Barret Robbins

Last updated

Barret Robbins
No. 63
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1973-08-26) August 26, 1973 (age 50)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school: Sharpstown (Houston)
College: TCU
NFL draft: 1995  / Round: 2 / Pick: 49
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:121
Games started:105
Fumbles recovered:3
Player stats at PFR

Barret Glenn Robbins (born August 26, 1973) is an American former professional football player who was a center for nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the TCU Horned Frogs, he was taken by the Raiders in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft. He was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2002. He was the leader of the Raiders offensive line that led them to Super Bowl XXXVII.

Contents

Professional career

After playing college football for Texas Christian University, Robbins was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 1995 NFL draft, with the 49th overall pick. [1]

In 1996, Mike White's last year as head coach, the second-year Robbins replaced Dan Turk in the lineup, becoming only the fifth starting center in Raider history, after Turk, Don Mosebar, Dave Dalby, and Jim Otto. The first sign of his mental health problems turned up during the season when he was found disoriented and wandering around the team hotel in Denver shortly before a game with the Denver Broncos. Robbins missed that game and was hospitalized. [2]

During the 2000 NFL season with Jon Gruden as head coach and Rich Gannon at quarterback, Oakland scored 479 points (29.9 points/game), 3rd of 31 teams in the NFL, thanks to a strong offensive line which included Robbins playing between Steve Wisniewski at left guard and Mo Collins at right guard in all 16 games (also both playoff games), finishing with a won-lost record of 12–4 and an AFC West title. In the divisional round of the 2000–01 NFL playoffs, Oakland shut out the Miami Dolphins 27–0, gaining 140 yards on the ground. An early sign of Robbins' future trouble was displayed when he went missing a week before the AFC championship game, though in this case he did show up 24 hours before the game started and played in the Raiders 16–3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. [2]

During the 2001 NFL season, Robbins was injured, playing in only 2 regular season games, replaced by Adam Treu (also in both playoff games), when Oakland scored 399 points (24.9 points/game), 4th of 31 teams in the NFL, and won the AFC west again with a 10–6 record, defeating the New York Jets in a wildcard game but losing to the New England Patriots in the divisional round, in controversial fashion (see Tuck Rule Game).

In the 2002 NFL season with Bill Callahan in his first year as head coach, Robbins rebounded strongly by starting all 16 regular season games and making the Pro Bowl. Oakland won the AFC west for the third straight year, with an 11–5 record, scoring 450 points (28.1 points/game), 2nd of 32 teams in the NFL. In the 2002–03 NFL playoffs, the Raiders defeated the New York Jets again with 399 total yards, with an offensive line composed of Robbins, Frank Middleton and Mo Collins at guard, Barry Sims and Lincoln Kennedy at tackle. The Raiders then beat with the same offensive line the Tennessee Titans in the AFC championship game, gaining 375 total yards.

Then, inexplicably, the day before Super Bowl XXXVII, Robbins was reported as missing for most of the day before the game after not taking his depression medication. When he resurfaced that night, he was so incoherent that he didn't even know where he was. [3] According to one of his teammates, Robbins didn't even recognize Callahan. Despite this, Al Davis still wanted Robbins in the game, and development coach Willie Brown had Robbins running sprints in the parking lot on the morning of the game to see if he could still play. [4]

Callahan had initially intended to let Robbins play, but not start. However, he ultimately decided to suspend Robbins for the game after concluding that he was not fit to take the field at all. He initially wanted to fly Robbins back to Oakland, but was unable to get him a plane ticket because he was missing his wallet and identification. [3] He spent 30 days at the Betty Ford Center, during which time he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (or manic-depressive disorder). He'd been diagnosed with depression while at TCU, but it is common for the two to be confused in the early stages. It turned out that he had gone into a manic episode after not taking his medication. According to his wife, Robbins spent most of the day before the Super Bowl partying across the border in Tijuana, Mexico; he had thought the Raiders already won the game and he was celebrating their "victory." [5] With Adam Treu as the starting center, the Raiders were blown out in an ugly loss in the Super Bowl to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 48–21.

Robbins regained his starting job the next year in the 2003 NFL season with the same linemates, a disastrous 4–12 for the team. However, his name and those of several of his teammates were found on the list of clients of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative that had given performance-enhancing drugs to Marion Jones and others. The Raiders released him in the summer of 2004 after he tested positive for "the clear," a steroid known to have come from the BALCO lab. [5] Treu replaced him as the starting center.

