- Nate Newton
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This article is about the American football player. For the metalcore bassist, see Nate Newton (musician).
Nate Newton No. 61 Guard Personal information Date of birth: December 20, 1961
Orlando, FloridaCareer information College: Florida A&M Undrafted in 1983 Debuted in 1984 for the Tampa Bay Bandits Last played in 1999 for the Carolina Panthers Career history - Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) (1984–1985)
- Dallas Cowboys (1986–1998)
- Carolina Panthers (1999)
Career highlights and awards Stats at NFL.com Nathaniel Newton (born December 20, 1961 in Orlando, Florida) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys (1986–1998) and the Carolina Panthers (1999). He also played for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League, in 1984 and 1985. Newton played college football at Florida A&M University.
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Early years
Newton attended Jones High School where he practiced football, basketball, wrestling and shot put.
Although he had division I colleges recruiting him, he chose to remain close to home and signed with Florida A&M University.
Professional career
Washington Redskins
In 1983 he signed as a rookie undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins but was cut during training camp. He was also injured in a serious car accident the night he was cut.
Tampa Bay Bandits
After his release, he signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the now defunct United States Football League, who drafted him in 1983, in what the USFL called a Territorial Draft. He played there for two years (1984 and 1985) as an offensive tackle.
Dallas Cowboys
When the USFL folded, Newton signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1986.
He started out as a reserve offensive lineman, and was nicknamed "the Kitchen" because he was bigger than William "The Refrigerator" Perry, of Chicago Bears fame. Although he became a starter at left guard in 1987, Newton's breakout came with the arrival of Jimmy Johnson as the Cowboys coach in 1989, who evantually moved him to the starting right tackle position.
In 1992 because of the improved play of Erik Williams, he was moved back to left guard, in order to have the best players available in the offensive line.
From 1992 to 1995, together with Erik Williams, Mark Tuinei, Mark Stepnoski and Larry Allen, he was part of some of the best offensive lines to play in NFL history.
Newton was one of the best guards in the NFL for over a decade. He was a very powerful player and was known from some great confrontations against Reggie White among other great players.
Newton was a six-time Pro Bowler, attending the game from 1992 through 1996 and once again in 1998. Only Larry Allen (10) has been to more Pro Bowls with the Cowboys on the offensive line. He is tied with Rayfield Wright and John Niland for six appearances each. His ability to protect quarterback Troy Aikman and to run-block for running back Emmitt Smith helped the Cowboys win 3 Super Bowls in 1992, 1993, and 1995.
Despite playing in the trenches, Newton was one of the more colorful players in Cowboys history.
Carolina Panthers
His last NFL season was in 1999 with the Carolina Panthers.
Post-Football life
On November 4, 2001 police in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, found 213 pounds of marijuana in Newton's white van. Five weeks later, he was caught with 175 pounds of marijuana on Interstate 45.[1] He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, and has since then gone straight, renouncing his past and turning his life around and he now speaks to children involved in athletics about his past.[2] He is now a member of the North Dallas Community of God.
In April 2010, Newton, who once weighed as much as 400 pounds, underwent "vertical gastrectomy," a surgical operation, by Dr. David Kim, that removes up to 75 percent of a patient's stomach and staples the remainder. He has lost 175 pounds and as of November 2010 weighed 220—his lightest weight since high school.[3]
Newton's son Tré was a running back at Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas and was a key contributor for the Dragons' two consecutive 5A football state championship teams in 2005 and 2006. On November 15, 2010, the AP reported Tre' Newton would no longer play running back for the University of Texas due to re-occurring injuries.
