Name Derek Ross | Tackles: 82 Positions Cornerback | |
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Date of birth: (1980-01-05) January 5, 1980 (age 35) NFL draft: 2002 / Round: 3 / Pick: 75 | ||
Red Lion football
Derek Ross (born January 5, 1980, in Rock Hill, South Carolina) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and the Minnesota Vikings. Ross played college football at Ohio State University.
Contents
- Red Lion football
- Early years
- Dallas Cowboys
- Atlanta Falcons
- New Orleans Saints
- Minnesota Vikings first stint
- Arizona Cardinals
- Minnesota Vikings second stint
- Personal life
- References
Early years
Ross attended Northwestern High School where he played quarterback. As a senior he registered 1,671 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, 1,267 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns. He was arrested four times during his high school career.
He accepted a scholarship to play for Ohio State University. He sat out his freshman season because of academic reasons and was converted to cornerback.
As a junior, he was suspended for spring practice after pleading guilty for driving without a license and providing false information. He eventually started 10 games at cornerback, playing the season with a sprained AC joint and a broken bone in his shoulder. He led the Big Ten Conference with 7 interceptions (third best in the nation), while also tallying 39 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. He declared for the NFL draft before his senior season.
Dallas Cowboys
Ross was selected in the third round (75th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, after dropping because of character concerns. He was considered a rising player after starting 9 games and leading all rookies with five interceptions, which was also the most by a Cowboys rookie since Everson Walls registered 11 interceptions in 1981.
In 2003, he started to have issues with new head coach Bill Parcells, losing his nickelback responsibilities. Parcells called him "a street player", because he relied heavily on his athletic abilities to cover wide receivers. He missed the first six games with a right knee injury and was eventually waived on December 2, after fumbling twice while returning kickoffs in a Thanksgiving loss against the Miami Dolphins, then proceeding to miss a team session the next day and a mandatory charity-related hospital visit.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons claimed him off waivers, but he only played in two regular season games until being released before the start of the 2004 season, after missing more than a week of training camp with knee tendinitis.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints claimed him off waivers, but revoked the claim just one day later, after he missed a scheduled flight to New Orleans.
Minnesota Vikings (first stint)
The Minnesota Vikings signed him as a free agent on August 24, 2004. He was cut on September 4.
Arizona Cardinals
On September 6, 2004, he was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals, but did not pass the physical exam and was not signed.
Minnesota Vikings (second stint)
On October 13, 2004, he was re-signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Vikings. He played in 9 regular season games, before being released on December 21.
Personal life
In August 2005, Ross was arrested and charged with drug trafficking and conspiracy to traffic drugs.