Orange in the NFL
Sixteen Syracuse football alumni are populating the rosters of 12 National Football League teams as training camps begin. The Indianapolis Colts feature three Orange alums on their roster, defensive end Dwight Freeney, offensive tackle Adam Terry and wide receiver Taj Smith.
Freeney begins his ninth training camp with the Colts, ranking as the organizations career sacks leader (84.0) and the only player in franchise history to record double-digit sacks in six seasons. Terry will participate in his first Indianapolis training camp after being signed as a free agent in March. He spent the previous five seasons with Baltimore, missing the 2009 campaign due to injury. Smith remains with the Colts after being signed to the practice squad in September 2009.
Six-time Pro Bowler Donovan McNabb enters his 12th NFL season and will participate in his first training camp with the Washington Redskins. The NFL's all-time leader in interception percentage, McNabb is one of only four players in NFL history to have at least 30,000 passing yards, 200 touchdowns passing, 3,000 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns.
Veteran linebacker Keith Bulluck also begins his first training camp with a new club in 2010, joining the New York Giants after spending the previous 10 seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Bulluck recorded 108 tackles in 14 games last season, one of his six NFL seasons in which he has recorded more than 100 tackles.
Defensive tackle Arthur Jones is the youngest Orange alum vying for an NFL roster spot with the Baltimore Ravens, after being selected by the club in the fifth round of the 2010 Draft. Jones will play alongside linebacker Jameel McClain, who begins his third season with the Ravens. Running back Curtis Brinkley will also be participating in his first NFL training camp with the San Diego Chargers after missing the 2009 season due to a non-football related injury. He joins strong safety Steve Gregory, a four-year Charger veteran.
Other former Orange standouts beginning NFL training camps include Quinn Ojinnaka (Atlanta Falcons), Tony Fiammetta (Carolina Panthers), Anthony Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars), Will Allen (Miami Dolphins), Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks), Tanard Jackson (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Ryan Durand (Tennessee Titans).
More than 200 Syracuse football alumni have signed NFL contracts, including 180 who have been selected in the NFL Draft since 1936. Eighteen of those 180 draft selections have been first round picks, including two first overall, Ernie Davis (1962) and Rob Moore (1990).
Additionally, the New York Giants will have a pair of Orange alumni on their sideline this season in head coach Tom Coughlin and assistant strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul. A three-year letter winner, Coughlin played alongside Floyd Little and Larry Csonka in the Syracuse backfield from 1965-67 while Paul was a defensive back from 1985-89.
Orange Alumni in 2010 NFL training camps (pro season in parenthesis):
Atlanta Falcons – Quinn Ojinnaka (5)
Baltimore Ravens – Arthur Jones (1), Jameel McClain (3)
Carolina Panthers – Tony Fiammetta (2)
Indianapolis Colts – Dwight Freeney (9), Taj Smith (1), Adam Terry (6)
Jacksonville Jaguars – Anthony Smith (5)
Miami Dolphins – Will Allen (10)
New York Giants – Keith Bulluck (11)
San Diego Chargers – Curtis Brinkley (1), Steve Gregory (5)
Seattle Seahawks – Olindo Mare (15)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tanard Jackson (5)
Tennessee Titans – Ryan Durand (1)
Washington Redskins – Donovan McNabb (12)