Giants hold moment of silence for Dennis Byrd before Ravens game

By Oct 16, 2016, 2:12 PM EDT
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Before the Giants hosted the Ravens on Sunday, the team held a moment of silence in honor of former New York Jets defensive lineman, Dennis Byrd.

Byrd passed away Saturday night in a car crash outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 50 year old played four years in the NFL before sustaining a career ending injury. Byrd was an inspiration for many players who valued his spirit and perseverance  to overcome such a paralyzing injury.

The moment was respected and captured by NFL fans, former players and reporters on Sunday afternoon:

 

 

NFL Draft tracker 2022: Pick-by-pick results, selections, live updates for Day 3, full order

By Apr 30, 2022, 7:06 PM EDT
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The 2022 NFL Draft is finally here and the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick. What will happen with Baker Mayfield and the Browns? Will Deebo Samuel be traded? NBC Sports has you covered with every pick in this year’s draft, from Round 1 through 7. Stay tuned to this page as NFL teams make their draft selections over these three days.

RELATED: How to watch the 2022 NFL Draft on TV, live streaming

The 2022 NFL Draft will air live from Thursday, April 28 through Saturday, April 30. The last four rounds will air on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. ET (Day 3). The draft will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last year, the 2021 NFL Draft was held in Cleveland, Ohio where Trevor Lawrence was selected first overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars will once again draft first overall in 2022. For a complete list of all 262 picks, click here for the full 2022 NFL Draft order.

NFL Draft 2022 Picks, Results by Team

2022 NFL Draft Live Pick-by-Pick Results

Round 7 selections

262. San Francisco 49ers – Brocky Purdy, QB, Iowa State
261. Los Angeles Rams – A.J. Arcuri, OT, Michigan State
260. Los Angeles Chargers – Zander Horvath, RB, Purdue
259. Kansas City Chiefs – Nazeeh Johnson, CB, Marshall
258. Green Bay Packers – Samori Toure, WR, Nebraska
257. Arizona Cardinals – Marquis Hayes, OG, Oklahoma
256. Arizona Cardinals – Jesse Luketa, DE, Penn State
255. Chicago Bears (from LAC) – Trenton Gill, P, NC State
254. Chicago Bears (from LAC) – Elijah Hicks, S, California
253. Los Angeles Rams – Russ Yeast, S, Kansas State
252. Cincinnati Bengals – Jeffrey Gunter, DE, Coastal Carolina
251. Kansas City Chiefs – Isiah Pacheco, RB, Rutgers
250. Las Vegas Raiders (from MIN through SF via DEN) – Brittain Brown, RB, UCLA
249. Green Bay Packers – Rasheed Walker, OT, Penn State
248. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Andre Anthony, DE, LSU
247. Miami Dolphins (from TEN) – Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State
246. Cleveland Browns (from BUF) – Dawson Deaton, OG, Texas Tech
245. Houston Texans (from DAL) – Andrew Stueber, OT, Michigan
244. Arizona Cardinals – Christian Matthew, CB, Valdosta State
243. Kansas City Chiefs (from LV via NE) – Jaylen Watson, CB, Washington State
242. Carolina Panthers (from NE via MIA) – Kalon Barnes, CB, Baylor
241. Pittsburgh Steelers – Chris Oladokun, QB, South Dakota State
240. Washington Commanders (from PHI via IND) – Christian Holmes, CB, Oklahoma State
239. Indianapolis Colts – Rodney Thomas, DB, Yale
238. Los Angeles Rams (from MIA) – Thayer Munford, OT, Ohio State
237. Detroit Lions (from PHI via NO) – Chase Lucas, CB, Arizona State
236. Los Angeles Chargers – Deane Leonard, CB, Ole Miss
235. Jacksonville Jaguars (from BAL) – Daniel Hardy, DE, Montana State
234. Detroit Lions (from CLE) – Jonathan Ford, DT, Miami
233. Kansas City Chiefs (from MIN) – Dareke Young, WR, Lenoir-Rhyne
232. Denver Broncos – Faion Hicks, CB, Wisconsin
231. Buffalo Bills (from ATL) – Baylon Spector, LB, Clemson
230. Washington Commanders – Chris Paul, OT, Tulsa
229. Seattle Seahawks – Bo Melton, WR, Rutgers
228. Green Bay Packers (from CHI via HOU) – Tariq Carpenter, S, Georgia Tech
227. Minnesota Vikings (from LV via CAR) – Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina
226. Chicago Bears (from CIN via NYG) – Ja’Tyre Carter, OT, Southern University
225. Pittsburgh Steelers (from NYJ) – Mark Robinson, LB, Ole Miss
224. Miami Dolphins (from HOU via NE and BAL) – Cameron Goode, DE, California
223. Cleveland Browns (from DET) – Isaiah Thomas, DE, Oklahoma
222. Jacksonville Jaguars – Montaric Brown, CB, Arkansas

