Artrell Hawkins - #26 - S - Cincinnati - Profile

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS    

■ NFL veteran of 122 career games with 92 starts and 17 individual takeaways — 11 INTs and six fumble recoveries.

■ Started career at cornerback but converted to safety with NE in 2005.

■ In six seasons with Bengals (1998-2003), Hawkins started 72 of 89 games at cornerback and was credited with 375 tackles and nine interceptions.

■ Most productive season as a pro came in 2002 when he started 15 games and had career-high 92 tackles with two INTs.

■ Intercepted David Carr and returned pick 102 yards for TD for CIN vs. HOU in 2002, after which he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

■ As Bengals rookie, started all 16 games at RCB and led defense with 17 PDs while tying for team lead with three INTs.

SEASON BY SEASON

2006 (NE) Came off edge with perfectly timed third-down blitz to sack Philip Rivers for 11-yard loss in second quarter of AFC Divisional Game at SD. ... Tied career high with 10 tackles and forced Kevin Jones FUM recovered by Mike Vrable at Patriots 5 in Week 13 vs. DET. ... Started at S and intercepted Chad Pennington pass intended for Laveranues Coles in second-quarter in Week 10 vs. NYJ. ... Forced and recovered Terrence Wilkins kickoff-return FUM in third-quarter of Week 9 vs. IND.

2005 (NE) Started at S in both playoff games, vs. JAX and at DEN, after starting four RS games following signing as FA. ... Dropped Chris Simms for 1-yard sack in first quarter of Week 15 win vs. TB.

2004 (CAR) Returned Aaron Brooks INT 9 yards in Week 13 at NO.

2003 (CIN) Started at LCB and picked off Tommy Maddox pass in Week 13 win at PIT.

2002 (CIN) Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting David Carr pass 2 yards deep in his end zone and returning it 102 yards for TD — equaling longest play in Bengals history — and posting seven tackles in Week 9 win at HOU. ... Led CIN with 11 tackles, sacked Steve McNair for 7-yard loss and stripped Eddie George of ball for FF in Week 8 vs. TEN. ... Intercepted Peyton Manning in end zone in Week 5 at IND.

2001 (CIN) Picked off Kordell Stewart and recorded nine tackles in Week 16 win vs. PIT. ... Forced Eddie George FUM and intercepted Steve McNair in Week 10 vs. TEN. ... Picked off Elvis Grbac in Week 2 win vs. BAL.

2000 (CIN) Amassed season-high seven tackles and forced fumble by RB Fred Taylor in Week 16 win vs. JAX.

1999 (CIN) Forced pair of fumbles by Eddie George in Game 2 at TEN.

1998 (CIN) Picked off Randall Cunningham twice for first two INTs of pro career in Week 11 at MIN. ... Logged first career sack and FF on same strip-sack of Eric Zeier in Week 4 at BAL.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

■ Signed by Jets as FA 2/19/08.

■ Released by NE 8/18/07.

■ Signed by NE 11/16/05.

■ Released by WAS 8/27/05.

■ Signed by WAS 6/23/05.

■ Released by CAR 3/1/05.

■ Signed by CAR 3/10/04.

■ Released by CIN 3/5/04.

■ Selected by CIN in second round (43rd overall) of 1998 NFL Draft.

BEFORE THE NFL

■ Finished U. of Cincinnati career with 139 tackles, four INTs, 32 PDs, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 41 games (27 starts).

■ As senior, registered 46 tackles, two interceptions — including 38- yard INT-return TD — 14 PBU and one FF in helping lead Bearcats to first bowl appearance since 1950.

■ Named conference offensive player of the year as senior at Bishop McCort HS after rushing for school-record 1,487 yards, including single-game-record 265 yards, and 26 TDs.

■ Also lettered in basketball and baseball.

OFF THE FIELD

■ Son of Artrell and Althea Hawkins

■ Father was three-year letterman at Pittsburgh and was signed by Steelers as rookie FA in 1981. Owner Art Rooney gave Artrell Jr., then 4 years old, signed football that read, "To my friend Artrell, hope you will be a big star," a ball he still has to this day.

■ Majored in business at Cincinnati.