 |
|
 | Profession:
NFL Cornerback/Green Bay Packers
|
|
|
|
|
Pro Summary
• An aggressive, hard-hitting safety who has made the steady climb from practice squad player to NFL starter over the past three years
• Became an impact player in his first season as a starter in 2007, leading the team with five interceptions and 13 passes defensed, tying for the team lead with three forced fumbles, and ranking third with 121 tackles (95 solo)
• His tackle total was the highest by any Packers defensive back since safety Mark Murphy recorded 128 in 1990
• Beat out incumbent starter Marquand Manuel midway through training camp in 2007 with a series of big plays in the second preseason game vs. Seattle (Aug. 18) and never relinquished the job, playing 94.9 percent of the defensive snaps in 2007, tops on the team
• Enjoyed the chance to show what he could do in training camp after missing much of it in 2006 with a broken hand suffered in the annual 'Family Night' scrimmage
• Began that season on the practice squad with a cast, but eventually had it removed and showed how much he benefited from his NFL Europa experience the previous spring
• Earned a midseason promotion to the active roster, playing in five games and contributing consistently on special teams with five tackles
Made his NFL debut on Christmas Day 2005 vs. Chicago, playing in one game after a promotion from the practice squad, and then was allocated to NFL Europa in spring 2006
• Started all 10 games for the Amsterdam Admirals, who earned a berth in the World Bowl
• Played with Packers teammate Tory Humphrey and led the team with 61 tackles, solidifying his reputation as a hard-hitter
• At Central Florida, registered 296 tackles, three interceptions and one sack during four letterman seasons
• As a prep player at Miami (Fla.) Senior High School, played every position on the field other than lineman
• Recorded 72 tackles, 500 yards receiving and 315 yards rushing as a senior
Attended high school with Manuel, not to mention other professional athletes, such as Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem
• Originally entered the league as a non-drafted free agent signed by the Dolphins in 2005
• Spent most of '05 training camp with the Jets and was waived in the final preseason roster reduction, before the Packers signed him to their practice squad two months later
2007 Season
• Started all 16 games in his first year as the starter (plus both playoff games), winning the job with an impressive run of big plays during preseason games
• Playing a team-best 94.9 percent of the defensive snaps, ranked third on the team with 121 tackles (95 solo), tied for a team high with three forced fumbles, and led the team with five interceptions and 13 passes defensed
• Recorded double-digit tackles in five games, and his season total was the highest by any Packers defensive back since safety Mark Murphy recorded 128 in 1990
Earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month in December, picking off passes in three of four games
• His five INTs ranked ninth in the NFL and fourth in the NFC
• Made his first professional start vs. Philadelphia (Sept. 9) and led Packers' defensive backs with 10 tackles (eight solo), the first stops of his career
• Posted a team- and career-high 14 tackles (11 solo) vs. San Diego (Sept. 23)
• In the first quarter at Minnesota (Sept. 30), stripped the ball from fullback Jeff Dugan (recovered by Johnny Jolly); Brett Favre threw his record-setting 421st career TD pass to Greg Jennings on the following drive to give Green Bay a 7-0 lead. Made his first career interception in the fourth quarter, diving for a tipped pass with 1:06 left, sealing the Packers' 23-16 victory. Also recorded five solo tackles
• vs. Chicago (Oct. 7), led the defensive backfield in tackles with nine (six solo), good for second on the team; stopped TE Desmond Clark for no gain in the first quarter on a Bears series that went three-and-out
• vs. Washington (Oct. 14), had 11 tackles (eight solo) and one forced fumble. In the fourth quarter, stopped RB Clinton Portis for a 3-yard loss and forced him to fumble (recovered by A.J. Hawk). Earlier in the quarter, combined with Nick Barnett to stop Portis for no gain on third-and-1. Broke up a deep third-and-6 pass in the third quarter intended for TE Todd Yoder
• At Denver (Oct. 29), posted seven tackles (five solo) and stuffed RB Selvin Young for a 5-yard loss in the first quarter
• vs. Minnesota (Nov. 11), tallied a team-high 10 tackles (six solo), one pass defensed and his third forced fumble of the season. Knocked the ball loose from Adrian Peterson in the third quarter (Peterson recovered)
• vs. Oakland (Dec. 9), in the third quarter intercepted a deep pass and returned it 22 yards; actually ran the pick back 70 yards for a touchdown, but the score was negated by an unnecessary roughness penalty
• At St. Louis (Dec. 16), made a career-high two interceptions, plus four solo tackles, and was named 'GMC Defensive Player of the Week.' In the second quarter, picked off a long Marc Bulger throw and made an 18-yard return. In the third quarter, caught a tipped pass on a Rams' third-and-4 and returned it 8 yards; Green Bay converted a field goal on the ensuing drive
