Derrick Pope
Encyclopedia
Derrick Trayon Pope is a professional American and Canadian football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Alabama
.
Pope has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
.
in Galveston, Texas. He was named as the school's Offensive MVP and first-team All-District selection as a running back
. He also played basketball
, baseball
and ran track
. Pope is married to Danielle Venible. Together they have two kids Dalaney an Derrick Jr.He also has a son name Chauncey whom is his oldest child.
for two seasons (2000-01) prior to enrolling at Alabama. As a freshman, he led the team with 127 tackles and twenty sacks, and was a first-team JUCO All-America and first-team All-Jayhawk Conference choice.
He recorded 125 tackles with nine sacks, 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage and returned two fumble recoveries for touchdown
s as a sophomore He was a first-team All-America
choice and Region VI Defensive Most Valuable Player at middle linebacker. He added first-team All-Jayhawk Conference accolades.
Pope played in 12 games with ten starts at strongside linebacker as a senior when he served as team captain. He was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference
selection by the Associated Press
. He was the recipient of the team’s Lee Roy Jordan
Headhunter Award. On the year he finished third on the team with 105 tackles (55 solo), including five sacks, nine stops for losses and five quarterback pressures. He also deflected six passes and intercepted another. Following the season, he played in the Senior Bowl
and Blue-Gray Football Classic
.
In his career, Pope started 13 of 25 games for the Crimson Tide, recording 170 tackles (92 solo) with six sacks, 15 stops for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and six pass deflections. Pope was also named Team Captain and had his hands a cleats inshrine at the University of Alabama.
. He was selected with a pick obtained from the Baltimore Ravens
in a draft trade-down. On July 30, 2004 Pope was signed to a four-year deal worth around $2.4 million. The deal included a signing bonus of about $43,000, along with incentives that could increase the contract's value.
Pope impressed the Dolphins' coaching staff early in his professional career and went on to appear in all 16 games, including three starts, in his rookie season. He posted 44 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown. He also ranked fifth on the squad with nine special teams tackles. He saw action in each of the first 11 games of the season in a reserve role.
Although he did not start, Pope saw extended action at San Francisco
on November 28 after Zach Thomas
left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. Pope responded with seventeen tackles, his first career sack and a fumble recovery. With 3:10 to play in the game, Pope picked up a Tim Rattay
fumble that was forced by Jason Taylor and took it in one yard for a touchdown. The score gave the Dolphins a 24-10 lead in a game they went on to win, 24-17. He became the first defensive rookie to score a touchdown for the Dolphins since Zach Thomas returned an interception 26 yards for a score on November 17, 1996 against the Houston Oilers. Pope's first career start came the following week against the Buffalo Bills
, and he kept that spot for three straight weeks before Thomas returned to the lineup. In the Bills game, Pope recorded eight tackles and his second sack in as many weeks. On December 12 against the Denver Broncos
, he tallied a season-high 14 tackles and a forced fumble, with the tackle figure leading the team that day.
In 2005, Pope played in 12 games, including two starts, while being inactive for four contests. He posted 23 tackles and a forced fumble on defense and seven stops on special teams unit. He was inactive for the first four games of the season before making his 2005 debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
on October 16.
Pope saw extensive action at middle linebacker during the season, but opened game the at Oakland
on November 27 and against Buffalo on December 5 at weakside linebacker when Channing Crowder
moved to the middle to replace an injured Thomas. Pope recorded seven tackles in the Raiders game, a team high that day, and matched that total the following week in the Bills contest. He had five tackles and a forced fumble the following week against the New York Jets
, when he saw extensive time as Crowder left the game early with a shoulder injury. In the game, Pope stripped the ball from running back
Cedric Houston
with defensive end
Matt Roth
recovering at the Dolphins’ 39. That led to a Ricky Williams
23-yard touchdown run six plays later.Pope was know to be one of the hardest hitters on the team. In 2007 pope recorded 64 tackles two interceptions and one of those coming from the great Tom Brady
Pope played in a reserve role 11 times and was inactive five times due to a hamstring injury in 2006. On the year, he posted 12 tackles (nine solo). He had a season-high fiver tackles (three solo) in a 24-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings
on November 12.
. The team's Vice President of Player Personnel, Rick Spielman
, was general manager of the Dolphins when Pope was drafted in 2004. Pope was later released by the Vikings on August 25, 2008.
on July 20, 2009. He was released seven days later.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by 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 the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. 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 Alabama
Alabama Crimson Tide football
|TeamName = Alabama football |Image = Alabama Crimson Tide Logo.svg |ImageSize = 110 |Helmet = Alabama Football.png |ImageSize2 = 150 |CurrentSeason = 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team...
.
Pope has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
.
Early years
Pope grew up in Palm Terrace. He was raised by a single mother Stephanie Pope anad stepfather Horace Byrd Jr. Pope has two younger siblings Roshawn Pope and Shakari Byrd stepbrother to First Male Tornette Horace Byrd III. He attended Ball High SchoolBall High School
Ball High School is a public secondary school in Galveston, Texas, United States. Ball, which covers grades 9 through 12, is a part of Galveston Independent School District....
in Galveston, Texas. He was named as the school's Offensive MVP and first-team All-District selection as a 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...
. He also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and ran track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. Pope is married to Danielle Venible. Together they have two kids Dalaney an Derrick Jr.He also has a son name Chauncey whom is his oldest child.
Community College
Pope played at Garden City Community CollegeGarden City Community College
Garden City Community College is a fully accredited community college located in Garden City, Kansas, USA. GCCC has regional accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools...
for two seasons (2000-01) prior to enrolling at Alabama. As a freshman, he led the team with 127 tackles and twenty sacks, and was a first-team JUCO All-America and first-team All-Jayhawk Conference choice.
