| No. 96, 91 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | (1977-02-11)February 11, 1977 (age 48) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 305 lb (138 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Shaw (AL) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Auburn | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2000: 4th round, 113th pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Leonardo Tremayne Carson (born February 11, 1977) is an American former professionalfootballdefensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL) for theSan Diego Chargers andDallas Cowboys. He playedcollege football atAuburn University.
Carson attended Shaw High School inMobile, Alabama. He played five different positions (linebacker,tight end,fullback,wide receiver andquarterback) and was the startingquarterback in his last 2 years.[1] As a senior, he recorded 934 passing yards for 7touchdowns, 1,104 rushing yards for 12touchdowns, receiving All-state andAll-American honors.
He accepted a football scholarship fromAuburn University with the intention of playingtight end. In July 1996, he was sentenced to 60 days in jail, for his role in the break-in of a car in March, but was able to be placed on probation and serve only 6 days.[2]
Carson was converted into adefensive tackle as a true freshman, before being moved todefensive end when Shannon Shuttle was lost for the year.[3] He started the last 4 games of the season, while registering 32 tackles (2 for loss), 4.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries.[4]
As a sophomore, he started 13 games, tallying 59 tackles (9 for loss), 2 sacks, 2 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.[5] As a junior, he posted 90 tackles (8 for loss), 8.5 sacks, one interception, 2 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
His stats were impacted in his last season when he was moved todefensive tackle, tallying 43 tackles (28 for loss), 2 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble.[6] He finished his career with 224 tackles (47 for loss), 17 sacks, 4 passes defensed, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries.
Carson was selected by theSan Diego Chargers in the fourth round (113th overall) of the2000 NFL draft.[7] As a rookie, he appeared in 4 of the first 10 games, making 2 tackles. On November 17, he was placed on theinjured reserve list with a tore right rotator cuff.
In2001, he started 13 games atdefensive tackle, after replacingJamal Williams who tore the ACL in his left knee. He posted 33 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries.
In2002, he began the season as a backup, but started the last 6 games after Williams suffered a season-ending ankle injury, posting 31 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
On August 21,2003, he was arrested for breaking into an apartment and was later sued on September 30.[8] He appeared in 5 games as a backupdefensive tackle, making 2 tackles and one pass defensed. He was waived on October 14.[9]
On October 18,2003, he was signed as afree agent by theDallas Cowboys.[10] He was a backupdefensive tackle, registering 21 tackles (1 for loss), 1.5 sacks and 2 quarterback pressures. He tore his right triceps muscle against theWashington Redskins and was placed on theinjured reserve list on December 16.
Carson was re-signed for the2004 season, although he served 8 days in jail in June and was suspended for the opening game by theNFL for his previous legal problems and the violation of the player conduct policy.[11] He passedWillie Blade on the depth chart and started 15 games alongsidePro BowlerLa'Roi Glover. He posted 55 tackles (seventh on the team), 5 tackles for loss (tied for the team lead), 8 quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery and a half sack.[12]
Although large and physically talented, his productivity as a player was often average, andhead coachBill Parcells, who initially lauded his arrival to the team, stated in severalpress conferences that he'd lost confidence in Carson.
He signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys for the2005 season, but was released on September 1, after being passed on the depth chart by rookieJay Ratliff.[13]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
| 2000 | SDG | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | SDG | 16 | 13 | 33 | 24 | 9 | 3.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | SDG | 16 | 7 | 31 | 22 | 9 | 3.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | SDG | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | DAL | 8 | 0 | 18 | 13 | 5 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | DAL | 15 | 15 | 43 | 29 | 14 | 0.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 64 | 35 | 129 | 92 | 37 | 8.5 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
Beginning June 14, 2004, Carson began serving a 30-day sentence at theMobile County Metro Jail on twomisdemeanor counts ofkidnapping andburglary relating to an August 2003 incident where he broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend's sister, Tasha Locke. He forced her to leave with him, but later that evening, Carson's car broke down, and Locke escaped.[14]
In June 2010, Carson was sentenced to ten years in prison for selling drugs, while living in Mobile, Alabama.[15]