Brian Carpenter (American football)

Brian Carpenter
No. 22, 41, 30
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1960-11-27) November 27, 1960 (age 64)
Flint, Michigan, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:167 lb (76 kg)
Career information
High school:Flint Southwestern
(Flint, Michigan)
College:Michigan
NFL draft:1982 / round: 4 / pick: 101
(by the Dallas Cowboys)
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:4
Fumble recoveries:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Brian Milton Carpenter (born November 27, 1960) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants (1982), the Washington Redskins (1983-1984), and the Buffalo Bills (1984). He played college football as a defensive back at the University of Michigan from 1978 to 1981.

Early life

Carpenter was born in Flint, Michigan, in 1960. He attended Flint Southwestern High School.[1]

College career

Carpenter enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1978 and played college football as a defensive back for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football teams from 1978 to 1981.[2]

As a junior, he started 11 of 12 games at wide side cornerback for the 1980 Wolverines that compiled a 10-2 record, finished #4 in the AP and UPI polls, and outscored opponents 322 to 129.[3] Carpenter totaled 25 tackles, seven assists and five interceptions (tied for the team lead), including 2 against Indiana University.[4] He also was a part of a defense that didn't allow a touchdown for 22 consecutive quarters. In the 1981 Rose Bowl, he made an interception at Michigan's eight-yard line, to contribute to a 23-6 win over the University of Washington.

As a senior, he started 8 of 12 games and had one interception for the 1981 Wolverines, after missing three games with a sprained left ankle.[5] He was selected by the conference coaches as a second-team defensive back on the 1981 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[6] He finished with 6 career interceptions, played in two Big 10 championship teams (1978 and 198) and started in the Rose and Bluebonnet Bowls. Brian became a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, phi Chapter at the University of Michigan in the Spring of 1980.

Professional football

Dallas Cowboys

Carpenter was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (101st overall pick) of the 1982 NFL draft.[1] He was waived on September 6.[7]

New York Giants

On September 16, 1982, he signed as a free agent with the New York Giants.[8] He appeared in four games, none of them as a starter.[1] He was released on August 28, 1983.[9]

Washington Redskins

On August 30, 1983, he was claimed off waivers by the Washington Redskins.[10] He appeared in 15 games, none as a starter. The next year, he appeared in four games as a backup, before being traded to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a draft choice on September 19, 1984.[11]

Buffalo Bills

In 1984, he appeared in 13 games for the Buffalo Bills and saw his first action as an NFL starter, starting 10 games at left cornerback.[1] He was released on August 19, 1985.[12] During his three-year career, he appeared in 35 games, intercepted four passes and recovered two fumbles.[1]

Criminal activity

Outside of his NFL career, Carpenter was the owner of the Flinstone Group, a janitorial supply company. In July 2020, he pleaded guilty to orchestrating a conspiracy to defraud the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) of more than $300,000. He had repeatedly charged the credit cards of two WMATA employees to reflect the purchase of janitorial products that his company never delivered.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Brian Carpenter". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Michigan Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  3. ^ "1980 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  4. ^ "Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page". University of Michigan. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007.(Carpenter's statistics can be retrieved by typing "carpenter" into the space provided for the player's last name.)
  5. ^ "1981 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library.
  6. ^ Randy Minkoff (November 25, 1981). "Name All Big Ten". The Bryan Times (UPI story). p. 19. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  7. ^ "Transactions". Ellensburg Daily Record. September 7, 1982. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "Football Transactions". Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  9. ^ "Giants cut Danelo". Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  10. ^ "Steelers' Bradshaw On Injured Reserve". Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  11. ^ "Oilers scoff At trade rumor". Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  12. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  13. ^ Elliot Henney (July 10, 2020). "Former Redskins player pleads guilty of conspiracy to defraud Metro over $300,000". Retrieved July 13, 2023.