 Griffin with theWashington Redskins in 2007 | |||||||||||||
| No. 97, 96 | |||||||||||||
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| Position | Defensive tackle | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1976-12-03)December 3, 1976 (age 48) Troy,Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight | 303 lb (137 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Brundidge (AL) Pike Co. | ||||||||||||
| College | Alabama | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2000: 2nd round, 42nd overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Cornelius Griffin (/kɔːrˈnɛliəs/; born December 3, 1976) is an American former professionalfootball player who was adefensive tackle in theNational Football League (NFL). He was selected by theNew York Giants in the second round of the2000 NFL draft. He playedcollege football atPearl River Community College andAlabama.
Griffin also played for theWashington Redskins.
Griffin was born inTroy, Alabama.[1] His father Willie Griffin was a pastor of the Lily White Pentecostal Church inBrundidge, Alabama, and Cornelius was one of Willie and Martha Griffin's seven children. Willie died in a car accident in 1998. Griffin graduated from Pike County High School in 1995 in Brundidge, Alabama. He first played college football as a defensive tackle forPearl River Community College in Mississippi. Although he committed to Auburn, Griffin decided to sign with theUniversity of Alabama after Auburn coaches wanted him to become a tight end.[2] In theAlabama Crimson Tide, he started 23 of 25 games in its team (including bowls). As a senior in 1999, he was part of the Super Sleeper Team andAll-Southeastern Conference first-team.[3]
Griffin was selected in the second round of the2000 NFL draft by theNew York Giants.[4] "His workouts were unbelievable. We saw him as a certain first-rounder", said Giants General ManagerErnie Accorsi.[5]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft3+1⁄8 in (1.91 m) | 297 lb (135 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 10 in (0.25 m) | 4.85 s | 1.70 s | 2.81 s | 4.62 s | 7.63 s | 31 in (0.79 m) | 9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) | 30 reps | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[6] | ||||||||||||
Griffin played for fourseasons with the Giants. He was a starter inSuper Bowl XXXV and recorded 1.5 sacks in the game.
Griffin was signed by the Giants'NFC East-rivalWashington Redskins as anunrestricted free agent on March 3, 2004, during the 2004offseason.[7]
Griffin had his best season in 2004, recording 96tackles (66 solo) and sixsacks. He compiled 29 sacks with 461 tackles (340 solo) as a defensive tackle during his career.
He was released on March 4, 2010.[8]
Griffin purchased a share of Flowers Insurance Company in Troy, Alabama. The name has now been changed to Griffin-Wilkes Insurance. Griffin also coaches has coached at Pike Liberal Arts High School in Troy, Alabama.[9] Although he currently coaches for the Pike County High School Bulldogs in Brundidge, Alabama which is also his hometown and hometown high school.[10]
| Year | Team | Games | Combined Tackles | Tackles | Assisted Tackles | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Fumble Recoveries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | NYG | 15 | 34 | 27 | 7 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | NYG | 16 | 63 | 47 | 16 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | NYG | 14 | 49 | 32 | 17 | 4.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | NYG | 15 | 55 | 39 | 17 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2004 | WSH | 15 | 70 | 56 | 14 | 6.0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | WSH | 13 | 35 | 34 | 1 | 4.0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | WSH | 14 | 50 | 39 | 11 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | WSH | 16 | 43 | 28 | 14 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | WSH | 14 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | WSH | 14 | 34 | 22 | 12 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 146 | 461 | 340 | 121 | 29.0 | 4 | 5 |