Rodrigo Barnes

Rodrigo DeTriana Barnes (born February 10, 1950) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Rice University.

Rodrigo Barnes
No. 56, 59, 55, 51
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1950-02-10) February 10, 1950
Waco, Texas
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Waco (TX) Carver
College:Rice
NFL Draft:1973 / Round: 7 / Pick: 176
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:35
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

Barnes attended Carver High School (Waco, Texas), where he received 3A second-team All-State honors in football. He also practiced track. He accepted a football scholarship from Rice University, where at the time he was one of only four African-American players.

He was named the starter at middle linebacker as a sophomore, but failed one course and had two D's, which forced the school to make him ineligible to play for 1970 season. At one point, he considered transferring to the University of Southern California.

As a junior, Barnes became the first African-American to be named to the All-SWC defensive team. In his senior year, he was limited with a knee injury and a bruised a kidney he suffered against Louisiana State University.

In college, he was seen as outspoken and undisciplined at times. He was also one of the organizers of the Black Student Union and was part of a movement to pressure the University to hire more African-American teachers and coaches.

In 2011, he was inducted into the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame.[1]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round (176th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft, after he dropped because teams were cautious of his civil rights activism. His athletic ability and production, propelled him to become the second African-American linebacker to make the team in franchise history (Ralph Coleman was the first).

Barnes could play all three linebacker positions, but he mainly competed for the middle linebacker position against Lee Roy Jordan and was a core special teams player. His best moments came in the 1973 preseason; against the Miami Dolphins, he helped stop Larry Csonka three times in a row, during a 2-yard goal-line stand and against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had 11 tackles (3 for loss) and hit backup quarterback Dean Carlson to the sidelines under the bench, which the referees thought Carlson was out of the playing field and flagged Barnes with a 15-yard personal foul penalty.[2]

In March 1974, he was selected by the Florida Blazers in the 13th round (145th overall) of the WFL Pro Draft. His relationship with the Cowboys also started to deteriorate,[3] with his growing belief that racial reasons were the main cause of him remaining in a reserve role. In October, he left training camp in a disagreement over playing time and salary, while also informing the team that at the recommendation of his personal doctor he was going to have knee surgery for an injury suffered in the last game of 1973. He eventually was released on November 11.[4]

New England Patriots (first stint)

On November 11, 1974, he was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots.

Charlotte Hornets (WFL)

In 1975, Barnes played in 2 games for the Charlotte Hornets of the World Football League, until the league ceased operations at the mid-season point in 1975.[5]

New England Patriots (second stint)

In 1975, he signed with the New England Patriots and was waived after the season opener on September 24.

Miami Dolphins

On November 19, 1975, he was signed as a free agent by the Miami Dolphins.[6] On April 6, 1976, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for a twelfth round draft choice (#342-Darryl Brandford).[7]

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals released him on September 2, 1976.[8]

Oakland Raiders

On November 15, 1976, the Oakland Raiders signed him as a free agent because of injuries in the linebacking corps. He was a part of the Super Bowl XI winning team, playing mainly on special teams. Injuries forced him to retire in 1977.

Personal life

Barnes was an assistant coach in the United States Football League from 1979 to 1981. He currently works as a high school assistant principal.[9]

References
  1. "Rice Athletic Hall of Fame". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  2. "Winning Dallas Turns Miami Assets Into Liability". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  3. "Cowboys Eye Trade For Barnes". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  4. "Dick Allen's retirement apparently a vacation". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  5. "Rodrigo Barnes Just Sports Stats". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  6. "Free Agent Rodrigo Barnes: Another DolphinBlue-Chipper?". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  7. "Cards Get Linebacker". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  8. "Lions roar past Colts". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  9. "Garland Alternative Education Center Administration". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
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