Clinton Hart
Encyclopedia
Clinton Glenn Hart is an American football
safety for the Omaha Nighthawks
of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tallahassee Thunder
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He attended College of Central Florida.
Hart has been a member of the Tampa Bay Storm
, Philadelphia Eagles
and San Diego Chargers
, and St. Louis Rams
.
in the 32nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
. out of high school
but elected to play baseball
close to home at College of Central Florida.
of the af2
, Hart played defensive back
and wide receiver
for the Tampa Bay Storm
of Arena Football League in 2001. He finished his only season in the AFL recording three interceptions and 69 tackles on defense and 24 receptions
for 242 yards and touchdown on offense
.
signed Hart to a contract in 2002 and allocated him to NFL Europe
where played for the Rhein Fire
and Amsterdam Admirals
. He spent the final six weeks of the season on the Eagles practice squad.
In 2003 Hart was able to make the roster and started 9 games at safety due to an injury to starter Brian Dawkins
. On September 14, 2004 the Eagles waived him.
. Hart played in 14 games for the Chargers in 2004 and was tied with Hanik Milligan
for the team lead with in special teams tackles with 15.
In 2005 Hart started 5 of 16 games and recorded 45 tackles and an interception. He also scored two touchdowns on an interception return and an interception by Donnie Edwards
who lateralled
to him for the score. In 2006 he started one of 16 games, recording 48 tackles and three intercetpions.
In 2007 Hart became the Chargers full time starter at strong safety, starting all 16 games. He finished the season recording a career high five interceptions and 85 tackles.
On April 7, 2008 the Chargers signed Hart to a five-year extension through 2012. During the 2008 season he remained the Chargers starter at strong safety, starting in all 14 games he played. He finished the season with 63 tackles and 0 interceptions.
Hart was cut from the Chargers on October 14. 2009.
on December 8, 2009. He became a free agent on March 5, 2010.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tallahassee Thunder
Tallahassee Thunder
The Tallahassee Thunder is a now-defunct charter member af2 arena football team from Tallahassee, Florida. The Thunder played from 2000 until 2002, playing their home games at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee...
as an undrafted free agent in 2000. He attended College of Central Florida.
Hart has been a member of the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Early years
Hart was drafted by the Anaheim AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 32nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
. out of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
but elected to play baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
close to home at College of Central Florida.
Tampa Bay Storm
After spending the 2000 season with the Tallahassee ThunderTallahassee Thunder
The Tallahassee Thunder is a now-defunct charter member af2 arena football team from Tallahassee, Florida. The Thunder played from 2000 until 2002, playing their home games at the Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee...
of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, Hart played defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
of Arena Football League in 2001. He finished his only season in the AFL recording three interceptions and 69 tackles on defense and 24 receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
for 242 yards and touchdown on offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
.
Philadelphia Eagles
After success in the AFL, the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed Hart to a contract in 2002 and allocated him to NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
where played for the Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
and Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
. He spent the final six weeks of the season on the Eagles practice squad.
In 2003 Hart was able to make the roster and started 9 games at safety due to an injury to starter Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
. On September 14, 2004 the Eagles waived him.
San Diego Chargers
On September 15, 2004 Hart was claimed off waivers by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Hart played in 14 games for the Chargers in 2004 and was tied with Hanik Milligan
Hanik Milligan
Hanik Milligan is an American football safety for the National Football League who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
for the team lead with in special teams tackles with 15.
In 2005 Hart started 5 of 16 games and recorded 45 tackles and an interception. He also scored two touchdowns on an interception return and an interception by Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards
Donnie Edwards is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
who lateralled
Lateral pass
In American football, a lateral pass or lateral, officially backward pass , occurs when the ball carrier throws the football to any teammate behind him or directly next to him...
to him for the score. In 2006 he started one of 16 games, recording 48 tackles and three intercetpions.
In 2007 Hart became the Chargers full time starter at strong safety, starting all 16 games. He finished the season recording a career high five interceptions and 85 tackles.
On April 7, 2008 the Chargers signed Hart to a five-year extension through 2012. During the 2008 season he remained the Chargers starter at strong safety, starting in all 14 games he played. He finished the season with 63 tackles and 0 interceptions.
Hart was cut from the Chargers on October 14. 2009.
St. Louis Rams
Hart was signed by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on December 8, 2009. He became a free agent on March 5, 2010.