Round 6 selections

221. San Francisco 49ers – Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State
220. San Francisco 49ers – Kalia Davis, DT, UCF
219. Tennessee Titans – Chance Campbell, LB, Ole Miss
218. Los Angeles Rams – Ko Kieft, TE, Minnesota
217. Detroit Lions – James Houston, TE, Jackson State
216. Indianapolis Colts – Curtis Brooks, DT, Cincinnati
215. Arizona Cardinals – Lecitus Smith, OG, Virginia Tech
214. Los Angeles Chargers – Ja’Sir Taylor, CB, Wake Forest
213. Atlanta Falcons – John FitzPatrick, TE, Georgia
212. Los Angeles Rams – Derion Kendrick, CB, Georgia
211. Los Angeles Rams – Quentin Lake, S, UCLA
210. New England Patriots (from LAR) – Chasen Hines, OG, LSU
209. Buffalo Bills (from CIN) – Luke Tenuta, OT, Virginia Tech
208. Pittsburgh Steelers (from KC – Conditional) – Connor Heyward, TE, Michigan State
207. Chicago Bears (from HOU through SF via NYJ) – Doug Kramer, C, Illinois
206. Denver Broncos (from TB via NYJ and PHI) – Matt Henningsen, DE, Wisconsin
205. Houston Texans (from GB) – Austin Deculus, OT, LSU
204. Tennessee Titans – Theo Jackson, DB, Tennessee
203. Chicago Bears (from BUF) – Trestan Ebner, RB, Baylor
202. Cleveland Browns (from DAL) – Michael Woods II, TE, Oklahoma
201. Arizona Cardinals – Keaontay Ingram, RB, USC
200. New England Patriots – Sam Roberts, DT, Missouri State
199. Carolina Panthers (from LV) – Cade Mays, OG, Tennessee
198. Philadelphia Eagles (from JAX via PIT) – Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU
197. Jacksonville Jaguars (from PHI) – Gregory Junior, CB, Ouachita Baptist
196. Baltimore Ravens (from MIA) – Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
195. Los Angeles Chargers – Jamaree Salyer, OG, Georgia
194. New Orleans Saints (from IND via PHI) – Jordan Jackson, DT, Air Force
193. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE) – Devin Harper, LB, Oklahoma State
192. Indianapolis Colts (from MIN) – Andrew Ogletree, TE, Youngstown State
191. Minnesota Vikings (from BAL via KC – Conditional) – Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State
190. Atlanta Falcons – Justin Shaffer, OG, Georgia
189. Carolina Panthers (from WAS) – Amare Barno, DE, Virginia Tech
188. Detroit Lions (from JAX via SEA) – Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
187. San Francisco 49ers (from DEN) – Nick Zakelj, OT, Fordham
186. Chicago Bears – Zachary Thomas, OT, San Diego State
185. Buffalo Bills (from CAR) – Christian Benford, CB, Villanova
184. Minnesota Vikings (from NYJ) – Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois
183. New England Patriots (from HOU) – Kevin Harris, RB, South Carolina
182. New York Giants – Darrian Beavers, LB, Cincinnati
181. Philadelphia Eagles (from DET) – Kyron Johnson, DE, Kansas
180. Buffalo Bills (from JAX via TB) – Matt Araiza, P, San Diego State