References
- ^ "Cowboys' Newton sentenced in drug case". CNN.com. August 20, 2002. http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/08/20/ctv.penalty.box/. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Whitt, Richie (2005-11-17). "Pot-bellied Cowboy". Dallas Observer. http://www.dallasobserver.com/2005-11-17/news/pot-bellied-cowboy/. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
- ^ Chase, Chris (November 4, 2010). "Former Cowboys star Nate Newton has lost 175 pounds". Yahoo! Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Former-Cowboys-star-Nate-Newton-has-lost-175-pou?urn=nfl-282606. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
External links
Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXVIII Champions 3 Eddie Murray | 8 Troy Aikman | 17 Jason Garrett | 18 Bernie Kosar | 19 John Jett | 22 Emmitt Smith (MVP) | 24 Larry Brown | 25 Derrick Lassic | 26 Kevin Smith | 27 Thomas Everett | 28 Darren Woodson | 29 Kenneth Gant | 31 Brock Marion | 34 Tommie Agee | 37 James Washington | 39 Derrick Gainer | 40 Bill Bates | 41 Dave Thomas | 43 Elvis Patterson | 44 Lincoln Coleman | 46 Joe Fishback | 48 Daryl Johnston | 51 Ken Norton, Jr. | 53 Mark Stepnoski | 55 Robert Jones | 58 Dixon Edwards | 59 Darrin Smith | 61 Nate Newton | 62 James Parrish | 63 John Gesek | 65 Ron Stone | 66 Kevin Gogan | 67 Russell Maryland | 68 Frank Cornish | 70 Dale Hellestrae | 71 Mark Tuinei | 75 Tony Casillas | 77 Jim Jeffcoat | 78 Leon Lett | 79 Erik Williams | 80 Alvin Harper | 81 Tim Daniel | 82 Jimmy Smith | 83 Joey Mickey | 84 Jay Novacek | 85 Kevin Williams | 86 Tyrone Williams | 88 Michael Irvin | 89 Scott Galbraith | 91 Matt Vanderbeek | 92 Tony Tolbert | 94 Charles Haley | 95 Chad Hennings | 97 Jimmie Jones | 98 Godfrey Myles
Head Coach: Jimmy Johnson
Coaches: Hubbard Alexander | Joe Avezzano | John Blake | Joe Brodsky | Dave Campo | Butch Davis | Jim Eddy | Robert Ford | Steve Hoffman | Hudson Houck | Norv TurnerDallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXX Champions 8 Troy Aikman | 11 Wade Wilson | 17 Jason Garrett | 18 Chris Boniol | 19 John Jett | 20 Sherman Williams | 21 Deion Sanders | 22 Emmitt Smith | 23 Robert Bailey | 24 Larry Brown (MVP) | 25 Scott Case | 28 Darren Woodson | 29 Alundis Brice | 31 Brock Marion | 36 Dominique Ross | 38 David Lang | 40 Bill Bates | 42 Charlie Williams | 43 Gregg Briggs | 48 Daryl Johnston | 52 Jim Schwantz | 54 Darryl Hardy | 55 Robert Jones | 58 Dixon Edwards | 59 Darrin Smith | 60 Derek Kennard | 61 Nate Newton | 65 Ron Stone | 67 Russell Maryland | 68 Michael Batiste | 69 George Hegamin | 70 Dale Hellestrae | 71 Mark Tuinei | 73 Larry Allen | 78 Leon Lett | 79 Erik Williams | 81 Edward Hervey | 82 Cory Fleming | 83 Kendell Watkins | 84 Jay Novacek | 85 Kevin Williams | 86 Eric Bjornson | 87 Billy Davis | 88 Michael Irvin | 90 Oscar Sturgis | 91 Darren Benson | 92 Tony Tolbert | 94 Charles Haley | 95 Chad Hennings | 96 Shante Carver | 98 Godfrey Myles | 99 Hurvin McCormack
Head Coach: Barry Switzer
Coaches: Hubbard Alexander | Joe Avezzano | Craig Boller | Joe Brodsky | Dave Campo | Jim Eddy | Robert Ford | Steve Hoffman | Hudson Houck | Ernie Zampese | Mike ZimmerThis biographical article relating to an American football offensive lineman born in the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.