He recorded 125 tackles with nine sacks, 16 stops behind the line of scrimmage and returned two fumble recoveries for touchdown
Touchdown
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:...
s as a sophomore He was a first-team All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
choice and Region VI Defensive Most Valuable Player at middle linebacker. He added first-team All-Jayhawk Conference accolades.
Alabama
During his first year at Alabama, Pope saw action in 13 games with three starts at middle linebacker as a junior. He ranked fifth on the team with 65 tackles (37 solo), including a sack, six stops for loss and three quarterback pressures. He also intercepted a pass, caused two fumbles and recovered another.Pope played in 12 games with ten starts at strongside linebacker as a senior when he served as team captain. He was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
selection by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. He was the recipient of the team’s Lee Roy Jordan
Lee Roy Jordan
Lee Roy Jordan is a retired American football linebacker. After attending the University of Alabama, playing under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, he spent 14 years in the National Football League playing for the Dallas Cowboys between 1963–1976...
Headhunter Award. On the year he finished third on the team with 105 tackles (55 solo), including five sacks, nine stops for losses and five quarterback pressures. He also deflected six passes and intercepted another. Following the season, he played in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
and Blue-Gray Football Classic
Blue-Gray Football Classic
The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in...
.
In his career, Pope started 13 of 25 games for the Crimson Tide, recording 170 tackles (92 solo) with six sacks, 15 stops for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, two interceptions and six pass deflections. Pope was also named Team Captain and had his hands a cleats inshrine at the University of Alabama.
Awards and honors
- First-team JUCOJunior collegeThe term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n (2000) - 2x first-team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College ConferenceKansas Jayhawk Community College ConferenceThe Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference is a college athletic conference that is a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association...
(2000, 2001) - Region IV Defensive Most Valuable Player (2001)
- Lee Roy JordanLee Roy JordanLee Roy Jordan is a retired American football linebacker. After attending the University of Alabama, playing under head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, he spent 14 years in the National Football League playing for the Dallas Cowboys between 1963–1976...
Headhunter Award (2003) - First-team Associated PressAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-SECSoutheastern ConferenceThe Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(2003)
Miami Dolphins
Pope was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh-round (222nd overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. He was selected with a pick obtained from the 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...
in a draft trade-down. On July 30, 2004 Pope was signed to a four-year deal worth around $2.4 million. The deal included a signing bonus of about $43,000, along with incentives that could increase the contract's value.
Pope impressed the Dolphins' coaching staff early in his professional career and went on to appear in all 16 games, including three starts, in his rookie season. He posted 44 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown. He also ranked fifth on the squad with nine special teams tackles. He saw action in each of the first 11 games of the season in a reserve role.
Although he did not start, Pope saw extended action at San Francisco
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 November 28 after Zach Thomas
Zach Thomas
Zachary Michael Thomas is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas Tech....
left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. Pope responded with seventeen tackles, his first career sack and a fumble recovery. With 3:10 to play in the game, Pope picked up a Tim Rattay
Tim Rattay
Timothy F. Rattay [] is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
fumble that was forced by Jason Taylor and took it in one yard for a touchdown. The score gave the Dolphins a 24-10 lead in a game they went on to win, 24-17. He became the first defensive rookie to score a touchdown for the Dolphins since Zach Thomas returned an interception 26 yards for a score on November 17, 1996 against the Houston Oilers. Pope's first career start came the following week against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and he kept that spot for three straight weeks before Thomas returned to the lineup. In the Bills game, Pope recorded eight tackles and his second sack in as many weeks. On December 12 against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he tallied a season-high 14 tackles and a forced fumble, with the tackle figure leading the team that day.
In 2005, Pope played in 12 games, including two starts, while being inactive for four contests. He posted 23 tackles and a forced fumble on defense and seven stops on special teams unit. He was inactive for the first four games of the season before making his 2005 debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
on October 16.
Pope saw extensive action at middle linebacker during the season, but opened game the at Oakland
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 27 and against Buffalo on December 5 at weakside linebacker when Channing Crowder
Channing Crowder
Randolph Channing Crowder, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Florida, and was recognized as an All-American...
moved to the middle to replace an injured Thomas. Pope recorded seven tackles in the Raiders game, a team high that day, and matched that total the following week in the Bills contest. He had five tackles and a forced fumble the following week against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, when he saw extensive time as Crowder left the game early with a shoulder injury. In the game, Pope stripped the ball from 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...
Cedric Houston
Cedric Houston
Cedric Leonard Houston is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-Early years:...
with defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Matt Roth
Matt Roth
Matthew M. Roth is an American football defensive end and outside linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
recovering at the Dolphins’ 39. That led to a Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
23-yard touchdown run six plays later.Pope was know to be one of the hardest hitters on the team. In 2007 pope recorded 64 tackles two interceptions and one of those coming from the great Tom Brady
Pope played in a reserve role 11 times and was inactive five times due to a hamstring injury in 2006. On the year, he posted 12 tackles (nine solo). He had a season-high fiver tackles (three solo) in a 24-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
on November 12.
Minnesota Vikings
On March 14, 2008, Pope was signed by the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. The team's Vice President of Player Personnel, Rick Spielman
Rick Spielman
Rick Spielman is currently the Vice President of Player Personnel of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. He formerly worked for ESPN on NFL Live.Spielman is the older brother of Chris Spielman, the former Detroit Lions linebacker.-Playing career:...
, was general manager of the Dolphins when Pope was drafted in 2004. Pope was later released by the Vikings on August 25, 2008.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Pope signed a practice roster agreement with the Hamilton Tiger-CatsHamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
on July 20, 2009. He was released seven days later.