Round 5 selections

179. Green Bay Packers (from IND) – Kingsley Enagbare, DE, South Carolina
178. Dallas Cowboys – John Ridgeway, DT, Arkansas
177. Detroit Lions – James Mitchell, TE, Virginia Tech
176. Dallas Cowboys – Damone Clark, LB, LSU
175. Las Vegas Raiders (from LAR) – Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
174. Chicago Bears (from CIN) – Dominique Robinson, DE, Miami (OH)
173. New York Giants (from KC via BAL) – Marcus McKethan, OG, North Carolina
172. San Francisco 49ers – Samuel Womack, CB, Toledo
171. Denver Broncos (from GB) – Luke Wattenberg, C, Washington
170. Houston Texans (from NE via TB) – Teagan Quitoriano, TE, Oregon State
169. Minnesota Vikings (from TEN) – Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina
168. Chicago Bears (from BUF) – Braxton Jones, OT, Southern Utah
167. Dallas Cowboys – DaRon Bland, CB, Fresno State
166. Cincinnati Bengals (from PHI via AZ) – Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo
165. Minnesota Vikings (from LV) – Esezi Otomewo, DE, Minnesota
164. Los Angeles Rams (from LV via NE) – Kyren Williams, RB, Notre Dame
163. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ via PIT) – Kyle Philips, WR, UCLA
162. Denver Broncos (from PHI) – Montrell Washington, WR, Samford
161. New Orleans Saints – D’Marco Jackson, LB, Appalachian State
160. Los Angeles Chargers – Otito Ogbonnia, DT, UCLA
159. Indianapolis Colts – Eric Johnson, DT, Missouri State
158. Seattle Seahawks (from NE via MIA) – Tyreke Smith, DE, Ohio State
157. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX via MIN) – Zyon McCollum, CB, Sam Houston
156. Cleveland Browns (from MIN via BAL) – Jerome Ford, RB, Cincinnati
155. Dallas Cowboys (from CLE) – Matt Waletzko, OT, North Dakota
154. Jacksonville Jaguars (from PHI via WAS) – Snoop Conner, RB, Ole Miss
153. Seattle Seahawks – Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
152. Denver Broncos – Delarrin Turner-Yell, S, Oklahoma
151. Atlanta Falcons – Tyler Allgeier, RB. BYU
150. Houston Texans – Thomas Booker, DT, Stanford
149. Washington Commanders – Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
148. Buffalo Bills (from CHI via HOU) – Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
147. New York Giants – DJ Davidson, DT, Arizona State
146. New York Giants (from NYJ) – Micah McFadden, LB, Indiana
145. Kansas City Chiefs (from SEA through DET via DEN) – Darian Kinnard, OT, Kentucky
144. Washington Commanders (from CAR via JAX) – Sam Howell, QB, North Carolina

Round 4 selections

143. Tennessee Titans – Chigoziem Okonkwo, TE, Maryland
142. Los Angeles Rams – Decobie Durant, CB, South Carolina State
141. Baltimore Ravens – Damarion Williams, CB, Houston
140. Green Bay Packers – Zach Tom, OT, Wake Forest
139. Baltimore Ravens – Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina
138. Pittsburgh Steelers – Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis
137. New England Patriots (from CAR through LAR via HOU) – Bailey Zappe, QB, Western Kentucky
136. Cincinnati Bengals – Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State
135. Kansas City Chiefs – Joshua Williams, CB, Fayetteville State
134. San Francisco 49ers – Spencer Burford, OT, UTSA
133. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jake Camarda, P, Georgia
132. Green Bay Packers – Romeo Doubs, WR, Nevada
131. Tennessee Titans – Hassan Haskins, RB, Michigan
130. Baltimore Ravens (from BUF) – Jordan Stout, P, Penn State
129. Dallas Cowboys – Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
128. Baltimore Ravens (from AZ) – Charlie Kolar, TE, Iowa State
127. New England Patriots – Pierre Strong, RB, South Dakota State
126. Las Vegas Raiders – Neil Farrell, DT, LSU
125. Miami Dolphins (from PIT) – Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
124. Cleveland Browns (from PHI) – Cade York, K, LSU
123. Los Angeles Chargers – Isaiah Spiller, RB, Texas A&M
122. Las Vegas Raiders (from IND via MIN) – Zamir White, RB, Georgia
121. New England Patriots (from KC via MIA) – Jack Jones, CB, Arizona State
120. Carolina Panthers (from NO via WAS) – Brandon Smith, LB, Penn State
119. Baltimore Ravens – Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama
118. Minnesota Vikings (from CLE) – Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri
117. New York Jets (from MIN) – Micheal Clemons, DE, Texas A&M
116. Denver Broncos (from SEA) – Eyioma Uwazurike, DT, Iowa State
115. Denver Broncos – Damarri Mathis, CB, Pittsburgh
114. New York Giants (from ATL) – Dane Belton, S, Iowa
113. Washington Commanders – Percy Butler, S, Louisiana
112. New York Giants (from CHI) – Daniel Bellinger, TE, San Diego State
111. New York Jets (from CAR) – Max Mitchell, OT, Louisiana
110. Baltimore Ravens (from NYG) – Daniel Faalele, OT, Minnesota
109. Seattle Seahawks (from NYJ) – Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
108. Cleveland Browns (from HOU) – Perrion Winfrey, DT, Oklahoma
107. Houston Texans (from DET via CLE) – Dameon Pierce, RB, Florida
106. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX) – Cade Otton, TE, Washington

