R.I.P. PIO

Former Cleveland Browns defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele dead at age 39

by Tony Grossi/Plain Dealer Reporter Monday June 08, 2009, 4:33 PM

CLEVELAND --Former Browns defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele died Sunday night in Chandler, Ariz., after suffering an aneurysm on Friday. He was 39.

Sagapolutele, a native of American Samoa who had one of the most unforgettable surnames in Browns history, was a fourth-round draft pick of Bill Belichick in 1991. He played in 63 games in five seasons for Belichick in Cleveland, starting 34.

Sagapolutele's versatility to play end and tackle appealed to Belichick. When Belichick joined the New England Patriots as assistant head coach in 1996, he recruited Sagapolutele to rejoin him. Sagapolutele started 13 games for the Patriots during the season and at right defensive tackle in Super Bowl XXXI against Green Bay.

Starting in the Super Bowl wasn't Sagapolutele's fondest NFL memory.

In a story in 2005, he said, "My best memory was just being out there on the field for my first game. I was playing for the Browns and I remember sitting on the field stretching in the pre-game, thinking about growing up in Kalihi (Hawaii) ... and how far I had come."

Sagapolutele moved his family to Arizona a few months ago. He is survived by his wife and four children, ages 14, 9, 6 and 3. His burial is planned for Hawaii.