Johnathan Sullivan
{{Short description|American football player (born 1981)}}
{{For|the political scientist and Sinologist|Jonathan Sullivan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Johnathan Sullivan
| image =
| number = 97
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|1|21}}
| birth_place = Griffin, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lbs = 315
| high_school = Griffin (GA)
| college = Georgia
| draftyear = 2003
| draftround = 1
| draftpick = 6
| pastteams =
- New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2006}})
| status =
| highlights =
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2003)
- First-team All-SEC (2002)
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 = 78
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 1.5
| statlabel3 = Passes defended
| statvalue3 = 3
| statlabel4 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue4 = 1
| pfr = SullJo23
}}
Johnathan Lamar Sullivan (born January 21, 1981) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia and was selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2003 NFL draft.
Professional career
Sullivan was selected sixth overall by the New Orleans Saints in the 2003 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2003 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2003/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
In the 2004 preseason, Sullivan reported to training camp out of shape, at nearly 350 pounds, and lost his starting job.https://www.si.com/nfl/2015/07/21/nfl-worst-players-by-franchise-super-bowl-era-nfc Sullivan was inactive for the final eight games of the 2004 season due to a combination of poor play, bad attitude and lackluster work ethic. When Sullivan was inactive for a game against the Atlanta Falcons, he appeared in the press box for the pregame meal.
In the 2005 preseason, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis pulled Sullivan out of a team meeting to tell him to improve his diet and behavior.https://www.nola.com/sports/saints/new-orleans-saints-draft-busts-no-2-all-time/article_68814f6a-9fbb-51dd-9d19-bcf322895159.html
In June 2006, the Saints traded Sullivan to the New England Patriots in exchange for wide receiver Bethel Johnson.{{cite web |title=Patriots Acquire DL Johnathan Sullivan From New Orleans |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-acquire-dl-johnathan-sullivan-from-new-orleans-152261 |website=www.patriots.com |access-date=4 February 2023}} Neither Johnson nor Sullivan ever played for his new team, as Johnson was waived and signed with the Minnesota Vikings in September 2006. Sullivan never played for New England and was waived on October 9, 2006.{{cite web |title=Johnathan Sullivan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SullJo23.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=4 February 2023 |language=en}}
Personal life
On June 26, 2006, Sullivan was stopped by police near Atlanta and charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana, among other charges.{{cite web |title=New Patriot Sullivan hit with marijuana, driving charges |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2504616 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=4 February 2023 |language=en |date=29 June 2006}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{SaintsFirstPick}}
{{Saints2003DraftPicks}}
{{2003 NFL Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sullivan, Johnathan}}
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Georgia Bulldogs football players
Category:New Orleans Saints players