Ken Hamlin
Encyclopedia
Ken Hamlin an American football
safety, who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks
in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Arkansas
.
Hamlin has also played for the Dallas Cowboys
. He earned a Pro Bowl
selection with the Cowboys in 2007
. He was also the first freshman and only the second defensive back to lead the school in tackles, recording 104 (57 solo).
On October 17, 2005, he was involved in an altercation that allegedly took place between himself and two unidentified men in a Seattle nightclub
. As a result of the incident, Hamlin suffered multiple injuries that ended his 2005 season
after just five games. The injuries included; fractured skull, a small blood clot and bruising of the brain
tissue.
neighborhood of Memphis where he was the Class 3A Player of the Year as a senior
in 1999, when he gained 2,327 all-purpose yards and rushed for 1,276 yards and 16 touchdown
s and recorded 380 receiving yards. He also recorded 136 tackles
(96 solo) and eight interceptions as a safety. He also lettered in track and baseball
. He was also a member of the school's National Honor Society
and the senior class vice president.
where he became the first freshman and only the second defensive back to lead the school in tackles, recording 104 (57 solo). As a freshman, he was named an All-America
n by The Sporting News
and Football News and also named to the SEC
Coaches Freshman All-SEC team. As a sophomore, he was named a Second-team All-American by The NFL Draft Report and also named First-team All-SEC. As a junior, he forced eight fumble
s, recovered five, deflected 28 passes and intercepted nine. For his performance, he was named a First-team All-American by The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News and nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award
. He also became the first player in school history to record more than 100 tackles in a season three times. He was also nominated in 2002 for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy
, given to the best defensive player in the nation. In his college career, Hamlin played in 36 games finishing with 381 tackles (221 solo), breaking the school record of 367 tackles by Cliff Powell (1967–69). Hamlin is a member of Omega Psi Phi
fraternity.
after his junior season at Arkansas where he was considered the Razorbacks best defensive back since Steve Atwater
(1985–88). Hamlin was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft
by the Seattle Seahawks
.
, Hamlin started 14-of-16 games making Pro Football Weeklys All-Rookie Team. He finished second on team with 96 tackles and was third on the team with 10 passes defensed. In his first career start against the New Orleans Saints
on September 7, he recorded five tackles and gained national attention after knocking off Donte' Stallworth
's helmet on a hit over the middle. In 2004
, he started all of the teams 16 regular season games and finished third on the team with 79 tackles. He was fourth on the team with a career-high four interceptions, which ranked 10th in the NFC
. In 2005
, he started the first six games of the season, recording 26 tackles, before suffering off-field head injuries. He was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list on November 1 and missed the rest of the season. In 2006
, Hamlin started all 16 regular-season games and finished second on the team with 96 tackles while recording three interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
. Hamlin's girlfriend told officers that he placed a hand on another man's shoulder and said, "Excuse me." The man told Hamlin to stop pushing, and the two men began shoving one another. According to the report, Hamlin punched the man in the face. Another man knocked Hamlin down. Other witnesses told police another man hit Hamlin twice with a street sign.
Hamlin sustained serious injuries to his head due to a blow from a street sign. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition with a fractured skull, a small blood clot and bruising of the brain
tissue. He was released on October 20, 2005 in stable condition. He did not play football for the rest of the season.
2.5 million with the Dallas Cowboys
.
In his first season
with the Cowboys, Hamlin earned his first Pro Bowl
selection, being named a starter for the NFC and was one-of-13 Cowboys selected - setting a team and NFL record. He started all 16 games at free safety recording 102 tackles (third on the team) - his first career 100-tackle season - five interceptions (second on the team and tied for ninth in the league) and a single-season career-best 14 pass breakups. He made his Cowboys debut against the New York Giants
on September 9, recording nine tackles and one pass breakup. After the season, on February 21, 2008, the Cowboys placed a franchise tag
on him, insuring he would play at least one more season with the team. Later, on July 15, he signed a six-year, $38 million contract. In 2008
, Hamlin was elected as one of the defensive team captains for the season and finished fourth on the team - first in the secondary - with 92 tackles, along with three pass breakups, one interception, a sack
, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Hamlin was released on April 2, 2010.
on June 17, 2010. Third on the depth chart behind Haruki Nakamura
and Tom Zbikowski
, he was released by the Ravens on 22 Sept 2010. Hamlin dressed for both regular season games before his release, but recorded no statistics. On September 29, 2010 the Ravens re-signed Hamlin; he takes the roster spot of defensive end Trevor Pryce
, who was released and subsequently signed with the New York Jets. He intercepted Tom Brady when against the New England Patriots. The Ravens released Hamlin on November 30, 2010.
