Adrian Battles

Battles played college football from 2005 to 2009 as an offensive tackle for the Minnesota State Mavericks.{{cite news|title=Battles at home in Viking camp: Spent his college career playing on the same practice fields|newspaper=Mankato Free Press|date=July 31, 2010|url=http://mankatofreepress.com/vikingscamp/x2064734415/Battles-at-home-in-Viking-camp}}{{cite news|title=Battles Battling Away at Vikings Training Camp|publisher=Mav Blog|date=August 2, 2010|url=http://mavink.blogspot.com/2010/08/battles-battling-away-at-vikings.html}} He was a four-year starter at Mankato, starting in 43 of 46 games while with the program. According to Mark Craig of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Battles "dominated the NCAA Division II ranks" as an offensive lineman for MNSU. Battles credited offensive line coach Mike Cunningham for treating him like a son and keeping him motivated through four years at MNSU.{{cite news|title=Former Mankato player at Super Bowl with Packers |newspaper=Aberdeen American News |date=February 4, 2011 |url=http://aberdeensports.net/inthehuddle/2011/02/04/former-mankato-player-at-super-bowl-with-packers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327080102/http://aberdeensports.net/inthehuddle/2011/02/04/former-mankato-player-at-super-bowl-with-packers/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 27, 2012 }}

In May 2010, Battles signed as a free agent to play professional football with the Minnesota Vikings. He was moved by the Vikings from an offensive tackle to an offensive guard.{{cite news|author=Chad Courrier|title=Vikings sign former Mav Battles: Former Minnesota State tackle to move to guard|newspaper=Mankato Free Press|date=May 4, 2010|url=http://mankatofreepress.com/sports/x1036628282/Vikings-sign-former-Mav-Battles}} He told reporters that the position change presented a challenge due to the differences in footwork and technique, but added, "When I get an opportunity, I have to make the most of it."{{cite news|title=Former MSU player Battles for a spot on the Vikings: Tackle-turned-guard feeling more comfortable with each practice|newspaper=Mankato Free Press|date=May 29, 2010|url=http://mankatofreepress.com/prosports/x1414119265/Former-MSU-player-Battles-for-a-spot-on-the-Vikings}} Before playing in his first pre-season game in August 2010, Battles told a reporter, "I haven't even been to an NFL game. To actually play in the first NFL game I go to is awesome. I'm looking forward to it."{{cite news|author=Chad Courrier|title=Former Mav Battles for roster spot; ready for 1st game: Vikings guard has never attended an NFL game|newspaper=Mankato Free Press|date=August 13, 2010|url=http://mankatofreepress.com/vikingscamp/x334247211/Former-Mav-Battles-for-roster-spot-ready-for-1st-game}} After completing the entire NFL preseason with the Vikings, Battles was released on September 5, 2010.{{cite news|title=Persistence paying off for former MSU Mankato offensive lineman|newspaper=Minneapolis Star-Tribune|date=February 1, 2011|url=http://www.startribune.com/featuredColumns/114984819.html}}

In December 2010, he signed with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was a member of the Packers practice squad and became "an unofficial good-luck charm" for the Packers who went 7-0 after he joined the team (two regular season games and five postseason games) to become the first No. 6 seed from the NFC to play in the Super Bowl.{{cite web|url=http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Adrian-Battles/9c3ddf09-fdaa-42a5-a444-549a88acfab2|title=Adrian Battles|publisher=Green Bay Packers|access-date=February 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714081655/http://www.packers.com/team/roster/Adrian-Battles/9c3ddf09-fdaa-42a5-a444-549a88acfab2|archive-date=July 14, 2015|url-status=dead}}

Battles was part of the Packers' practice squad at Super Bowl XLV. With the team in Irving, Texas, Battles told a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I was a Packer fan growing up. Just to be a part of this organization is great -- especially to be a part of the Super Bowl experience. A lot of guys don't get to experience this, even guys who have long careers. It's a blessing to be here and I'm thankful for it."{{cite news|author=Gary D'Amato|title=Milwaukee's Battles glad to be here|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=February 2, 2011|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/115135689.html}}

At the media day before Super Bowl XLV, Battles showed up wearing a giant "cheesehead." Photographs of the grinning, 6 foot, 3 inch, 315 pound cheesehead were published in multiple newspapers including a featured picture of the day in the United Kingdom's The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news|title=Pictures of the day|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=February 2, 2011|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/8298123/Pictures-of-the-day-2-February-2011.html?image=25}}{{Cite web |date=2011-02-01 |title=Photoblog: Say cheese |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/tag/_/name/adrian-battles |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=ESPN.com}}{{cite news|title=Packers are set apart by small-town roots|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator|date=February 2, 2011|url=http://www.thespec.com/sports/article/480531--packers-are-set-apart-by-small-town-roots}}{{cite news|title=Wall St alpha metric picks Packers in Super Bowl|publisher=Reuters|date=February 4, 2011|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-nfl-superbowl-alpha-idUSTRE71352N20110204}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Battles told reporters, "I'm enjoying every minute of it."{{cite news|title=Former Maverick happy to say cheese: Minnesota State standout joins Packers|newspaper=Mankato Free Press|date=February 3, 2011|url=http://mankatofreepress.com/sports/x1293239897/Chad-Courrier-Former-Maverick-happy-to-say-cheese}}

In August 2011, he joined the Packers for their visit to the White House after winning Super Bowl XLV and was prominently featured in photographs as he stood behind President Barack Obama. When his photograph was printed in newspapers across the country, friends of Battles joked that he "must have sneaked in there."{{cite news|author=Bob McGinn|title=Battles will always have a chief claim to fame|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=August 15, 2011|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/127805058.html}} Asked about his prominent placement, Battles told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I just call myself lucky for getting that spot. We went down in rows and I ended up right there in the front."

On July 31, 2011, the second day of the Packers' 2011 training camp, Battles suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon. He was unable to return to the team after the injury and was waived/injured on August 30, 2011.{{cite news|author=Tom Silverman|title=Packers release Battles, Asiodu|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=August 30, 2011|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/128710238.html}} After clearing waivers, he was placed on injured reserve and released with an injury settlement on September 2.

Battles played for the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League in 2014.

Battles started the final game of the 2015 season for the Cleveland Gladiators.{{cite web|url=http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/aflgld/mtt/adrian_battles_974183.html |title=Adrian Battles |publisher=arenafootball.com |access-date=November 9, 2015 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109195253/http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/aflgld/mtt/adrian_battles_974183.html |archive-date=November 9, 2015 }}

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{{Super Bowl XLV}}

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football offensive guards

Category:Minnesota State Mavericks football players

Category:Green Bay Blizzard players

Category:Cleveland Gladiators players

Category:Green Bay Packers players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:Minnesota State University, Mankato alumni