Carl Howard
{{Short description|American football player (born 1961)}}
{{distinguish|Carl Howard (baseball)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Carl Howard
| number = 21, 25, 28
| position = Cornerback
Safety
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1961|9|20}}
| birth_place = Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 188
| high_school = Irvington (NJ) Technical
| college = Rutgers
| undraftedyear = 1984
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1984}})
- Houston Oilers ({{NFL Year|1985}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985)
- New York Jets (1985–{{NFL Year|1990}})
| statlabel1 = Interceptions
| statvalue1 = 5
| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Sacks
| statvalue3 = 3.0
| pfr = HowaCa20
}}
Carl Delano Howard, Jr. (born September 20, 1961) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Jets. He played college football at Rutgers University.
Early life
Howard attended Irvington High School, where he practiced football, baseball and track.
He walked on at Rutgers University in 1980. He became a three-year starter at left cornerback and is mostly remembered for returning a blocked punt against the United States Military Academy for a 12-yard touchdown.
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
Howard was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 1984 NFL draft. He was used as a backup cornerback and special teams, before being placed on the injured reserve list on November 20.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19841121&id=GRRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=31UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4678,5904190 | title=Deals | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He was waived on September 2, 1985.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19850903&id=99glAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4384,5614553 | title=Transactions | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
=Houston Oilers=
On September 4, 1985, he was claimed off waivers by the Houston Oilers,{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19850904&id=dphUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-o4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1981,8102316 | title=White will be Cowboys' starter | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} before being released on September 7.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19850908&id=NkFTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UIUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6864,1821936 | title=Howard on waivers | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
Howard was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 15, 1985.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19851016&id=OWVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q_sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4518,201538 | title=Bucs sign cornerback | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He was mainly used in special teams, until being cut on November 12 to make room for Ricky Easmon.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1320&dat=19851113&id=iDxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1812,4055231 | title=Bucs sign Gator rookie Easman | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
=New York Jets=
On December 5, 1985, he signed as a free agent with the New York Jets.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19851206&id=2K5hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DeEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4226,1280110 | title=Transactions | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} After being waived on August 30, 1986,{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1291&dat=19860831&id=PP1TAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1YwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4407,8426143 | title=Jets get down to 45 limit | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} he was later re-signed during the season and played in 10 games (3 starts). In the playoffs against the Cleveland Browns, he was involved in a late hit penalty on quarterback Bernie Kosar, that is cited by many observers as the turning point in the 20–23 overtime loss. Although Mark Gastineau received the penalty officially, Howard also hit the player.{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/04/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-mark-of-a-dumb-penalty.html | title=Sports Of The Times; The Mark Of a Dumb Penalty | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He also had a 25-yard pass interference penalty in the game.{{cite web| url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/03/Mark-Gastineau-described-the-New-York-Jets-collapse-against/1220536648400/ | title=Mark Gastineau described the New York Jets' collapse against... | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
In 1987, he started 9 games at right cornerback. He was waived on September 12, 1989, after giving up a 31-yard reception that set up the winning touchdown in the season opener. He was re-signed 7 days later.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1982&dat=19890920&id=ViJHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WTMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4222,2042689 | title=Jets place Miano on injured reserve | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
Howard was cut on August 27, 1990,{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/28/sports/deals.html | title=Deals | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} only to be re-signed on September 19.{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/21/sports/stargell-sets-sights-on-playing.html | title=Stargell Sets Sights On Playing | accessdate=February 19, 2018}} He was released on October 10.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2002&dat=19901011&id=-LUiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FbUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6653,2188436 | title=Transactions | accessdate=February 19, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Carl}}
Category:Irvington High School (New Jersey) alumni
Category:Players of American football from Newark, New Jersey
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players