Don Rogers (American football)

NFL player
Name=Don Rogers


DateOfBirth=birth date|1962|9|17|mf=y
Birthplace= Texarkana, Arkansas
DateOfDeath=June 27, 1986 (age age|1962|9|17|1986|6|27)
College=UCLA
Position= Safety
DraftedYear=1984
DraftedRound=1
DraftedPick=18
ProBowls=
Awards=1983 Rose Bowl MVP
years=1984-1985
teams=Cleveland Browns
DatabaseFootball=ROGERDON02

Donald Lavert Rogers (September 17, 1962 - June 27, 1986) was an American football Safety for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League.

Early life

Don was born in Texarkana, Arkansas. He attended UCLA and played college football for the Bruins. His brother was Reggie Rogers, who also played in the NFL. Don was the co-player of the game in the 1983 Rose Bowl for the UCLA Bruins. He also tied a Rose Bowl record in the 1984 Rose Bowl when he caught two interceptions from Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Jack Trudeau.

Pro career

Don Rogers was selected in the first round with the 18th pick of the 1984 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played two seasons with the Browns from 1984 to 1985, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in his rookie season.

Death

On a June day in 1986, while at his mother's home, Don felt searing pain, jumped on a bed and within hours he died. The cause of death was cocaine poisoning. He died only eight days after Len Bias, an NBA draft pick who also died of cocaine abuse, starting a national discussion about the relationship between drugs and athletes.

Bibliography

*cite book |last=Harvey |first=Sean D. |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=One Moment Changes Everything: The All-America Tragedy of Don Rogers |origdate= |origyear=2007 |origmonth=October |url= |format= |accessdate= |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |series= |volume= |date= |year= |month= |publisher=Sports Publishing, Inc. |location= |language= |isbn=1596702311 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= |ref=

External links

* [http://www.blackathlete.net/artman/publish/article_02108.shtml Black Athlete article]
* [http://www.rosebowllegends.org/don-rogers.php Rose Bowl Legends: Don Rogers]
* [http://www.blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/Book_Reviews_13/One_Moment_Changes_Everything.shtml One Moment Changes Everything book review]