The Giants' players were reticent in commenting about the absence of their star linebacker.

Mr. Speidel, a star linebacker on last year's squad, was seriously injured in the accident and has since left the school.

Damas, who has developed into a star linebacker in this, his senior season, remembers that Montana game well.

Reeves managed to poke a little fun at his star linebacker.

He was a star linebacker and defensive end for the Pitt Panthers from 1981 to 1984.

Madden was a star linebacker and team leader.

But he evolved into a star linebacker known for hard hits, and in his senior season was named Pacific-10 Conference defensive player of the year.

Urlacher, the Chicago Bears' star middle linebacker, has made a career of delivering painful hits.

The teen-agers in each "Nutcracker" have far more demanding schedules and physical workouts than any star linebacker.

Some of what the star linebacker said was so murky it makes your teeth hurt.