Post-football troubles

A few months later, on Christmas Eve, he was arrested for punching a security guard who tried to keep him from going to a bar at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco. [5] On January 15, 2005, Robbins was shot three times during a brawl with police in Miami Beach, and was subsequently charged with attempted murder for his role. Under a plea agreement, Robbins pleaded guilty to five charges, including the attempted murder charge, and was sentenced to five years' probation, ordered to receive treatment for his bipolar disorder, and to avoid alcohol. He has spent most of the last decade in jail or in rehab facilities due to problems with substance abuse. He ultimately ended up in a rehab facility in Houston in 2008, and was transferred to a halfway house in May 2009. [6]

In a 2009 interview with HBO's Real Sports, Robbins told Andrea Kremer that before being diagnosed as bipolar, he had dealt with his mood swings by taking alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and steroids. He also said that he had been in a manic mood for both Raider playoff games prior to the Super Bowl. His ex-wife, Marisa, also interviewed for the story, said that before the diagnosis there were days where he had breakfast and went right back to bed. [7]

In early 2010, a police officer pulled him over near Dallas and found crack cocaine in his car. [8] On March 25, 2011, Robbins was sentenced to five years in a Florida prison for a drug-related probation violation and was released on September 25, 2012. [9]

In August 2016, Robbins was alleged to have punched a mother and her daughter in Boca Raton, Florida resulting in his arrest and two subsequent charges of felony battery before being sent to a mental health facility. [10] [11] [12]

In November 2020, Robbins was accused of leaving a restaurant in Delray Beach, Florida without paying for his meal. A restaurant employee followed Robbins as he fled the restaurant on foot. During the altercation, Robbins allegedly threw a rock at the restaurant employee. Delray Beach Police were called and Robbins was taken into custody. [13] [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Las Vegas Raiders</span> National Football League franchise in Paradise, Nevada

The Las Vegas Raiders are a professional American football team based in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Raiders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The club plays its home games at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada.

Super Bowl XI was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Minnesota Vikings to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for its 1976 season. The Raiders defeated the Vikings by the score of 32–14 to win their first Super Bowl. The game was played on January 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. This remains the earliest scheduled calendar date for a Super Bowl; and the most recent Super Bowl to begin before 4:00 p.m. ET.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XV</span> 1981 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1980 season. The Raiders defeated the Eagles by the score of 27–10, becoming the first wild card playoff team to win a Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXV</span> 2001 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XXXV was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Baltimore Ravens and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion New York Giants to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2000 season. The Ravens defeated the Giants by a score of 34–7, tied for the seventh largest Super Bowl margin of victory with Super Bowl XXXVII. The game was played on January 28, 2001, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, making it the first time Raymond James Stadium has held a Super Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXVII</span> 2003 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2002 season. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders by the score of 48–21, tied with Super Bowl XXXV for the seventh-largest Super Bowl margin of victory, winning their first-ever Super Bowl. The game was played on January 26, 2003, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Otto</span> American football player (1938–2024)

James Edwin Otto was an American professional football player who was a center for 15 seasons with the Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Gannon</span> American football player (born 1965)

Richard Joseph Gannon is an American former football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Subsequently, he was a sports commentator with CBS Sports for 16 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Gruden</span> American football coach (born 1963)

Jon David Gruden is an American professional football coach who is an advisor for the Milano Seamen of the European League of Football. He held his first head coaching position with the Raiders franchise during their Oakland tenure from 1998 to 2001, where he won two consecutive division titles and made an AFC Championship Game appearance. Gruden was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, which he led to their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXVII the same season. At age 39, he was the then-youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl. He served as Tampa Bay's head coach through 2008, setting the franchise record for wins, but made only two further playoff runs. After his firing from the Buccaneers, Gruden was featured as an analyst for ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcasts from the 2009 to the 2017 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Callahan (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1956)

William E. Callahan is an American football coach who is the offensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders for the 2002 and 2003 seasons and led them to Super Bowl XXXVII. He was also the head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2004 to 2007 and the offensive line coach and interim head coach for the Washington Redskins from 2015 to 2019. Callahan is considered to be one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 NFL season</span> 1980 National Football League season

The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.

Adam R. Treu is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, joining as a walk-on after playing at Pius X High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He won back-to-back national championships with the Cornhuskers in 1994 and 1995 playing left tackle and performing all the long snapping duties. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft.

Darrien Jamal Gordon is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) (1993–2002). He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft. During his NFL career, he played for five teams, appearing in four Super Bowls. Before his NFL career, Gordon played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, intercepting nine passes in three seasons. Since the NFL Scouting Combine began in 1985, he is one of three players who have been drafted in the first round after not being invited to the combine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oakland Raiders</span> Former professional American football team

The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raiders. Between 1982 and 1994, the team played in Los Angeles as the Los Angeles Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Oakland Raiders season</span> NFL team season

The 2002 season was the Oakland Raiders' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall, their eighth since returning to Oakland and their first under head coach Bill Callahan. The Raiders played their home games at Network Associates Coliseum as members of the AFC West. The Raiders had essentially traded their head coach Jon Gruden following the 2001 season. The Raiders hired Callahan, the offensive coordinator under Gruden, to return them to the playoffs.

The 2004 Oakland Raiders season was the 45th of professional football for the Oakland Raiders franchise, their 35th season as members of the National Football League (NFL), and their ninth season since returning to Oakland. They were led by head coach Norv Turner in his first season as head coach of the Raiders. They played their home games at Network Associates Coliseum as member of the AFC West. They finished the season 5–11, finishing in last place in the AFC West for the second consecutive year.

This is a list of playoff records set by various teams in various categories in the National Football League during the Super Bowl Era.

The 1970 AFC Championship Game was the inaugural title game of the American Football Conference (AFC). Played on January 3, 1971, the game was hosted by the AFC East champion Baltimore Colts who played the AFC West champion Oakland Raiders at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Along with the 1970 NFC Championship Game played on the same day, this game constituted the penultimate round of the 1970–71 NFL playoffs which had followed the 1970 regular season of the National Football League.

The Raiders–Steelers rivalry is an NFL rivalry between the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers. Both teams compete in the American Football Conference (AFC). The historically bitter rivalry started with the Steelers' first playoff win over the Raiders by way of Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception on December 23, 1972. The two teams met in the playoffs for five consecutive seasons (1972–76), an NFL record that has yet to be matched. The series was regarded as one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of professional sports, especially in the 1970s. Las Vegas is one of four AFC teams with a winning overall record against Pittsburgh. CBS Sports ranked this rivalry as the best NFL rivalry of the 1970s.

The 1975 AFC Championship Game was the sixth title game of the American Football Conference (AFC). Played on January 4, 1976, the game was hosted by the AFC Central champion and defending AFC and Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers who, in a rematch of the 1974 title game, played the AFC West champion Oakland Raiders at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Along with the 1975 NFC Championship Game played on the same day, this game constituted the penultimate round of the 1975–76 NFL playoffs which had followed the 1975 regular season of the National Football League (NFL).

References

  1. ↑ "1995 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  2. 1 2 "When Raiders' Barret Robbins disappeared before Super Bowl XXXVII - Sports Illustrated". 15 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 Steve Fainaru (January 30, 2003). "Raiders' Callahan: Robbins Was 'Incoherent'". The Washington Post .
  4. ↑ McGinn, Bob (2009). The Ultimate Super Bowl Book . Minneapolis: MVP Books. ISBN   978-0-7603-3651-9.
  5. 1 2 3 Knapp, Gwen. 6 years later, Robbins still finding his way. San Francisco Chronicle, 2009-01-31.
  6. ↑ ESPN.com: Robbins says he's looking to his future
  7. ↑ Gay, Nancy. Barret Robbins' Road to Recovery the Subject of HBO's 'Real Sports'. FanHouse, 2009-07-30.
  8. ↑ Ex-NFL lineman Robbins gets 5 years in prison for drug-related probation violation [ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Ex-Raiders center Barret Robbins released from prison
  10. ↑ Milian, Jorge (August 12, 2016). "Boca police: Former Oakland Raiders center punched women at hotel". The Palm Beach Post . West Palm Beach, Florida . Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  11. ↑ Tasch, Justin (August 12, 2016). "Barret Robbins, who went MIA at Super Bowl, accused of randomly punching mother and daughter at Florida hotel". New York Daily News . New York City . Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  12. ↑ Mano, Daniel (August 12, 2016). "Ex-Raider Barret Robbins charged with assaulting women in Florida". San Jose Mercury News . San Jose, California . Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Barret Robbins Mugshot | 11/14/20 Florida Arrest".
  14. ↑ Former Oakland Raiders Star Barret Robbins Arrested in Delray Beach. YouTube . Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.