Round 3 selections

105. San Francisco 49ers – Danny Gray, WR, SMU
104. Los Angeles Rams – Logan Bruss, G, Wisconsin
103. Kansas City Chiefs – Leo Chenal, LB, Wisconsin
102. Miami Dolphins (from SF) – Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
101. New York Jets (from NO via PHI and TEN) – Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
100. Arizona Cardinals (from BAL) – Myjai Sanders, DE, Cincinnati
99. Cleveland Browns – David Bell, WR, Purdue
98. Washington Commanders (from NO) – Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama
97. Detroit Lions – Kerby Joseph, S, Illinois
96. Indianapolis Colts (from DEN via LAR) – Nick Cross, S, Maryland
95. Cincinnati Bengals – Zachary Carter, DT, Florida
94. Carolina Panthers (from KC via NE) – Matt Corral, QB, Ole Miss
93. San Francisco 49ers – Tyrion Davis-Price, RB, LSU
92. Green Bay Packers – Sean Rhyan, G, UCLA
91. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Rachaad White, RB, Arizona State
90. Las Vegas Raiders (from TEN) – Dylan Parham, G, Memphis
89. Buffalo Bills – Terrel Bernard, LB, Baylor
88. Dallas Cowboys – Jalen Tolbert, WR, South Alabama
87. Arizona Cardinals – Cameron Thomas, DE, San Diego State
86. Tennessee Titans (from LV) – Malik Willis, QB, Liberty
85. New England Patriots – Marcus Jones, CB, Houston
84. Pittsburgh Steelers – DeMarvin Leal, DE, Texas A&M
83. Philadelphia Eagles – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georiga
82. Atlanta Falcons (from IND) – DeAngelo Malone, LB, Western Kentucky
81. New York Giants (from MIA) – Cordale Flott, CB, LSU
80. Denver Broncos (from HOU via NO) – Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA
79. Los Angeles Chargers – JT Woods, S, Baylor
78. Cleveland Browns – Alex Wright, DE, UAB
77. Indianapolis Colts (from MIN) – Bernhard Raimann, OT, Central Michigan
76. Baltimore Ravens – Travis Jones, DT, UConn
75. Houston Texans (from DEN) – Christian Harris, LB, Alabama
74. Atlanta Falcons – Desmond Ridder, QB, Cincinnati
73. Indianapolis Colts (from WAS) – Jelani Woods, TE, Virginia
72. Seattle Seahawks – Abraham Lucas, OT, Washington State
71. Chicago Bears – Velus Jones Jr., WR, Tennessee 
70. Jacksonville Jaguars (from CAR) – Chad Muma, LB, Wyoming
69. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ) – Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
68. Cleveland Browns (from HOU) – Martin Emerson, CB, Mississippi State
67. New York Giants – Joshua Ezeudu, G, North Carolina
66. Minnesota Vikings (from DET) – Brian Asamoah, LB, Oklahoma
65. Jacksonville Jaguars – Luke Fortner, C, Kentucky

