to 10 players, after they have cleared waivers, to their practice squads.

The Cameroon native moved to the United States at age 8, and quickly became a star at Saddle Brook High School as a running back/linebacker during his days with the Falcons.

He is trying to become the fourth player who played at Saddle Brook High School to make the NFL.

Linebacker Steve Beauharnais, who played three years at Saddle Brook before transferring to St. Joseph’s (Montvale) , also played at Rutgers before spending two seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, Redskins and 49ers from 2011-2014.

Ralph Giacomarro punted in the NFL for four seasons, from 1983 to 1987 with the Falcons and Broncos. Tight end Steve Maneri also played from 2011 to 2014, with the Chiefs, Bears and Patriots.

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