Former NFLer had been charged with murder

Updated: September 7, 2004, 2:57 PM ET

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Associated Press

MONTREAL -- Former NFL football player Tommy Kane pleaded guilty Tuesday in Quebec Superior Court to manslaughter in the death of his wife.

Kane, a receiver for the Seattle Seahawks from 1988 to 1992, will have a sentencing hearing Sept. 27.

Kane's wife, Tammara Shaikh, died after police found her on the floor of a Montreal apartment on Nov. 30, 2003. Kane and 35-year-old Shaikh, who were separated at the time, have four young children.

Shaikh had been stabbed and beaten to death, prosecutor Louis Bouthillier said Tuesday outside court.

Kane, 40, was bound by the wrists when Justice Fraser Martin asked him what plea he would enter.

"For manslaughter? Guilty," Kane replied.

Kane originally pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and was expected to have a date set for a trial.

Bouthillier said the case turned when a government prosecutor and a defense psychiatrist both concluded the ex-football player suffered from depression before the killing.

"Basically, they came to the same conclusion," Bouthillier said. "We did not have proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Tommy Kane intended the death of his wife."

Kane, who was born in Montreal, enjoyed a stellar career at Syracuse from 1985 to 1987, and he ranks No. 3 on the school's all-time list with 17 career touchdowns. He also holds school records for single-season touchdowns (14) as well as highest average yards per catch in a season (22.0) and career (20.7).

After two seasons as a reserve with Seattle, he enjoyed a breakout year in 1990, catching 52 passes for 776 yards. He caught 50 passes for 763 yards in 1991.

But his 1992 season was cut short by career-threatening knee and ankle injuries. The Seahawks let him go in training camp in 1993, and he had a brief stint with Toronto of the Canadian Football League in 1994.