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Thom Darden

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Thomas Vincent Darden (b. August 28, 1950 in Sandusky, Ohio) is a former American football cornerback, safety, and punt returner who played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). In the NFL, he was a three-time All-Pro free safety.[1][2][3] He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1978.[4] He holds most Cleveland Browns franchise interception records. He was an All American defensive back for the Michigan Wolverines football team and made one of the more memorable interceptions in college football history. After retiring from football, Darden pursued careers as a sports agent, security provider and business consultant.

College football

Darden played in both the 1970 and 1972 Rose Bowls.
File:1971 Hayes Markbreit.jpg
Woody Hayes confronts Jerry Markbreit during a 1971 college football game between Michigan and Ohio State

After graduating from Sandusky High School,[5] Darden was recruited by six Big Ten Conference football programs in 1968.[6] He played at the University of Michigan from 1969-1971 and had 218 tackles and 11 Interceptions.[7] He was an All American in 1971,[8] and he was also named All-Big Ten in 1970.[9] He played on Big Ten champions in both 1969 and 1971.[8][10] Thom fit in well at Michigan becoming one of Coach Bo Schembechler's prized pupils and earning a reference in his 2006 book Bo Schembechler. Darden still ranks among leaders at Michigan for Punt Returns and Punt Return Yardage. Darden played all defensive back positions at Michigan.[7] In college, Darden was a housemate of Reggie McKenzie, Glenn Doughty, Billy Taylor and Mike Taylor in a notable house known as the Den of the Mellow Men.[11]

ESPN chose Darden's November 21, 1971 interception against Ohio State as one of the 100 Plays, performances and moments that define college football.[12] The play was a very controversial call late in the 10–7 game and Ohio State coach Woody Hayes stormed the field to rant at the referee Jerry Markbreit about the referee's call that Hayes thought should have been ruled pass interference.[13] By the end of Hayes' tirade, he had broken a yard marker, shredded a first-down indicator and earned two 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalties. The scene was replayed over and over on national television broadcasts.[14][15] That was Darden's second interception in that game.[16] ESPN also chose Darden as a member of the All-Time University of Michigan Football team.[17]

Pro football

Darden was drafted 18th overall in the 1972 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.[18] Darden started at free safety from his rookie season of 1972 until he lost the job in his last season to Clinton Burrell.[19] He posted a total of 45 career interceptions for 820 return yards and 2 touchdowns.[20] Over the course of his career he handled 45 punt returns for 285 return yards.[21] Darden holds Cleveland Browns franchise records with 45 career interceptions, 10 single-season interceptions and 820 interception return yards.[22] Two of Darden's Cleveland Browns teams went to the playoffs. As a rookie, the 10–4 1972 Cleveland Browns went to the 1972-73 NFL playoffs under head coach Nick Skorich, but lost in the first round to the Miami Dolphins 20–14.[23] The 11–5 1980 Cleveland Browns went to the 1980-81 NFL playoffs under head coach Sam Rutigliano, but lost in the first round to the Oakland Raiders 14–12.[24]

Post football

Darden has served as a professional sports agent and represented Tony Boles. In 1990, he invested $25,000 in Boles by hosting him in Template:City-state and working him out with athletic trainers.[25] At the time he was Cleveland-based sports agent.[26] During Darden's career as an agent he represented an assortment of NFL and National Basketball Association players and prospects including Felix Wright and Chris Calloway.[27][28][29][30] He was a supporter of Maurice Clarett's attempt to challenge the NFL Draft's eligibility rules.[31] In 1998, when the NFL reissued a franchise in Cleveland, Darden was part of one of the six bidding groups.[32] In 1999, he owned a security company in Template:City-state.[33] As of 2006, Darden was a business consultant living in Cedar Rapids.[34]

In 1993, he went to jail for failure to pay child support.[35] At the time he was a registered NFL agent in Connecticut and owed $14,000 in child support, $30,000 to a trust for his 16-year-old son, Todd, and $12,000 in his former wife's legal fees. Darden had been married to Sheryl from 1972–1977 when they divorced. He had previously been $5000 in arrears until being briefly jailed for failure to pay and cursing the judge. He had been in contempt of court twenty times previously.[36]

Notes

  1. ^ "1976 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  2. ^ "1978 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  3. ^ "1979 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  4. ^ "1978 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  5. ^ "Thom Darden". databaseFootball.com. databaseSports.com. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  6. ^ "From The Blade Archives". The Blade. Newsbank. 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  7. ^ a b "University of Michigan Football All-American: Thom Darden". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  8. ^ a b "1971 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-03-31. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  9. ^ "1970 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-03-31. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  10. ^ "1969 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. 2007-03-31. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  11. ^ "'My entire focus was to beat Ohio State'". The Detroit News. Newsbank. 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  12. ^ Maisel, Ivan. "#58 Over and out". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  13. ^ "Recipe for Success". National Football League. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  14. ^ Stein, Ray (2007-11-17). "After the fall". The Columbus Dispatch. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  15. ^ Phillips, Larry (2007-11-15). "Key OSU-Michigan games sprinkled through every decade". News Journal. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  16. ^ "Versus Ohio State November 20, 1971". Regents of the University of Michigan. 2003. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  17. ^ Neumann, Thomas (2006-11-16). "Blue State/Red State". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  18. ^ "History (1972 Draft first round)". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  19. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Gillman an Eagle Again". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. 1982-02-17. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  20. ^ "All-Time Players: Thom Darden". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  21. ^ "All-Time Players: Thom Darden (more)". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  22. ^ "Cleveland Browns 2007 Media Guide" (PDF). Cleveland Browns. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  23. ^ "1972 Cleveland Browns". databaseFootball.com. databaseSports.com. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  24. ^ "1980 Cleveland Browns". databaseFootball.com. databaseSports.com. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  25. ^ Heuser, John (2006-05-07). "Boles battles beast on his back - Ex-U-M tailback seeks to rebuild his life after years of addiction". Ann Arbor News. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  26. ^ "Agents hit scouting combine tryouts". Houston Chronicle. Newsbank. 1991-02-09. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  27. ^ "Raiders Sign Craign To Have 'Bo Insurance'". The Cincinnati Post. Newsbank. 1991-04-02. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  28. ^ Hubbard, Steve (1992-07-12). "Steelers Showing Heels To NFL In Draft Signing". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  29. ^ "Suber Out For Pro Career \ IUP Sophomore Running Back From Norristown Quits School". Philadelphia Daily News. Newsbank. 1997-03-21. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  30. ^ Schmaltz, Brad (1991-06-23). "NBA Casting An Eye At Bradley - Otterbein Star Opened Some Eyes At Recent pre-Draft Camp". The Columbus Dispatch. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  31. ^ Ridenour, Marla (2002-12-28). "Clarrett's Challenges - OSU Freshman Wants National title, Not NFL". Akron Beacon Journal. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  32. ^ Forbes, Gordon (1998-03-24). "New Browns to cost owner a lot of green". USA Today. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  33. ^ "Fry: `Nothing phony' about Michigan's Schembechler". The Gazette. Newsbank. 2006-11-18. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  34. ^ Price, Mark J. (1999-12-19). "Kardiac Christmas". Akron Beacon Journal. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  35. ^ Torassa, Ulysses (1994-09-04). ""High Five" Justice Unethical Conduct Charges Dog Judge James Celebrezze". The Plain Dealer. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
  36. ^ Torassa, Ulysses (1994-09-04). "Browns Ex-Safety Dodges Sheriff". The Plain Dealer. Newsbank. Retrieved 2009-02-01.


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