No. 76 | |||||||
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Position: | Defensive end/ Defensive tackle | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Kingston, New York | July 9, 1969||||||
Career information | |||||||
College: |
Ulster County CC Hastings College | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Jerry Drake (born July 9, 1969) is a former professional American football defensive lineman who spent six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at Hastings College.
A native of Kingston, New York, Drake played one year of college football at Ulster County Community College before the program was disbanded. [1] He transferred to Hastings College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II program, because he had some friends who attended the school. [1] As a junior, Drake recorded 48 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, and seven pass breakups. [2] As a senior, he recorded 32 solo tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and three pass breakups. [3] He was twice selected as a NAIA All-American. [1] Drake also played in the semi-professional Empire Football League. [4]
Drake signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in April 1995. [5] He was waived in August and re-signed to the team's practice squad. [6] [7] Drake was promoted to the active roster in late November. [8] He made his NFL debut on December 9 in a nationally televised game against the San Diego Chargers, recording a memorably "jarring" tackle of Andre Coleman on a kick return. [1] [9] [10] Drake played in two games as a rookie. [1]
Drake was allocated to the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in February 1996. [11] He finished the 1996 WLAF season with a league-leading eight sacks. [12] [13] Drake re-joined the Cardinals for the 1996 season and recorded 14 tackles, mostly on special teams, in 11 games played. [13] [14]
In June 1997, Drake signed a three-year, $1.025 million extension with the Cardinals. [15] However, after losing strength in the left side of his body, he was diagnosed with spinal cord compression and underwent a season-ending surgery on August 26, 1997. [14] [16] Drake was cleared for activity in April 1998. [16] He earned the starting spot at defensive left end ahead of the 1998 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, following an injury to Brad Ottis and a contract holdout by first-round draft pick Andre Wadsworth. [17] [18] However, Drake developed a herniated disc in his back during the game and was forced to undergo surgery again, once again ending his season. [19]
After his release from prison in July 1999, Drake joined the Cardinals' training camp. [20] In the 1999 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, he sacked Doug Pederson and recovered a fumble. [21] However, Drake cracked a bone in his right thumb. [22] In week three against the San Francisco 49ers, he intercepted a tipped pass from Steve Young. [23] Drake started all 16 games and recorded 98 tackles. [24] He signed a one-year extension in May 2000. [25] Drake suffered a sprained right knee in a preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings and was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list. [26] [27] He was released in early November after reaching an injury settlement. [28]
Drake got married shortly after the conclusion of the 1996 season. [29] He was arrested twice in late 1997 and was charged with an aggravated Driving under the influence (DUI) felony in each instance. [30] After pleading no contest to both charges, Drake was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of four and six months. [31] [32] His second child, a son, was born during his time in prison, and he was released in July 1999. [20]
No. 76 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Defensive end/ Defensive tackle | ||||||
Personal information | |||||||
Born: | Kingston, New York | July 9, 1969||||||
Career information | |||||||
College: |
Ulster County CC Hastings College | ||||||
Career history | |||||||
| |||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||
| |||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||
| |||||||
Jerry Drake (born July 9, 1969) is a former professional American football defensive lineman who spent six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football at Hastings College.
A native of Kingston, New York, Drake played one year of college football at Ulster County Community College before the program was disbanded. [1] He transferred to Hastings College, a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II program, because he had some friends who attended the school. [1] As a junior, Drake recorded 48 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, and seven pass breakups. [2] As a senior, he recorded 32 solo tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and three pass breakups. [3] He was twice selected as a NAIA All-American. [1] Drake also played in the semi-professional Empire Football League. [4]
Drake signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in April 1995. [5] He was waived in August and re-signed to the team's practice squad. [6] [7] Drake was promoted to the active roster in late November. [8] He made his NFL debut on December 9 in a nationally televised game against the San Diego Chargers, recording a memorably "jarring" tackle of Andre Coleman on a kick return. [1] [9] [10] Drake played in two games as a rookie. [1]
Drake was allocated to the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in February 1996. [11] He finished the 1996 WLAF season with a league-leading eight sacks. [12] [13] Drake re-joined the Cardinals for the 1996 season and recorded 14 tackles, mostly on special teams, in 11 games played. [13] [14]
In June 1997, Drake signed a three-year, $1.025 million extension with the Cardinals. [15] However, after losing strength in the left side of his body, he was diagnosed with spinal cord compression and underwent a season-ending surgery on August 26, 1997. [14] [16] Drake was cleared for activity in April 1998. [16] He earned the starting spot at defensive left end ahead of the 1998 season opener against the Dallas Cowboys, following an injury to Brad Ottis and a contract holdout by first-round draft pick Andre Wadsworth. [17] [18] However, Drake developed a herniated disc in his back during the game and was forced to undergo surgery again, once again ending his season. [19]
After his release from prison in July 1999, Drake joined the Cardinals' training camp. [20] In the 1999 season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, he sacked Doug Pederson and recovered a fumble. [21] However, Drake cracked a bone in his right thumb. [22] In week three against the San Francisco 49ers, he intercepted a tipped pass from Steve Young. [23] Drake started all 16 games and recorded 98 tackles. [24] He signed a one-year extension in May 2000. [25] Drake suffered a sprained right knee in a preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings and was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list. [26] [27] He was released in early November after reaching an injury settlement. [28]
Drake got married shortly after the conclusion of the 1996 season. [29] He was arrested twice in late 1997 and was charged with an aggravated Driving under the influence (DUI) felony in each instance. [30] After pleading no contest to both charges, Drake was sentenced to concurrent prison terms of four and six months. [31] [32] His second child, a son, was born during his time in prison, and he was released in July 1999. [20]