Round 2 selections

64. Denver Broncos (from LAR) – Nik Bonitto, LB, Oklahoma
63. Buffalo Bills (from CIN) – James Cook, RB, Georgia
62. Kansas City Chiefs – Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
61. San Francisco 49ers – Drake Jackson, LB, USC
60. Cincinnati Bengals (from BUF via TB) – Cam Taylor-Britt, S, Nebraska
59. Minnesota Vikings (from GB) – Ed Ingram, G, LSU
58. Atlanta Falcons (from TEN) – Troy Andersen, LB, Montana State
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from BUF) – Luke Goedeke, OT, Central Michigan
56. Dallas Cowboys – Sam Williams, LB, Ole Miss
55. Arizona Cardinals – Trey McBride, TE, Colorado State
54. Kansas City Chiefs (from NE) – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
53. Indianapolis Colts (from LV via GB via MIN) – Alec Pierce, WR, Cincinnati
52. Pittsburgh Steelers – George Pickens, WR, Georgia
51. Philadelphia Eagles – Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska
50. New England Patriots (from KC through MIA) – Tyquan Thornton, WR, Baylor
49. New Orleans Saints – Alontae Taylor, S, Tennessee
48. Chicago Bears (from LAC) – Jaquan Brisker, S, Penn State
47. Washington Commanders (from IND) – Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
46. Detroit Lions (from MIN) – Josh Paschal, DE, Kentucky
45. Baltimore Ravens – David Ojabo, LB, Michigan
44. Houston Texans (from CLE) – John Metchie III, WR, Alabama
43. New York Giants (from ATL) – Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, Kentucky
42. Minnesota Vikings (from IND via WAS) – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
41. Seattle Seahawks – Ken Walker III, RB, Michigan State
40. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) – Boye Mafe, LB, Minnesota
39. Chicago Bears – Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington
38. Atlanta Falcons (from NYG via NYJ via CAR) – Arnold Ebiketie, DE, Penn State
37. Houston Texans – Jalen Pitre, S, Baylor
36. New York Jets (from NYG) – Breece Hall, RB, Iowa State
35. Tennessee Titans (from NYJ) – Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
34. Green Bay Packers (from MIN through DET) – Christian Watson, WR, North Dakota State
33. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from JAX) – Logan Hall, DE, Houston

Round 1 selections

32. Minnesota Vikings (from DET via LAR) – Lewis Cine, S, Georgia
31. Cincinnati Bengals – Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
30. Kansas City Chiefs – George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue
29. New England Patriots (from KC through SF via MIA) – Cole Strange, G, Chattanooga
28. Green Bay Packers – Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (from TB) – Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
26. New York Jets (from TEN) – Jermaine Johnson II, DE, Florida State
25. Baltimore Ravens (via BUF) – Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
24. Dallas Cowboys – Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
23. Buffalo Bills (from BAL through ARZ) – Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida
22. Green Bay Packers (from LV) – Quay Walker, ILB, Georgia
21. Kansas City Chiefs (from NE) – Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington
20. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh
19. New Orleans Saints (from PHI) – Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
18. Tennessee Titans (from PHI via NO) – Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
17. Los Angeles Chargers – Zion Johnson, G, Boston College
16. Washington Commanders (from NO through IND via PHI) – Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State
15. Houston Texans (from PHI through MIA) – Kenyon Green, G, Texas A&M
14. Baltimore Ravens – Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame
13. Philadelphia Eagles (from HOU through CLE) – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia
12. Detroit Lions (from MIN) – Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
11. New Orleans Saints (from WAS) – Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State
10. New York Jets (from SEA) – Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State
9. Seattle Seahawks (from DEN) – Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
8. Atlanta Falcons – Drake London, WR, USC
7. New York Giants (from CHI) – Evan Neal, OT, Alabama
6. Carolina Panthers – Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State
5. New York Giants – Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, Oregon
4. New York Jets – Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
3. Houston Texans – Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU
2. Detroit Lions – Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Michigan
1. Jacksonville Jaguars – Travon Walker, DE, Georgia

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Defensive end Davin Bellamy poised to be a breakout Breaker in USFL

By Apr 21, 2022, 5:56 PM EDT
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Davin Bellamy made his first impression loud and clear on Opening Weekend in the new United States Football League.

The New Orleans Breakers defensive end lined up on the first play from scrimmage last Sunday against the Philadelphia Stars, then sacked Stars quarterback Bryan Scott.

As he spun Scott to the ground, Scott’s helmet flew off and skittered along the turf. Bellamy walked away with a purpose. The tone was set.

“It was a freebie,” Bellamy said earlier this week to NBC Sports. “But the best thing about that – it was the preparation through the week. We knew once we got that look (from the Stars offense) to just come screaming off the edge and that’s what I did and kind of let things fall where they may.

“You’re never upset about the freebies, so I think it was a good momentum swing for the defense and also kind of demoralized their first drive.”

