Solomon Page
Encyclopedia
Solomon Page is a former American football
guard
and tackle of the National Football League
. He was originally drafted by the Dallas Cowboys
in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at West Virginia
.
where he attended Brashear High School
and was an All-city selection.
before transferring to West Virginia University
.
While at WVU, Page was a three-year start at left tackle. As a redshirt freshman, he graded out at 84% consistency, becoming just the 11th freshman since 1980 to earn a spot in the Mountaineer Club for players who grade at least 80 percent at their position in at least eight games. As a sophomore, he earned All-Big East honors as a sophomore for an offense that amassed 4,602 yards. As a junior, he was an All-Big East selection while grading out at 89% consistency for an offense that generated 5,546 total yards.
During his career at West Virginia, Page helped to anchor an offensive line that helped the offense produced at least 300 yards in each of his final 21 career games. He also helped All-America
n running back Amos Zereoue
become the school and Big East's all-time leading rusher (4,054 yards) and quarterback
Marc Bulger
become the school's career passing yards leader (5,995). While at WVU, Page was an athletic coaching education major.
in the second-round (55th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft
.
on October 3, it was also his first professional start, as a replacement at right tackle for injured starter Erik Williams
. Beginning on November 21, Page started five consecutive games at left guard replacing injured starter Larry Allen
. As a rookie
, Page helped the Cowboys offensive line allow just 24 sacks, the second fewest in the NFL, while allowing one or fewer sacks in nine-of-16 games. In addition, the offensive line helped running back Emmitt Smith
to his highest single-season rushing total (1,397) since 1995
.
In 2000
, Page began the season as the starting right guard and was part of an offensive line that surrendered 35 sacks, only 12 teams allowed fewer on the season. In the opener against Philadelphia, he started the game at right guard but was shifted to right tackle after start Erik Williams was ejected. Later in the season on December 10, against the Washington Redskins
Page started at guard but moved to right tackle again when Williams suffered a neck
injury early in the second half. In 2000, Page was part of a unit the allowed just four sacks of quarterback Troy Aikman
in his last 172 career passing attempts.
After starting at right guard in 2000, Page moved to right tackle to replace former starter Erik Williams whom had left to play for the Baltimore Ravens
. In 2001
, Page was part of an offensive line that helped the Cowboys finish third in the league in rushing with 136.5 yards-per-game. The offensive line also helped Emmitt Smith rush for a league record 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, while he also moved into second place on the NFL's all-time career rushing list with 16,187 career yards. The offensive line also allowed just 34 sacks in 447 pass plays on the season. Just 12 teams allowed fewer sacks for the year and only eight teams lost fewer yards due to sacks than the 190 lost by the Cowboys.
In 2002
, his final season in Dallas, Page started and appeared in 15 games. He also helped the offense rush for 1,754 yards on the season and pass for 3,020, 19th in the league and 29th in the NFL respectively.
, Page left the Cowboys and signed with the San Diego Chargers
. In his one sesaon with the Chargers, he played in nine games, with eight starts at right guard and helped the team rush for 2,146 and pass for 3,226, sixth and 22nd in the league respectively.
In 2004, Page was signed by the Detroit Lions
. In August 2004, Page signed with the New York Giants
. However, he was released prior to the start of the season.
.
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...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
and tackle of the National Football League
National 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...
. He was originally drafted by 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 the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 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 17-18, 1999...
. 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 West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
.
Early years
Page was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
where he attended Brashear High School
Brashear High School
Brashear High School is a public school in the Beechview neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Brashear is one of ten high schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.-Academic achievement:...
and was an All-city selection.
College career
Page then attended Hargrave Military AcademyHargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
before transferring to West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
.
West Virginia University
After transferring to WVU, Page was red-shirted for his first season.While at WVU, Page was a three-year start at left tackle. As a redshirt freshman, he graded out at 84% consistency, becoming just the 11th freshman since 1980 to earn a spot in the Mountaineer Club for players who grade at least 80 percent at their position in at least eight games. As a sophomore, he earned All-Big East honors as a sophomore for an offense that amassed 4,602 yards. As a junior, he was an All-Big East selection while grading out at 89% consistency for an offense that generated 5,546 total yards.
