Professional career
Pre-draft measurables| Height | Weight |
|---|
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m) | 193 lb
(88 kg) |
| Values from NFL Combine [1] |
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos selected O'Neal in the first round (15th overall) of the 2000 NFL draft. [2] He was the first cornerback selected in 2000 and the first cornerback drafted in the first round by the Broncos in 25 years. O'Neal was only the second cornerback drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Broncos, joining Louis Wright (1975). [3]
On April 25, 2000, the Broncos' No. 1 starting cornerback Dale Carter was notified he will be suspended for the entire 2000 NFL season after violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy. [4]
On July 21, 2000, the Denver Broncos signed O'Neal to a five—year, $6.96 million rookie contract that includes a signing bonus of $4.55 million. [5] [6]
He entered training camp as a possible candidate to takeover the role as the No. 1 starting cornerback, but had to compete with Terrell Buckley, Darryl Pounds, and Jimmy Spencer. [5]
Due to O'Neal's speed, former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan briefly flirted with converting O'Neal to wide receiver in mid-2003. O'Neal had two receptions, for four yards, in two games. O'Neal was also used frequently to return punts and kickoffs on special teams. While with the Broncos, O'Neal tied the record for most interceptions in a game with four.
Cincinnati Bengals
On April 8, 2004, the Denver Broncos traded O'Neal, along with their first (24th overall) and fourth-round selections (117th overall) in the 2004 NFL draft to the Cincinnati Bengals in return for their 2004 first-round selection (17th overall). [7] [8] On the same day, the Cincinnati Bengals signed O'Neal to a five—year, $8.52 million contract extension that included a signing bonus of $2.00 million. The contract added four years to the final year of his rookie contract and was restructured into a five—year deal that will keep him under contract throughout 2009. [9]
In the 2005 season, O'Neal recorded ten interceptions, breaking the franchise record of nine, set by Ken Riley in 1976 and equalling Ty Law as the NFL's interception leader that year. He broke the record on December 18, 2005, against the Detroit Lions.
In early December 2006, O'Neal was arrested on DWI charges. [10] In the 2007 season, O'Neal recorded 52 tackles and one interception.
On August 30, 2008, the Cincinnati Bengals officially released O'Neal as part of their final roster cuts. [11]
New England Patriots
On September 1, 2008, the New England Patriots signed O'Neal to a one—year, $1 million contract as an unrestricted free agenct. [12]
Legal issues
On December 9, 2006, O'Neal was arrested in the Pierce Twp community of Cincinnati after he was pulled over for driving while intoxicated. O'Neal was driving a black Cadillac Escalade. He was one of 9 Bengals players arrested during the 2006 offseason and regular season.
In December 2019, O'Neal was charged with one count of DUI with serious injury and one of DUI with property damage in Royal Palm Beach, Florida after speeding 100 mph in his Mercedes Benz and striking a utility pole, causing the vehicle to catch fire on August 7, 2019. He and a passenger were airlifted to St. Mary's Medical Center, where O'Neal suffered a broken ankle, a fractured back and neck, an eye injury, brain bleeding and intestinal injuries. [15]
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