Darnell Dinkins
Encyclopedia
Darnell Joseph Dinkins is an American football
tight end
for the New Orleans Saints
in the National Football League
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers
as a free agent
in 2001. He played college football
at Pittsburgh
.
Dinkins has also played for the New York Giants
, Baltimore Ravens
and Cleveland Browns
.
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 ten touchdowns. On defense, he had 86 tackles, three knockdowns, four sacks and four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown).
as an undergraduate. He started at free safety for three years while at Pittsburgh also saw time at wide receiver and linebacker in college. He started all 11 games at free safety, finishing second on the team with 78 tackles (49 solo) in 1998 also posted six pass deflections, 2 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. Dinkins came to the Panthers as a quarterback before shifting to the defensive backfield.
as a free agent and was allocated to NFL Europa where he played for the Rhein Fire
. When he returned he saw action in two games, missing the final 13 games after breaking a bone in his foot. He was inactive for games 4-7 before being placed on injured reserve
. He made his NFL debut against the San Francisco 49ers
on September 5.
In 2003, Dinkins saw action in seven games after being signed to the Giants active roster from the practice squad in week 10. He finished the season with two receptions for 16 yards and eight special teams tackles.
on October 2, 2004 to their practice squad before being elevated to the active roster on October 29. He played in ten games, starting four (the first starts of his career), in his first year with the Ravens. He was a key contributor for Baltimore as he pulled in nine receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown. He scored his first career touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Kyle Boller
versus the Dallas Cowboys
on November 21.
In 2005, his second season with the Ravens, Dinkins appeared in all 16 games, including four starts, and totaled 55 yards on six receptions (9.2 avg.).
as an unrestricted free agent on March 19, 2006. He played in 14 games with two starts and averaged seven yards per reception and one touchdown. He is known more for his size than his receiving ability.
Although not starting a single game in 2007 for the first time in four years he appeared in a total of 15 games. His offensive totals for season was one reception for eight 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
.
In 2008, Dinkins caught his second career touchdown with 2:15 left in the second quarter during the week 6 game against the defending Super Bowl
champions, New York Giants
. He caught a 22-yard pass from quarterback Derek Anderson
while filling in for injured tight end Kellen Winslow
. It was his first reception of the 2008 campaign.
of the Arena Football League
on 93.7 The Fan, Pittsburgh's CBS Radio station.
Dinkins has served as a professor for both Football 101 and 201 programs, and attended the annual "Meet the Giants" Ronald McDonald House dinner. He also led walkers on behalf of the Autism Directory Service in Poughkeepsie, New York
.
In late 2008, Dinkins, with fellow Browns player Joshua Cribbs
, opened a children's indoor inflatable play arena called Bounce City, which is located in Strongsville, Ohio
.
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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in 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 Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 2001. 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
.
Dinkins has also played for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
A standout quarterback and linebacker at Schenley High SchoolSchenley High School
Schenley High School is both a public school building and a school program that closed with the graduating class of 2011. Schenley High School is located in the North Oakland neighborhood at the edge of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2008 the school's staff and...
in Pittsburgh, Dinkins was named City League MVP by both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Courier
Pittsburgh Courier
The Pittsburgh Courier was an American newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was published from 1907 to 1965. Once the country's most widely circulated Black newspaper, the legacy and influence of the Pittsburgh Courier is unparalleled.A pillar of the Black Press, it rose...
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 ten touchdowns. On defense, he had 86 tackles, three knockdowns, four sacks and four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown).
College career
Dinkins attended the University of PittsburghUniversity of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
as an undergraduate. He started at free safety for three years while at Pittsburgh also saw time at wide receiver and linebacker in college. He started all 11 games at free safety, finishing second on the team with 78 tackles (49 solo) in 1998 also posted six pass deflections, 2 quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. Dinkins came to the Panthers as a quarterback before shifting to the defensive backfield.
New York Giants
In 2002, Dinkins was signed by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent and was allocated to NFL Europa where he played for the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
. When he returned he saw action in two games, missing the final 13 games after breaking a bone in his foot. He was inactive for games 4-7 before being placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
. He made his NFL debut against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
on September 5.
In 2003, Dinkins saw action in seven games after being signed to the Giants active roster from the practice squad in week 10. He finished the season with two receptions for 16 yards and eight special teams tackles.
Baltimore Ravens
Dinkins was waived by the Giants at the end of the training camp and was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
on October 2, 2004 to their practice squad before being elevated to the active roster on October 29. He played in ten games, starting four (the first starts of his career), in his first year with the Ravens. He was a key contributor for Baltimore as he pulled in nine receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown. He scored his first career touchdown on a 17-yard pass from Kyle Boller
Kyle Boller
Kyle Bryan Boller is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of California.Boller has also played for the St...
versus the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
on November 21.
In 2005, his second season with the Ravens, Dinkins appeared in all 16 games, including four starts, and totaled 55 yards on six receptions (9.2 avg.).
Cleveland Browns
Dinkins was signed by the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an unrestricted free agent on March 19, 2006. He played in 14 games with two starts and averaged seven yards per reception and one touchdown. He is known more for his size than his receiving ability.
Although not starting a single game in 2007 for the first time in four years he appeared in a total of 15 games. His offensive totals for season was one reception for eight yards (8.0 avg.) which he recorded in week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. The only game he did not see action in was the week 6 game against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In 2008, Dinkins caught his second career touchdown with 2:15 left in the second quarter during the week 6 game against the defending Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champions, New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He caught a 22-yard pass from quarterback Derek Anderson
Derek Anderson (American football)
Derek Matthew Anderson is an American football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
while filling in for injured tight end Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow II
Kellen Boswell Winslow, II is an American football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns sixth overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
. It was his first reception of the 2008 campaign.
Broadcasting
Dinkins currently broadcasts the Pittsburgh PowerPittsburgh Power
The Pittsburgh Power is an Arena Football League team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that began play in March of 2011. The team plays its home games at the new Consol Energy Center, which they share with the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
on 93.7 The Fan, Pittsburgh's CBS Radio station.
Personal
Dinkins acquired a college degree in criminology and works to educate local youths 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 the Union County (N.J.) Juvenile Detention Center, and twice visited Giants Academy in Newark to praise the academic effort of the students. In 2004, Dinkins created his own foundation to host the annual Darnell Dinkins Maleness to Manhood football camp, with the goal involving parents to of teaching inner-city Pittsburgh youth leadership, responsibility, integrity and teamwork.Dinkins has served as a professor for both Football 101 and 201 programs, and attended the annual "Meet the Giants" Ronald McDonald House dinner. He also led walkers on behalf of the Autism Directory Service in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
.
In late 2008, Dinkins, with fellow Browns player Joshua Cribbs
Joshua Cribbs
Joshua "Josh" Cribbs is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He played collegiately for Kent State University. He holds the NFL record with eight kickoff returns for touchdowns...
, opened a children's indoor inflatable play arena called Bounce City, which is located in Strongsville, Ohio
Strongsville, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,858 people, 16,209 households, and 12,383 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,779.6 people per square mile . There were 16,863 housing units at an average density of 684.2 per square mile...
.