, filling the roster spot made available when Austin Collie
was placed on injured reserve.
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...
safety, 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 Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 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 was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre 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 Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks football
The Arkansas Razorbacks football program is a college football team that represents the University of Arkansas. The team is a member of the Southeastern Conference's Western Division, which is in Division I's Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
Hamlin has also played for the 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...
. He earned a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection with the Cowboys in 2007
2008 Pro Bowl
The 2008 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2007 season. It was played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 10, 2008. The game was televised in the United States by Fox and began shortly after 11:40am local time . The NFC won, 42–30, despite a 17-point first half AFC...
. He was also the first freshman and only the second defensive back to lead the school in tackles, recording 104 (57 solo).
On October 17, 2005, he was involved in an altercation that allegedly took place between himself and two unidentified men in a Seattle nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
. As a result of the incident, Hamlin suffered multiple injuries that ended his 2005 season
2005 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2005 Seattle Seahawks season saw them advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in the team's history. They were the NFC representative in Super Bowl XL, a game they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seahawks compiled a 13-3 record in the regular season, easily winning the NFC West and...
after just five games. The injuries included; fractured skull, a small blood clot and bruising of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
tissue.
Early years
Hamlin attended Frayser High School in FrayserFrayser, Memphis
Frayser is a community in North Memphis, Tennessee.-History:Frayser is the western tip of a peninsula created by the Loosahatchie and Wolf Rivers as they converge into the Mississippi River just north of Downtown Memphis. Mud Island is the peninsula's southwest tip...
neighborhood of Memphis where he was the Class 3A Player of the Year as a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
in 1999, when he gained 2,327 all-purpose yards and rushed for 1,276 yards and 16 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 and recorded 380 receiving yards. He also recorded 136 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
(96 solo) and eight interceptions as a safety. He also lettered in track and 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...
. He was also a member of the school's National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
and the senior class vice president.
College career
Hamlin then attended the University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
where he became the first freshman and only the second defensive back to lead the school in tackles, recording 104 (57 solo). As a freshman, he was named an 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...
n by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
and Football News and also named to the SEC
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...
Coaches Freshman All-SEC team. As a sophomore, he was named a Second-team All-American by The NFL Draft Report and also named First-team All-SEC. As a junior, he forced eight fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s, recovered five, deflected 28 passes and intercepted nine. For his performance, he was named a First-team All-American by The NFL Draft Report and The Sporting News and nominated for the Jim Thorpe Award
Jim Thorpe Award
The Jim Thorpe Award, named in memory of multi-sport legend Jim Thorpe, has been awarded to the top defensive back in college football since 1986...
. He also became the first player in school history to record more than 100 tackles in a season three times. He was also nominated in 2002 for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
, given to the best defensive player in the nation. In his college career, Hamlin played in 36 games finishing with 381 tackles (221 solo), breaking the school record of 367 tackles by Cliff Powell (1967–69). Hamlin is a member of Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity.
Professional career
Hamlin entered the National Football LeagueNational 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...
after his junior season at Arkansas where he was considered the Razorbacks best defensive back since Steve Atwater
Steve Atwater
Stephen Dennis "Smiling Assassin" Atwater is a former American football player who spent most of his career playing free safety for the Denver Broncos of the NFL. Atwater and Dennis Smith made up a Broncos secondary that was known for their ferocious hits on opposing players...
(1985–88). Hamlin was selected in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 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 was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.
Seattle Seahawks
As a rookieRookie
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...
, Hamlin started 14-of-16 games making Pro Football Weeklys All-Rookie Team. He finished second on team with 96 tackles and was third on the team with 10 passes defensed. In his first career start against the 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 ....
on September 7, he recorded five tackles and gained national attention after knocking off Donte' Stallworth
Donte' Stallworth
Donté Lamar Stallworth is an American football wide receiver is currently playing for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
's helmet on a hit over the middle. In 2004
2004 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2004 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 29th season with the National Football League. Seahawks Stadium was renamed Qwest Field when Qwest bought the naming rights on June 2, 2004.-2004 NFL Draft:-Regular season:-Playoffs:-External links:...