• vs. Detroit (Dec. 30), made his fifth interception of the season and fourth in the last four games, picking off a Jon Kitna pass intended for Calvin Johnson; the Packers scored on a 4-yard Bubba Franks touchdown on the ensuing drive
• Started both playoff contests and had 16 tackles (14 solo), two passes defensed and one forced fumble
• In the Divisional playoff game vs. Seattle (Jan. 12), led the team with seven tackles (six solo), with one forced fumble and one pass defensed. On the Seahawks' first play of the second quarter, forced Marcus Pollard to fumble (recovered by Aaron Kampman); Green Bay scored three plays later on a 2-yard Greg Jennings touchdown catch and took a 21-14 lead. In the first quarter, tackled Shaun Alexander for a 1-yard loss
• Had nine tackles and one pass defensed in the NFC Championship vs. New York Giants (Jan. 20)
2006 Season
• Signed from the practice squad on Nov. 15, played in five games and was inactive for three contests with a hamstring injury
• A valuable contributor on special teams, where he collected five tackles, also played six snaps from scrimmage
• Waived at the end of the preseason and re-signed two days later to the practice squad, where he spent the season's first 10 weeks
Sidelined much of training camp after breaking his hand in the 'Family Night' intrasquad scrimmage (Aug. 5), underwent surgery and returned to practice early in the regular season with a cast
• Four days after his Nov. 15 elevation, saw his first 2006 action, vs. New England (Nov. 19), collecting two special teams tackles
• Against the New York Jets (Dec. 3), played on defense for the first time in his career, two snaps at free safety
• Had two special teams tackles at San Francisco (Dec. 10)
• Missed the season's final three games - vs. Detroit (Dec. 17), vs. Minnesota (Dec. 21) and at Chicago (Dec. 31) - with a hamstring injury
2005 Season
• Played in one game and was inactive for one other after joining the Packers' practice squad on Nov. 1
• Made his NFL debut late in the year, vs. Chicago (Dec. 25), playing on special teams and recording one coverage tackle
• Listed as inactive for the season finale vs. Seattle (Jan. 1)
• Promoted to the active roster Dec. 22 after more than seven weeks on the practice squad
• Initially signed by the Miami Dolphins as a non-drafted free agent May 16, was waived July 25
• Signed by the New York Jets Aug. 11, was one of the team's final cuts in its preseason roster reduction Sept. 3
College
• Was a four-year letterman at Central Florida (2001-04)
• Registered 296 tackles, three interceptions and one sack
• As a senior, was injured for much of the season, but played in seven games and recorded 42 tackles and one interception
• As a junior in 2003, collected 112 tackles and one sack, with a team-high 80 solo tackles
• Twice earned recognition as a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection following his junior and sophomore campaigns
• Made 104 tackles (58 solo) and an interception as a sophomore
• In 2001, played in 11 games and made 38 tackles (27 solo)
• Redshirted his freshman year of 2000
• Holds a degree in liberal studies
Personal
• Given name is Atari David Bigby
• Born in Jamaica, moved to the U.S. at age 4
• Married to Jill, the couple has two daughters, Michelle, 7, and Leenah, 4
• Attended Miami (Fla.) Senior High School and was a three-year football letterman
• At one time or another, played every position on the field with the exception of lineman
• As a senior, posted 72 tackles, four forced fumbles and one interception
• On offense, recorded 500 yards receiving, 315 yards rushing and nine touchdowns
• Earned second-team Class 6A all-state honors and also was named All-Dade County
• Played in the Dade-Broward All-Star Game
• Lettered two years in track and one in soccer
• Last season, made several community appearances at juvenile detention centers and hospitals
• Has taken part in the Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon, the Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game, and the Donald Driver Celebrity Softball Game
• Also participated in a softball game to benefit the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, attended a Halloween party for at-risk kids of the local Pals Program and their mentors, rang the Salvation Army bell during the holidays for donations, and finished shooting pictures for a billboard to support the Milwaukee Children's Hospital
• After his football career, would like to be involved in housing development projects
• Says soccer is his first love
• Named Atari by his grandmother, who liked the name
• "Atari" is Japanese for a form of the word "attack"
• Went to high school with former Packers teammate Marquand Manuel, as well as Danny "Blue" Adams (Cincinnati), Jamaal Jackson (Philadelphia), Andre Johnson (Houston), Roscoe Parrish (Buffalo) and Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem
• In his free time he is learning how to play guitar as well as taking up golf
• He enjoys reggae music, especially Bob Marley
