David Givens
Encyclopedia
David Lamar Givens is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He was drafted by the New England Patriots
in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Notre Dame
.
Givens also played for the Tennessee Titans
.
in Humble, Texas
in 1998, the same high school as fellow NFL players David Boston
, Bertrand Berry
, and Sammy Davis
.
his rookie
year for the New England Patriots
in 2002
, and improved in each of the next two seasons. He posted 34 catches and lead his team with six touchdowns in 2003
and 56 catches in 2004
despite scoring just three times. His best performances in his career came in the postseason. Beginning with the 2003 AFC Championship Game
against the Indianapolis Colts
, Givens scored at least one touchdown the Patriots' next seven playoff games, including both Super Bowl XXXVIII
and Super Bowl XXXIX
. In 2005
, Givens caught a career-high 59 passes and was the Patriots' number two receiver for the second year in a row.
In Super Bowl XXXIX
against the Philadelphia Eagles
, Givens mocked the wing-flap celebration of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens
after catching a four-yard touchdown from Tom Brady
.
on March 14, 2006. His first season
with the Titans ended prematurely in Week 10, after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament
. He also missed the entire 2007 season
. On February 27, 2008 he was released by the Titans.
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
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 drafted by the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. 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 Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
.
Givens also played for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.
Early years
Givens graduated from Humble High SchoolHumble High School
Humble High School is a secondary school located in the Humble Independent School District in Humble, Texas, United States.Humble High School , which serves grades 9 through 12, serves the city of Humble, the Moonshine Hill area of Houston, and unincorporated communities north of Beltway 8...
in Humble, Texas
Humble, Texas
Humble is a city in Harris County, Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area.As of the 2000 census, the city population was 14,579. The city shares a zip code with the small Houston neighborhood of Bordersville, although people who live in Bordersville still have Humble...
in 1998, the same high school as fellow NFL players David Boston
David Boston
David Byron Boston is a professional football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
, Bertrand Berry
Bertrand Berry
Bertrand Demond Berry is a retired American football defensive end who most recently played for the Arizona Cardinals.-Early years:Berry started his football career in the Humble Area Football League...
, and Sammy Davis
Sammy Davis (American football)
Sammy James Davis, Jr. is an American football cornerback. He is a free agent, as well as a businessman and owner of the Austin Capitals, a basketball team playing in the American Basketball Association. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers 30th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft...
.
New England Patriots
Givens caught nine passes and one touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in 2002
2002 New England Patriots season
The 2002 New England Patriots season was the 33rd season for the team in the National Football League and 43rd season overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, good enough for second in the division but not a playoff berth....
, and improved in each of the next two seasons. He posted 34 catches and lead his team with six touchdowns in 2003
2003 New England Patriots season
The 2003 New England Patriots season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League and 44th season overall. They finished with a league-best 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVIII....
and 56 catches in 2004
2004 New England Patriots season
The 2004 New England Patriots season was the 35th season for the team in the National Football League and 45th season overall. They finished with their second straight 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXIX, their third Super Bowl victory in four years.Following a Super Bowl...
despite scoring just three times. His best performances in his career came in the postseason. Beginning with the 2003 AFC Championship Game
NFL playoffs, 2003-04
The NFL playoffs following the 2003 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVIII.Beginning with the 2003–04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoffs games. The league suspended the prior practice of assembling "all-star" officiating crews of highly-rated...
against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Givens scored at least one touchdown the Patriots' next seven playoff games, including both Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
and Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
. In 2005
2005 New England Patriots season
The 2005 New England Patriots season was the 36th season for the team in the National Football League and 46th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and the division title before losing in the playoffs to the Denver Broncos....
, Givens caught a career-high 59 passes and was the Patriots' number two receiver for the second year in a row.
In Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Givens mocked the wing-flap celebration of Eagles receiver Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
after catching a four-yard touchdown from Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
.
Tennessee Titans
Givens signed a 5-year deal worth $24 million with the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on March 14, 2006. His first season
2006 Tennessee Titans season
The 2006 Tennessee Titans season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 2005.-Offseason:In 2006, exciting news for the future came when in the 2006 NFL Draft, the Titans, with the third overall pick, chose Vince Young, star quarterback out of the University of Texas, and with...
with the Titans ended prematurely in Week 10, after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. He also missed the entire 2007 season
2007 Tennessee Titans season
The 2007 Tennessee Titans season was the 48th season for the team in the National Football League, and their eleventh in Tennessee. They entered the season in an attempt to improve on their 8–8 record from 2006, along with attempting to make the playoffs for the first time since...
. On February 27, 2008 he was released by the Titans.