Milton Barney
{{Short description|American football player (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Milton Barney
| number = 84
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|12|23}}
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 156
| high_school = Gulfport (Gulfport, Mississippi)
| college = Alcorn State (1983–1986)
| undraftedyear = 1987
| pastteams =
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|1987}})
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|1988|1989}})*
- New Orleans Night ({{AFL Year|1991}})
| highlights =
- Black college national champion (1984)
- First-team All-Arena (1991)
- AFL Ironman of the Year ({{AFL Year|1991}})
- First-team All-SWAC (1986)
- Second-team All-SWAC (1985)
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 10
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 175
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 2
| aflstatlabel1 = Receptions
| aflstatvalue1 = 37
| aflstatlabel2 = Receiving yards
| aflstatvalue2 = 550
| aflstatlabel3 = Tackles
| aflstatvalue3 = 42
| aflstatlabel4 = Interceptions
| aflstatvalue4 = 2
| aflstatlabel5 = Total touchdowns
| aflstatvalue5 = 10
| afl = Milton_Barney-80
| pfr = B/BarnMi21
}}
Milton J. Barney (born December 23, 1963) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played one season with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alcorn State University. He also played for the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League (AFL).
Early life
Milton J. Barney was born on December 23, 1963.{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/b/barn07600.html | title=MILTON BARNEY | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 February 2025}} He attended Gulfport High School in Gulfport, Mississippi.
College career
Barney was a four-year letterman for the Alcorn State Braves of Alcorn State University from 1983 to 1986. He did not appear in any games in 1983. He caught 33 passes for 622 yards and seven touchdowns in 1984, earning Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Newcomer of the Year honors. The 1984 Braves were named black college national champions. Barney recorded 46 receptions for 686 yards and five touchdowns in 1985, garnering second-team All-SWAC recognition. As a senior in 1986, he caught 48 passes for 719 yards and five touchdowns earning first-team All-SWAC accolades.{{cite web | url=https://alcornsports.com/news/2014/8/9/FB_0809143145 | title=TOP 50 GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYERS: NO. 21, MILTON BARNEY | publisher=Alcorn State University | date=August 9, 2014 | accessdate=24 February 2025}}
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 1987 NFL draft, Barney signed with the Atlanta Falcons on May 6.{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/transactions/b/barn07600.html | title=Milton Barney NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=23 February 2025}} He was released on September 7. On September 23, Barney re-signed with the Falcons during the 1987 NFL players strike. He started all three strike games for the Falcons, catching ten passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns while also returning five punts for 28 yards.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BarnMi21.htm | title=Milton Barney | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=23 February 2025}} He was released on October 19 after the strike ended.
Barney was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on July 7, 1988. He was released on August 1, 1988, after leaving the team. He did not give a reason for leaving but had been sidelined due to an ankle injury.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel/166559409/ | title=Pro beat | work=The Orlando Sentinel | date=August 2, 1988 | accessdate=23 February 2025 | pages=D5}} He signed with the Buccaneers again on February 16, 1989, but was released later that year.
Barney played in nine games for the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1991, totaling 37 receptions for 550 yards and eight touchdowns, 11 carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns, 31 kick returns for 506 yards, 37 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, two interceptions, 14 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/Milton_Barney-80/ | title=Milton Barney | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=23 February 2025}} He was a wide receiver/defensive back during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules. He earned AFL Ironman of the Year and first-team All-Arena honors for his performance during the 1991 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=80&pageview=bio#google_vignette | title=Milton Barney | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=23 February 2025}}
Personal life
Barney is the nephew of NFL player Lem Barney and the father of baseball coach Milton Barney Jr.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger/166559603/ | title=Gulfport whiz Barney chooses baseball over football | work=Clarion-Ledger | date=June 3, 2006 | accessdate=23 February 2025 | author=Walker, Rod}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=barnemil001 Stats Crew profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Barney, Milton}}
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Alcorn State Braves football players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players
Category:New Orleans Night players
Category:Players of American football from Gulfport, Mississippi
Category:NFL replacement players
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen