Making the case for Curtis Brinkley
By Ryan Gilbert
Oct 31, 2011; Kansas City, MO, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Curtis Brinkley (44) leaps over in the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 23-20. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE
The Chargers are slowly but surely getting towards the limit of their salary cap and with a few holes to fill on the O-Line and D-Line second team they still have their work cut out for them. They have already tendered offers to free agents Antonio Garay and Luis Castillo so we’ll have to wait and see what happens there, but depth must be added on both sides of the line. These players are going to cost money and once again, the Bolts are running low. Problem is the Chargers still need to fill out their backfield with a third RB. I realize there are a handful of veterans that AJ is said to be looking at but let’s not forget about a guy we already have on the roster… Oh Ya, Curtis Brinkley, I remember that guy!!! Curtis Brinkley was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and has bounced back and forth from the practice squad to the active roster more times than I can track down. He’s had above average success during extended pre-season action and has made the most of his time on the field during the regular season.
September 2, 2010; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers running back
Curtis Brinkley – #44 – Running Back – San Diego Chargers
Regular Season Rushing StatsSEASONTEAMGP
ATT
YDS
AVG
LNG
TD
FD
FUM
LST
2010
3
2
11
5.5
9
0
1
0
0
2011
10
30
101
3.4
12
1
4
0
0
Career
13
32
112
3.5
12
1
5
0
0
The real selling point on Brinkley is his intangibles, namely the ability to overcome obstacles set before him. Not long after being drafted by the Chargers Brinkley was involved in a shooting in his hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity but nonetheless left Brinkley with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. One of these bullets is still lodged in his chest just inches away from his heart, with doctors unable to remove it because of its proximity to the human body’s most important organ. The simple fact that this guy is still playing football should give you some idea of his character and his ability to get through an ordeal of such urgency should convince you he’s a fighter. Why not finally give this kid a chance? His numbers averaged out over his few appearances seem respectable enough, he’s certainly shown he can be explosive in the pre-season when given the reps in the late first half and third and fourth quarters, so what’s the downside of giving him a shot? The word coming out of Chargers Park is they are on the hunt for a power back; Brinkley doesn’t really fit that mold. He is more of a shifty, in between the tackles kind of guy. Fortunately for him the Bolts signed Le’Ron McClain, who definitely fills the roll of short yardage/goaline power back. So, do we need to spend the extra cap space on a veteran rental who will be over priced at best or can we do what great teams do and promote from within? I say let the guy do what he was brought here to do, run the football.
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