Curtis Brinkley
Encyclopedia
Curtis Brinkley is an American football
running back
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Syracuse
.
. He attended both West Catholic High School
and Hargrave Military Academy
. During his career he set Philadelphia city records with 1,007 carries and rushing for 300 yards five times. As a senior he was named all-city along with rushing for 2,813 yards. He finished his high school career with 7,429 yards and scoring 85 touchdowns in four years. Those stats broke the record of current Chicago Bears
running back
Kevin Jones
. In 2004, at Hargrave he faced competition from Robert Barcliff and Andre Brown
. During his time in high school, Brinkley was nicknamed "Boonah". Brinkley was the MVP of the 2004 Big 33 game.
. On October 6, 2005, against Florida State
saw playing time as a kick returner
but fumble
d in the fourth quarter on a kickoff. As a senior, Brinkley ran for 1,165 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns with 237 carries.
, Brinkley was signed by the San Diego Chargers
as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 4, 2010, but was re-signed the following day to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on September 25, only to be waived on September 28 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 1. The Chargers promoted him to the active roster again on November 22. Brinkley was waived on December 16 and re-signed to the practice squad on December 19. However, he was promoted to the active roster again on December 31, where he finished the season. The following season, he was waived during final cuts again and was later re-signed to the practice squad on September 12, 2011. On September 15, he was released, only to be re-added to the practice squad on September 17. The Chargers released him again a week later, but again re-signed him on September 28. Brinkley was promoted to the active roster on October 22.
Brinkley scored his first career touchdown on October 31, 2011 in a Monday Night Football game at Kansas City. He totaled 43 yards on 10 carries, reaching the end zone on a 2-yard score. However, Brinkley was diagnosed with a concussion after the game.
and was listed in stable condition. His shooting makes it the third time in six years a Chargers player was shot, Terrence Kiel
was shot in 2003 and Steve Foley was shot in 2006.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Syracuse
Syracuse Orange football
The Syracuse Orange football program is a college football team that represents Syracuse University. The team is a member of the Big East Conference, which is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I conference that is part of the Football Bowl Subdivision...
.
Early years
Brinkley was born on September 20, 1985 in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
. He attended both West Catholic High School
West Catholic High School
Grand Rapids West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is a Roman Catholic private, coeducational school and was opened in 1962. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.-Athletics:...
and Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
. During his career he set Philadelphia city records with 1,007 carries and rushing for 300 yards five times. As a senior he was named all-city along with rushing for 2,813 yards. He finished his high school career with 7,429 yards and scoring 85 touchdowns in four years. Those stats broke the record of current Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Kevin Jones
Kevin Jones (American football)
Kevin S. Jones is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions 30th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
. In 2004, at Hargrave he faced competition from Robert Barcliff and Andre Brown
Andre Brown (American football)
Andre Brown is an American football running back who is currently with the New York Giants on the practice squad in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
. During his time in high school, Brinkley was nicknamed "Boonah". Brinkley was the MVP of the 2004 Big 33 game.
College career
Entering college, Brinkley was named a PrepStar All-American and was rated as the 12th best running back by Rivals.comRivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
. On October 6, 2005, against Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
saw playing time as a kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
but fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d in the fourth quarter on a kickoff. As a senior, Brinkley ran for 1,165 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns with 237 carries.
San Diego Chargers
After going unselected in the 2009 NFL Draft2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, Brinkley was signed by the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 4, 2010, but was re-signed the following day to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on September 25, only to be waived on September 28 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 1. The Chargers promoted him to the active roster again on November 22. Brinkley was waived on December 16 and re-signed to the practice squad on December 19. However, he was promoted to the active roster again on December 31, where he finished the season. The following season, he was waived during final cuts again and was later re-signed to the practice squad on September 12, 2011. On September 15, he was released, only to be re-added to the practice squad on September 17. The Chargers released him again a week later, but again re-signed him on September 28. Brinkley was promoted to the active roster on October 22.
Brinkley scored his first career touchdown on October 31, 2011 in a Monday Night Football game at Kansas City. He totaled 43 yards on 10 carries, reaching the end zone on a 2-yard score. However, Brinkley was diagnosed with a concussion after the game.
Shooting
On July 10, 2009, Brinkley was shot multiple times by an unknown gunman while his car was stopped in the Philadelphia suburb of Cheltenham Township. After the shooting, Anthony Peterson Jr., 25, the boyfriend of Brinkley's sister, admitted to firing the shots, which were intended for a romantic rival. Peterson was convicted of one count each of attempted murder and aggravated assault, both first-degree felonies, and sentenced to seven to 14 years in state prison. Following the shooting, Brinkley was taken to Albert Einstein Medical CenterAlbert Einstein Medical Center
Albert Einstein Medical Center is a tertiary care teaching hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An important aspect of the medical center is that of educating graduating physicians. The medical center offers residency and fellowship training programs in many specialized areas...
and was listed in stable condition. His shooting makes it the third time in six years a Chargers player was shot, Terrence Kiel
Terrence Kiel
Terrence Dewayne Kiel was an American safety in the National Football League. He played his entire career for the San Diego Chargers after being drafted by them in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M.-Early years:Kiel was born in Lufkin, Texas...
was shot in 2003 and Steve Foley was shot in 2006.