Early years

Flannery was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and attended Pottsville High School, where he played defensive tackle and center. As a senior he was named defensive MVP of Pennsylvania’s Big 33 and won the state heavyweight wrestling championship.

He accepted a scholarship from Syracuse University. As a freshman he was the starter at left guard. He was moved to center the next year and earned All-American honors as a senior.

In 1999, he was named to the Syracuse University's All-Century team.

Professional career

Houston Oilers

Flannery was selected by the Houston Oilers in the second round (44th overall) of the 1991 NFL Draft. Because future hall of famer Bruce Matthews was the starting center at the time, he was moved to right guard where he started the first 9 games of the season until suffering a knee sprain and playing mainly on special teams after that. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie team.

The next year he just started 2 games. In 1993, he was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in training camp on his left knee. In 1994, he was the regular starter at left guard. He was waived on August 8, 1995.

Green Bay Packers

On August 10, 1995, he signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers, but it was invalidated after he failed a physical because of his previous knee injury.

Dallas Cowboys

In 1996, he was signed 4 weeks into the season as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1997, he competed with Clay Shiver for the starting center position that was left open with the release of Ray Donaldson, but he ended up as the backup and started 4 games at left guard.

St. Louis Rams

On April 1, 1998, he was signed as a free agent by the St. Louis Rams and was named the starter at center. The next year he was placed on the injured reserve list, in a season the team went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]