Bellamy posted two more sacks in the Breakers’ 23-17 win. He was later voted USFL Defensive Player of the Week by fans on social media.

But it wasn’t just him taking the shine off the Stars. It was the Breakers defense as a whole.

Scott was sacked six times in all and suffered a 37-yard pick six at the hands of linebacker Vontae Diggs. The defense also made a goal-to-go stand against the Stars on the ensuing drive after Diggs’ big play.

The Breakers special teams got in on the fun, too. Wide receiver Chad Williams blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety. Williams was later voted USFL Special Teams Player of the Week, giving the Breakers two of the three Player of the Week awards from Week 1 (Birmingham Stallions quarterback J’Mar Smith was voted Offensive Player of the Week).

RELATED: How to watch New Orleans Breakers vs Tampa Bay Bandits: TV/live stream info for Sunday’s USFL game

  • When: Sunday, April 24 at 3:00 p.m. ET
  • Where: Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
  • TV and Live Stream: NBC and Peacock

The feeling was, as Bellamy put it, “contagious.”

He knows that feeling well. During his college career at Georgia, he contributed to some of the best defenses in the nation, including a top-10 defense during the Bulldogs’ run to the 2017 CFP National Championship game.

He looks to help make the Breakers defense an elite unit, too.

“I’m a firm believer that nothing just happens on Sunday,” he said. “Everything happens through preparation. What everybody saw (last) Sunday is kind of what we’ve been gearing up to through the camp and everything, just demanding a lot out of each other.

“You never reach perfection, but you always strive for it, and that’s kind of what this defense has been doing through the three weeks of camp. (Last) Sunday was just trusting your training out there.”

This Sunday on NBC and Peacock, the Breakers face the Tampa Bay Bandits, whose defense posted three sacks and 12 tackles for loss in a 17-3 win Monday night against the Pittsburgh Maulers.

As part of that prime defensive matchup, Bellamy will get after Bandits QB Jordan Ta’amu, who was a teammate of his when he was on the Houston Texans’ practice squad in the NFL. (Bellamy has spent time with five NFL teams but he spent the most time in Houston, where he had a two-year run over 2018 and 2019 plus another in 2020).

MORE: 2022 USFL Schedule, Week 2 – How to watch/live stream this weekend’s spring football games

“(Ta’amu is) a great player,” Bellamy said. “He’s dynamic with his arm and he’s also dynamic with his legs and also, he’s a great leader. I know about the (defensive coordinator) over there, Pepper Johnson, who coached with Bill Belichick and played with (Lawrence Taylor), so you know that defense is gonna be locked and ready to go. And especially with a leader like Jordan at the top, they’re gonna come out and give us a really good game.”

For Bellamy, the USFL is a chance to show NFL teams he’s matured from his time after graduating from Georgia and can be a plug-and-play pass rusher.

It’s also the next step in a football career that began when he was five years old and already big enough that he had to play up in weight class.

Looking back, Bellamy believes playing up prepared him to be a physical, fearless player. There was a time, however, when a 10-year old Bellamy wanted to quit football.

His mother, Bridget, who raised him on her own and teaches at the same high school he’d later attend (Chamblee Charter HS, Chamblee, Ga.), had none of it. She signed him up for football anyway.

“That’s the best decision someone ever did for me,” said Bellamy, who believes his mother’s efforts to raise him puts his own life in proper perspective.

“We’ve been through a lot – evictions, cooking dinners on a hot plate because you have no electricity, walking to hotels,” Bellamy recalled. “To see how she kept on going through real-life situations, that makes it easy to understand that even though this football thing can take you through ups and downs, it’s just a game.

“To watch how she balanced all that helps me in my day-to-day, going through this. If she can go through raising an African-American male son on the east side of Atlanta with no help, working two jobs, getting evicted left and right, then this football journey’s easy. So, I definitely have learned a lot from her.”

MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2022 USFL season – Teams, key dates, TV schedule, how to watch, and more

Under Bridget’s watchful eye and with her constant support, Davin became a two-sport athlete in football and basketball.

When he got to Chamblee Charter, it looked like basketball could take precedence. But one day in his junior year, a coach on the football team, Rosaria Rice, caught up with him after a great game on the court.

