2012 SD Chargers Media Guide_PROOF.P - Seahawks Online ...

36 CURTIS BRINKLEYRunning Back Free Agent - ’095-9, 208 Syracuse3rd NFL SeasonWest Catholic HS4th with ChargersPhiladelphia, Pa.VETERANS &RETURNING PLAYERSCurtis Brinkley is a survivor. What else can you say abouta young man who grew up in the housing projects ofPhiladelphia, lost his father when he was a sophomore incollege, survived an attempt on his life, and now plays thegame he loves with a bullet just an inch from his heart.A record-breaking running back at West Catholic High inPhiladelphia, Brinkley was back in his hometown in July2009, just three months after signing with the Chargersand completing offseason workouts. His sister, Niveka,called one evening and asked Brinkley if he could pick herup from the adult-care facility where she worked. Whilewaiting in his car, a gunman - later identified as his sister’sex-boyfriend - approached the vehicle and fired threeshots, not realizing that the man behind the wheel wasNiveka’s brother, Curtis.Brinkley was shot three times. He was able to escape inthe car, but a few blocks from the incident, he crashedthrough some bushes and a fence before losing consciousnessand backing his car into an SUV parked in a driveway.He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors were ableto remove two of the .357-caliber bullets, but a third waslodged so close to his heart that they decided it was toodangerous to remove. The boyfriend later turned himself into the police and plead guilty to a felony charge of aggravatedassault. Brinkley, meanwhile, returned to the Chargersless than a year later.Assured by doctors that it was safe to resume his footballcareer, Brinkley trained and ran harder than ever. Heperformed well enough in training camp and the 2010 preseasonto earn a spot on the team’s practice squad, andjust two weeks into the season he was brought up to theactive roster when injuries left the team’s running backs inshort supply. Brinkley did not play in the Chargers’ Week 3contest in Seattle and returned to the practice squad thefollowing week, but later in the season another opportunitypresented itself and Brinkley returned to the active rosterin late November. In true storybook fashion, he receivedhis first-ever regular-season NFL carry late in an ESPNMonday Night Football game against the Denver Broncoswhen his teammates decided to change the play call in theoffensive huddle. Instead of the fullback dive called in fromthe sidelines, the ball went to Brinkley, who carried it nineyards for a first down that enabled the Chargers to take aknee and run out the clock for a victory.Brinkley’s storybook career continued in 2011 as hescored his first NFL touchdown in another Monday NightFootball game in Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium and hemade his first NFL start in the Chargers’ season finale inOakland. In December, teammates voted Brinkley as theteam’s winner of the Ed Block Courage Award.Brinkley is now an advocate for the Crime Victims Fund.TRANSACTION HISTORY: Signed May 1, 2009...placed on“Reserve-Non-Football Injury,” July 24...activated, Feb. 8, 2010...waived Sept. 4...re-signed to practice squad, Sept. 6...signedto active roster, Sept. 25...waived Sept. 28 and re-signed topractice squad, Sept. 30...re-signed to active roster, Nov. 22...waived Dec. 16 and re-signed to practice squad, Dec. 18...signed to active roster, Dec. 31...waived Sept. 3, 2012...resignedto practice squad, Sept. 10...waived Sept. 14...re-signedto practice squad Sept. 16...waived Sept. 21...re-signed to practicesquad Sept. 27...signed to active roster Oct. 22.2011: Ed Block Courage Award...saw extended time forinjured Ryan Mathews Oct. 31 on ESPN’s Monday NightFootball at Kansas City and scored first-career touchdown ontwo-yard dive over pile...followed with two-point conversioncatch to tie game, 20-20, with 7:11 left in fourthquarter...both plays survived replay challenges...also set uptouchdown with 20-yard over-shoulder catch to Chiefs’ two...first-career start in Jan. 2010: First-career NFL carry fornine yards and game-clinching first down in Nov. 22 MondayNight Football win over Denver. 2009: Spent season on“Reserve-Non-Football Injury” list.COLLEGE: Big East Honor Roll after 2008 games vs. Akron,West Virginia, South Florida and Louisville...15th all-time leadingrusher with 2,132 yards and 1,164 yards as senior rankedfifth...played at Syracuse 2005-09...degree in communications.PERSONAL: Born in Philadelphia...AAAA Offensive Player ofthe Year at West Catholic HS...set Philadelphia prep recordswith 7,429 yards, 85 TDs, 1,007 att. and five 300-yardgames to break marks held by Kevin Jones of Detroit Lions...spent 2004 season at Hargrave Military Academy.Regular Season Rushing Receiving Kickoff Returns Special TeamsYear Team G-S No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD Tackles2010 San Diego 3-0 2-11 5.5 9 0 0-0 0.0 0 0 1-27 29.0 29 0 02011 San Diego 10-1 30-101 3.4 12 1 7-41 5.9 20 0 2-34 17.0 22 0 2Totals 13-1 32-112 3.5 12 1 7-41 5.9 20 0 3-61 20.3 29 0 2Single-game HighsRushing Attempts — 16 at Oakland Jan. 1, 2012Rushing Yards — 52 at Oakland Jan. 1, 2012Rushing Long — 12 at Oakland Jan. 1, 2012Rushing TDs — 1 at Kansas City Oct. 31, 2011Rushing Long TD — 2t at Kansas City Oct. 31, 2011Receptions — 3 (2 times) Last: at Oakland Jan. 1, 2012Receiving Yards — 24 at Kansas City Oct. 31, 2011Receiving Long — 20 at Kansas City Oct. 31, 2011MEDIA GUIDE | 38