During his career at West Virginia, Page helped to anchor an offensive line that helped the offense produced at least 300 yards in each of his final 21 career games. He also helped 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 running back Amos Zereoue
Amos Zereoue
Amos Zereoué is an African-born former American football player in the National Football League, who last played for the New England Patriots...
become the school and Big East's all-time leading rusher (4,054 yards) and quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Marc Bulger
Marc Bulger
Marc Robert Bulger [] is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
become the school's career passing yards leader (5,995). While at WVU, Page was an athletic coaching education major.
NFL Draft
Page was selected by the Dallas CowboysDallas 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 the second-round (55th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 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 17-18, 1999...
.
Dallas Cowboys
Page made his NFL debut against the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on October 3, it was also his first professional start, as a replacement at right tackle for injured starter Erik Williams
Erik Williams
Erik George Williams is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he was an NAIA All-American offensive lineman. Williams was...
. Beginning on November 21, Page started five consecutive games at left guard replacing injured starter Larry Allen
Larry Allen
Larry Christopher Allen, Sr. is a former American football guard of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft...
. As a rookie
Rookie
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...
, Page helped the Cowboys offensive line allow just 24 sacks, the second fewest in the NFL, while allowing one or fewer sacks in nine-of-16 games. In addition, the offensive line helped running back Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
to his highest single-season rushing total (1,397) since 1995
1995 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1995 Dallas Cowboys season would mark their 36th in the NFL and final of the three Super Bowl titles they would win in the 1990s. Dallas would be the first team to ever win three Super Bowls in a span of four seasons...
.
In 2000
2000 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2000 Dallas Cowboys season would mark their 41st in the NFL and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would promote the team's long-time defensive coordinator, Dave Campo to be the fifth head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.-Offseason:...
, Page began the season as the starting right guard and was part of an offensive line that surrendered 35 sacks, only 12 teams allowed fewer on the season. In the opener against Philadelphia, he started the game at right guard but was shifted to right tackle after start Erik Williams was ejected. Later in the season on December 10, against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
Page started at guard but moved to right tackle again when Williams suffered a neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
injury early in the second half. In 2000, Page was part of a unit the allowed just four sacks of quarterback Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
in his last 172 career passing attempts.
After starting at right guard in 2000, Page moved to right tackle to replace former starter Erik Williams whom had left to play for 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 2001
2001 Dallas Cowboys season
-Regular season:An eventful off-season created a lot buzz but little change in the Cowboys' fortunes. Franchise quarterback Troy Aikman, after suffering a pair of concussions the previous season, was released by the team...
, Page was part of an offensive line that helped the Cowboys finish third in the league in rushing with 136.5 yards-per-game. The offensive line also helped Emmitt Smith rush for a league record 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, while he also moved into second place on the NFL's all-time career rushing list with 16,187 career yards. The offensive line also allowed just 34 sacks in 447 pass plays on the season. Just 12 teams allowed fewer sacks for the year and only eight teams lost fewer yards due to sacks than the 190 lost by the Cowboys.
In 2002
2002 Dallas Cowboys season
-Offseason:Despite an off-season filled with promise, the season would again prove to be a disaster. Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator and head coach Bruce Coslet was brought in to run the offense for Dallas. Even though he was dismissed by Cincinnati, his history of high-powered...
, his final season in Dallas, Page started and appeared in 15 games. He also helped the offense rush for 1,754 yards on the season and pass for 3,020, 19th in the league and 29th in the NFL respectively.
Later career
In 20032003 San Diego Chargers season
The 2003 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–8 record in 2002. They finished the campaign 4th in their division and earned the #1 pick in the 2004 NFL draft...
, Page left the Cowboys and signed with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In his one sesaon with the Chargers, he played in nine games, with eight starts at right guard and helped the team rush for 2,146 and pass for 3,226, sixth and 22nd in the league respectively.
In 2004, Page was signed by the 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...
. In August 2004, Page signed with 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...
. However, he was released prior to the start of the season.
Post football
Page is currently an offensive line coach at Carrollton Christian Academy in Carrollton, TexasCarrollton, Texas
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was 112°F in 1980.*The average coolest month is January.*The lowest recorded temperature was 1°F in 1989.*The most precipitation on average occurs in May....
.