Hank Poteat
Encyclopedia
Henry Major "Hank" Poteat, II (born August 30, 1977 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
) is an American football
cornerback
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Pittsburgh
.
Poteat has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, New England Patriots
and New York Jets
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX
.
after posting 55 tackles, three interceptions, nine Passes Defended and one Forced Fumble over 11 starts. He was also the last Pittsburgh defensive back before Jets 2007 first-round pick Darrelle Revis
to earn All-Big East honors in back-to-back seasons. He established a single-season record as a junior with 764 Kick Return yards on 36 returns. In high school he twice earned all-conference honors as a Defensive Back/Running Back at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania High School.
by the Pittsburgh Steelers
. He played off the bench for the Steelers for three seasons, and was waived before the 2003-04 season.
later that season and appeared in one game before being waived on November 12, 2004.
prior to the 2004-05 playoffs
and played in all three of the Patriots' playoff games en route to their victory in Super Bowl XXXIX
. Poteat was released by the Patriots on August 29, 2006. Poteat was re-signed on September 27, 2006, after the Patriots placed Randall Gay
on injured reserve
. Poteat was released again by the Patriots on October 9, 2006 in order to clear a roster spot for Jabar Gaffney
.
. On February 21, 2007, the Jets re-signed Poteat to a one-year, $635,000 deal including $40,000 bonus money.
Poteat was re-signed in the 2008 offseason on May 6, but released on August 30 during final cuts. He was re-signed three weeks into the regular season on September 25 after offensive lineman Will Montgomery
was waived.
on March 9, 2009. The move reunited him with Browns head coach Eric Mangini
, for whom he had played in New England and New York.
basketball player Justin Watts.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
) is an American football
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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who is currently 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....
. He was drafted 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...
in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. 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...
.
Poteat has also played for 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Patriots 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...
.
Early years
Poteat attended Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, PA and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he was a two-time All-Conference selection as a running back and as a defensive back. He finished his college career with 136 tackles, 10 interceptions, a school-record 1,917 Kick Return yards, 90 rushing yards and 54 receiving yards. He also earned All-Big East honors as a seniorSenior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
after posting 55 tackles, three interceptions, nine Passes Defended and one Forced Fumble over 11 starts. He was also the last Pittsburgh defensive back before Jets 2007 first-round pick Darrelle Revis
Darrelle Revis
Though Revis was not the first defensive back drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft , he was the first cornerback taken that year...
to earn All-Big East honors in back-to-back seasons. He established a single-season record as a junior with 764 Kick Return yards on 36 returns. In high school he twice earned all-conference honors as a Defensive Back/Running Back at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania High School.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Poteat selected in the third round (77th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
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...
. He played off the bench for the Steelers for three seasons, and was waived before the 2003-04 season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He signed with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa 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...
later that season and appeared in one game before being waived on November 12, 2004.
New England Patriots
Poteat signed with the New England PatriotsNew 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...
prior to the 2004-05 playoffs
NFL playoffs, 2004-05
The NFL playoffs following the 2004 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXIX.-NFC: St. Louis Rams 27, Seattle Seahawks 20:Although the Rams barely made the playoffs with an 8–8 record, two of their regular season wins were against Seattle...
and played in all three of the Patriots' playoff games en route to their victory 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...
. Poteat was released by the Patriots on August 29, 2006. Poteat was re-signed on September 27, 2006, after the Patriots placed Randall Gay
Randall Gay
Randall "Blue" Jerome Gay, Jr. is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Louisiana State...
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...
. Poteat was released again by the Patriots on October 9, 2006 in order to clear a roster spot for Jabar Gaffney
Jabar Gaffney
Derrick Jabar Gaffney is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
.
New York Jets
A day after his release from the Patriots, Poteat signed with the New York JetsNew 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...
. On February 21, 2007, the Jets re-signed Poteat to a one-year, $635,000 deal including $40,000 bonus money.
Poteat was re-signed in the 2008 offseason on May 6, but released on August 30 during final cuts. He was re-signed three weeks into the regular season on September 25 after offensive lineman Will Montgomery
Will Montgomery
Will Montgomery is an American football center for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
was waived.
Cleveland Browns
Poteat 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...
on March 9, 2009. The move reunited him with Browns head coach Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets of the National Football League and current NFL analyst for ESPN.-College:...
, for whom he had played in New England and New York.
Personal life
Poteat is the cousin of University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
basketball player Justin Watts.