TRIBUTES have been paid as a former Green Bay Packers star has been found dead.
The guard was found dead at his home in Wisconsin.
Bill Ferrario (#64) has been found dead at his home[/caption]
Ferrario played for the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers[/caption]
Former Packers player Bill Ferrario died on Wednesday, September 24.
His unexpected death comes just two days after he celebrated his 47th birthday.
No cause of death has been given.
Ferrario was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he attended West Scranton High School.
He later played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers alongside running backs Ron Dayne and Michael Bennett, both 47.
The guard spent four years with Wisconsin, where he started all 50 of his appearances for the college.
Ferrario became just the third player in Big Ten history to complete this achievement.
During his time with the Badgers, Ferrario was named in the All-Big Ten first team for 1999 and the second team a year later.
The Badgers won back-to-back Rose Bowl Championships during this period.
His former West Scranton quarterback Corey Joyce expressed his sorrow to the Scranton Times-Tribune.
“Billy was a true gentleman,” Joyce said. “He was a literal Eagle Scout.”
“Once he stepped onto the football field, he was a totally different person. He was an all-around great guy.”
He was selected by the Packers 105th overall during the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
The guard became a key player for the franchise as he spent two seasons in Green Bay.
Ferrario made 16 appearances for the Packers, all coming during the 2002 NFL season.
He was the waived by the Packers ahead of the 2003 campaign.
After a year out of action, Ferrario signed with the Washington Redskins in February 2004.
The guard was ultimately released before the start of the 2004 season, before finding a new home in the NFL.
He joined the Carolina Panthers in November 2004, but would not play any games for the franchise.
Ferrario is survived by his two children.
