Do you remember Chris Ellis?
You know... Chris Ellis. The Buffalo Bills' third-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft? The one who barely played in his first two seasons? Who, on the basis of a strong pre-season, made the team in Chan Gailey's first year as head coach, recorded a sack in the season opener as a starter, and was cut by the team a month later? Even though at that point in time he was the only linebacker on the roster with a sack?
If you do remember Chris Ellis, his story has only gotten weirder. Since leaving the Bills on October 11, Ellis latched on as a practice squad member of - you guessed it - the Pittsburgh Steelers. In that capacity, he has an opportunity to earn a Super Bowl ring this year.
Should the Steelers beat the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, Ellis is not guaranteed a ring. NFL teams that win it all are given funds to produce a certain amount of rings, and from there, the team decides who gets rings. Pittsburgh, however, gave rings to their practice squad players after championships in 2005 and 2008, so if they win, Ellis gets his bling. He'll get a check for $5,200 no matter what.