Darnell Dinkins
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Cleveland Browns — No. 87 | |
| Tight end | |
| Date of birth: January 20, 1977 | |
| Place of birth: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | Weight: 259 lb (117 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
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| 2003 for the New York Giants | |
| Career history | |
| College: Pittsburgh | |
| Undrafted in 2002 | |
Teams:
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Darnell Dinkins (born January 20, 1977 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American football tight end who currently plays for the Cleveland Browns in the NFL. He formerly played for the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants.
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[edit] College
He attended the University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate. Started at FS for 3 years while at Pittsburgh also saw time at WR and LB in college. Started all 11 games at FS, finishing 2nd on the team with 78 tackles (49 solo) in 1998 also posted 6 PD, 2 QBHs and 1 FF. Came to the Panthers as a QB before shifting to the defensive backfield.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] 2001
He started his professional career playing for the Pittsburgh Colts who are a semi-professional team.
[edit] 2002
In 2002 he was signed by the New York Giants as a free agent and was allocated to NFL Europe where he played for the Rhein Fire. When he returned he saw action in 2 games, missing the final 13 games after breaking a bone in his foot. Was inactive for games 4-7 before being placed on IR. He made his NFL debut against the San Francisco 49ers on September 5.
[edit] 2003
He saw action in 7 games after being signed to the Giants active roster from the practice squad in week 10. Finished the season with 2 receptions for 16 yards and 8 special teams tackles.
[edit] 2004
He was waived by the Giants at the end of the training camp and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens on October 2 to their practice squad before being elevated to the active roster on October 29. He played in 10 games, starting four (the first starts of his career), in his first year with the Ravens. Was a key contributor for Baltimore as he pulled in 9 receptions for 94 yards and 1 TD. Scored his 1st-career TD on a 17-yard pass from Kyle Boller versus the Dallas Cowboys on November 21.
[edit] 2005
On 2005, his second season with the Ravens he appeared in all 16 games, including four starts, and totaled 55 yards on 6 receptions (9.2 avg.).
[edit] 2006
He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an unrestricted free agent on March 19. He played in 14 games with two starts and averaged 7 yards per reception and one touchdown. He is known more for his size than his receiving ability.
[edit] 2007
Although not starting a single game in the season for the first time in 4 years he appeared in a total of 15 games. His offensive totals for season was 1 reception for 8 yards (8.0 avg.) which he recorded in week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The only game he did not see action in was the week 6 game against the Miami Dolphins.
[edit] Personal
A standout quarterback and linebacker at Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, Dinkins was Named City League MVP by both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Courier and a member of the 1995 Big 33 Team. As a senior he rushed for 435 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries and threw 113 passes for 1,256 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense, he had 86 tackles, three knockdowns, four sacks and four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown). Dinkins was drafted in the 6th round (62nd Overall) in the 2005 IIFFL draft[1]. The IIFFL championship trophy was subsequently named "The Dink" midway through the season. In 2004, Dinkins created his own foundation to host the annual Darnell Dinkins Maleness to Manhood football camp, with the goal of teaching inner-city Pittsburgh youth leadership, responsibility, integrity and teamwork, with the involvement of their parents. Dinkins also loves using his college degree in criminology to speak to local youth in desperate situations. In 2003, he spoke with children from MS 45 about gang prevention on behalf of NYPD Youth Services, visited youth incarcerated at Union County (N.J.) Juvenile Detention Center, and twice visited Giants Academy in Newark to praise the academic effort of the students. Served as a professor for both Football 101 and 201 programs, and attended the annual "Meet the Giants" Ronald McDonald House dinner. Dinkins led walkers on behalf of the Autism Directory Service in Poughkeepsie, NY. Married (Shayla Nicole). They have three children, one daughter and two sons, Kayla (1/31/00) and Khalil (5/29/02) and a younger son. Also played QB for the Pittsburgh Colts, a semipro team, in 2001.