“He’s the one that was like, ‘I know you’re doing your thing in basketball, but you’re six-five, 225 (lbs.),'” Bellamy said. “And he said, ‘There’s a kid in South Carolina right now that’s about your size’ – and at the time, he was talking about Jadeveon Clowney. He said, ‘He’s gonna make a lot of money and I could see you doing the same thing. But you’ve gotta be six-eight, six-nine to go to the NBA.’

“And from that point on, he kind of took it upon himself to create me a football highlight tape, pack me in his car, and we’d gas up the Monte Carlo and we’d start taking visits.”

Football became the path for Bellamy.

Since then, it’s taken him to an SEC championship and a Rose Bowl victory – both coming in the 2017 season, the latter coming with headlines when he told Baker Mayfield to “humble yourself” after Bellamy’s Bulldogs beat Mayfield’s Oklahoma Sooners.

And while his pro career hasn’t seen him play an NFL regular season game yet, he’s gained “priceless” knowledge and tricks of the trade from decorated players like J.J. Watt, Carlos Dunlap and even the aforementioned Clowney.

Now, he comes to the USFL, older, wiser, and ready to put himself on the map – and knowing the best way to do it.

“Essentially, man, it’s trying to find that fine line of doing what you have to do to better yourself and your career,” he explained, “but also understanding that we’re all on that mission to win.”

***

First and 10 with Davin Bellamy 

10 quick questions to get to know the new talent of the USFL

Do you have a pre-game ritual?

“I like to work out about an hour or two hours before the game. I go to workout, do a little lower body, do a little pump, do a little activation. But this is gonna sound very cliché, my whole thing is you practice how you play. And I tend to like to practice really hard. I try to make practice harder than the game. So I kinda have the same routine that I have before practice. I wake up in the morning. If the game’s at 1, I grab a cup of coffee, eat, go work out and then go play the game basically.”

Do you have a post-game ritual?

“It’s immediate recovery. That’s the most important recovery, within the first 30 minutes. Immediately, before I do anything, I jump into the cold tub. The first 24 hours after a game, it’s strictly (the cold tub), and then the next 48, we’ll go towards the hot. But right after the game, I’m shooting toward the cold tub. That’s immediately what I do. The first 20 minutes are so important for inflammation.”

Favorite football player?

“If you had asked me this question 15 years ago, I would’ve just mentioned anybody. … But I’m gonna do a blast from the past. I’m gonna go with Aldon Smith. That’s somebody I’ve modeled my game around. So I’m gonna go with Aldon Smith, even though he’s not in the league currently.”

Favorite movie?

“My favorite movie may be… I’m gonna go ‘American Gangster’ with Denzel Washington.”

Favorite vacation spot?

“I’m gonna go with L.A.”

Favorite food?

“I love me some good, seasoned salmon.”

Most famous person you’ve met outside of football?

“In college, me and Migos got pretty close. At the time, when I was like 21, I was like, in awe – I was like ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening.’ … That was a big deal.”

How would your family and friends describe you as a person?

“Very goal-oriented. I’m a jokester. Very serious. Perfectionist… But if you pretty much ask anybody, they’ll probably say, ‘He’s about his business. He’s funny, but he’s about his business.’ That’s basically it. I’m very goal-oriented, very mission-oriented. I don’t let things deter me from what I’ve got going on.”

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?

“I expect people to be as genuine as I am. Like, you know how, if you have a big heart, you expect people to do the same? So, it’s kinda like a trick question, because I don’t wanna change that. But I’ve ended up getting the short end of the stick a lot. So, if I could change something, it would be just to, I guess – I don’t know, it’s kind of a trick question – not be so trusting.”

Name one thing about yourself that not everybody knows about you.

“No one knows that I played the saxophone from fifth to eighth grade, and the only reason I stopped was because of football. … I don’t (practice nowadays) but I really do miss it. I just don’t have the time, especially the last six, seven months of my life, which have been so chaotic – dealing with injuries, different teams and just trying to get back to where I’m trying to get to. I’ve been focused on my ultimate goal. Nothing else has really mattered. But when it’s time to breathe and exhale and the mission’s complete, I’m definitely gonna pick the saxophone back up.”

How to Watch USFL Week 2: New Orleans vs Tampa Bay Bandits

  • When: Sunday, Apr. 24 – 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
  • Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Alabama
  • Live Stream: Peacock

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