, he started all of the teams 16 regular season games and finished third on the team with 79 tackles. He was fourth on the team with a career-high four interceptions, which ranked 10th in the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
. In 2005
2005 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2005 Seattle Seahawks season saw them advance to the Super Bowl for the first time in the team's history. They were the NFC representative in Super Bowl XL, a game they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seahawks compiled a 13-3 record in the regular season, easily winning the NFC West and...
, he started the first six games of the season, recording 26 tackles, before suffering off-field head injuries. He was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury list on November 1 and missed the rest of the season. In 2006
2006 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2006 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 31st season in the National Football League. The season began with the team attempting to improve on their 13-3 record from 2005, repeat as National Football Conference champions, and return to the Super Bowl...
, Hamlin started all 16 regular-season games and finished second on the team with 96 tackles while recording three interceptions, 11 pass deflections, and one forced fumble.
2005 altercation
Hamlin was involved in an altercation that allegedly took place between himself and two unidentified men in a Seattle nightclub on October 17, 2005. According to a police report, Hamlin and his girlfriend were leaving the club at about 2 a.m., several hours after the Seahawks defeated the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Hamlin's girlfriend told officers that he placed a hand on another man's shoulder and said, "Excuse me." The man told Hamlin to stop pushing, and the two men began shoving one another. According to the report, Hamlin punched the man in the face. Another man knocked Hamlin down. Other witnesses told police another man hit Hamlin twice with a street sign.
Hamlin sustained serious injuries to his head due to a blow from a street sign. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition with a fractured skull, a small blood clot and bruising of the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
tissue. He was released on October 20, 2005 in stable condition. He did not play football for the rest of the season.
Dallas Cowboys
On March 23, 2007, Hamlin signed a one-year contract worth $United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2.5 million with the 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...
.
In his first season
2007 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2007 Dallas Cowboys season was the 48th season for the team in the National Football League. The Cowboys finished the regular season tied for the best record in the NFC , and earned a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs...
with the Cowboys, Hamlin earned his first Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection, being named a starter for the NFC and was one-of-13 Cowboys selected - setting a team and NFL record. He started all 16 games at free safety recording 102 tackles (third on the team) - his first career 100-tackle season - five interceptions (second on the team and tied for ninth in the league) and a single-season career-best 14 pass breakups. He made his Cowboys debut against 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...
on September 9, recording nine tackles and one pass breakup. After the season, on February 21, 2008, the Cowboys placed a franchise tag
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
on him, insuring he would play at least one more season with the team. Later, on July 15, he signed a six-year, $38 million contract. In 2008
2008 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2008 Dallas Cowboys season was the 49th season for the team in the National Football League. The season was most noted for week 17, when the Cowboys were blown out by the Philadelphia Eagles 44–6, their worst loss since the 1985 Chicago Bears came to Texas Stadium and beat the Cowboys 44–0...
, Hamlin was elected as one of the defensive team captains for the season and finished fourth on the team - first in the secondary - with 92 tackles, along with three pass breakups, one interception, a sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Hamlin was released on April 2, 2010.
Baltimore Ravens
Hamlin was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore 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...
on June 17, 2010. Third on the depth chart behind Haruki Nakamura
Haruki Nakamura
Haruki Robert Nakamura is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League.-Early life:...
and Tom Zbikowski
Tom Zbikowski
Thomas Michael Zbikowski is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, and an occasional professional boxer. He was drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
, he was released by the Ravens on 22 Sept 2010. Hamlin dressed for both regular season games before his release, but recorded no statistics. On September 29, 2010 the Ravens re-signed Hamlin; he takes the roster spot of defensive end Trevor Pryce
Trevor Pryce
Trevor W. Pryce is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. Pryce played college football at the University of Michigan before transferring to Clemson University...
, who was released and subsequently signed with the New York Jets. He intercepted Tom Brady when against the New England Patriots. The Ravens released Hamlin on November 30, 2010.
Indianapolis Colts
On December 22, 2010, Hamlin was signed by the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis 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 ....
, filling the roster spot made available when Austin Collie
Austin Collie
Austin Kirk Collie is a Canadian-American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Colts in the fourth round in the 2009 NFL Draft...
was placed on injured reserve.