Darian Barnes
Encyclopedia
Darian Durrell Barnes is an American football
fullback
who is currently a member of the Florida Tuskers. He was signed by the New York Giants
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
at Hampton
.
Barnes has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Dallas Cowboys
, Miami Dolphins
, New York Jets
, Buffalo Bills
, Detroit Lions
and New Orleans Saints
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII
.
at Toms River High School North
under coach Bob Nani, where he was recognized as second team all-state by The Star-Ledger
during his senior year.
at Hampton
after transferring from Rutgers
.
by the New York Giants
, Barnes has played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(2002–2003), Dallas Cowboys
(2004), Miami Dolphins
(2005–2006) and New York Jets
(2007). On November 28, 2007 the Jets released him.
Barnes was released four games into the 2008 season
on September 30. The Bills signed fullback
Corey McIntyre
to take his place on the roster.
on October 28, 2008 after the team released defensive tackle Langston Moore
. The Lions released Barnes on November 11 when the team re-signed running back
Aveion Cason
.
on November 18, 2008. Barnes was waived on December 21, 2008. He was re-signed to a future contract following the end of the season. He was released on July 23, 2009.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
who is currently a member of the Florida Tuskers. He was signed by 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...
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. 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 Hampton
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
.
Barnes 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and 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 ....
. 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 Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
.
Early years
Barnes played high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
at Toms River High School North
Toms River High School North
Toms River High School North is a four-year public high school, and was the second high school established in Toms River, in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Toms River Regional Schools. The school opened in 1969 when the original high school was found to be too...
under coach Bob Nani, where he was recognized as second team all-state by The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
during his senior year.
College career
Barnes played college footballCollege 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 Hampton
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
after transferring from Rutgers
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
Professional career
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Hampton UniversityHampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
by 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...
, Barnes has 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...
(2002–2003), 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...
(2004), 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...
(2005–2006) 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...
(2007). On November 28, 2007 the Jets released him.
Buffalo Bills
On January 17, 2008, the Buffalo Bills signed him as the first move for both Turk Schonert as offensive coordinator and Russ Brandon as Vice President. This marked the return of the fullback to the Buffalo Bills' offensive system.Barnes was released four games into the 2008 season
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
on September 30. The Bills signed fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Corey McIntyre
Corey McIntyre
Corey McIntyre is an American football fullback for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
to take his place on the roster.
Detroit Lions
Barnes was signed by the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on October 28, 2008 after the team released defensive tackle Langston Moore
Langston Moore
Langston Moore is an American football defensive tackle for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
. The Lions released Barnes on November 11 when the team re-signed 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...
Aveion Cason
Aveion Cason
Aveion Marquel Cason is a former American football running back and kick returner who played in the NFL from 2001 - 2009. He was originally signed by the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
.
New Orleans Saints
Barnes was signed by the New Orleans SaintsNew 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 ....
on November 18, 2008. Barnes was waived on December 21, 2008. He was re-signed to a future contract following the end of the season. He was released on July 23, 2009.