Loading ...The New York Giants have always been an organization known to take care of their own. Whether a player is a two-time Super Bowl MVP, or a seventh-round draft pick that didn't make the team in training camp, the mantra "Once a Giant, Always a Giant" runs deep throughout the entire organization. Today, the Detroit Free Press reports that Charles Drake, former University of Michigan standout and 2003 seventh-round draft pick by the New York Giants, has passed away at the age of 30. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Charles Drake attended Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California. He was named an All-City running back in both is junior and senior seasons, which gained him enough recognition to be recruited by some of the best college programs in the country.
Although many tried to convince him to stay home and play for local powerhouse USC, Drake decided to take his talents to Ann Arbor to play for coach Lloyd Carr. Drake's former high school and college teammate Courtney Morgan commented on the decision to play for the Wolverines.
"We were both big college football fans out here and grew up with an appreciation for the big programs," Morgan said. "When it came time to make a decision, at that time it was 1998 and Michigan was on top, having won the national championship, it was kind of a no-brainer. We weren't scared to compete. A lot of people in California tried to talk us out of going out there and staying at USC, but we felt Michigan put us on a bigger stage."
Drake went to Michigan with high hopes, but he only received twelve carries as a freshman. Halfway through his first season, he was moved to defensive back, where he spent the remainder of his college career. He was able to have a respectable career at Michigan, which enabled him to get drafted by the Giants in the seventh-round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, Drake failed to make the team in training camp and was released. He caught on with the Detroit Lions' practice squad for a short period of time; however, Drake's NFL career was over almost as soon as it began.
Charles Drake is not an all-time great New York Giant. He didn't make any acrobatic interceptions, or force any fumbles. He didn't win any awards or ever sign a big contract. In fact, he never even suited up for Big Blue on game day. However, for the short amount of time Charles Drake was on the roster, he gave everything had had to this team and this organization. At the end of the day, that's really all you can ask of any professional football player.
At the age of 30, Charles Drake's left this world way too early. Giants 101 would like to send our condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates that knew him best.
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Uhhh… first?
Did I do that correctly?
By Jove, I think you’ve got it!
For previous thread:
I just don’t understand how anyone can say that the Giants aren’t ready to play. They made mistakes, yes, played like crap, yes, dropped passes, fumbled, jumped off sides, yes…
But how do you beat 3 of the best 4 teams, on the road in January, and possibly say that we were unprepared, or not ready to play.
You’re telling me that ELI is not prepared to play every week? You mean to say that just cause the TEAM can’t win on a given Sunday, they are not ready to play? You think Tom Coughlin just wakes up on Sunday and says lets play some football? I know for a fact he starts preparing to get his team “ready to play’ the minute he finishes the last game.
You mean Victor cruz slipping on the turf one play, 5 yards from the endzone in a game against Seattle makes the TEAM unprepared?
Or Ryan Kerrigan with the play of the YEAR with a one handed bat/catch/roll over into the Endzone which was the difference in the 1st redskin game, and were unprepared? Week one after no off season?
The Falcons, crapping themselves in Giants Stadium rd 1, they were unprepared.
The Bears two years ago that allowed our defense to eat three of their QBS, they were unprepared.
The Not Yets, thinking that talking about winning, fighting in huddles, having their best player hold out, they were not prepared for the City of NY let alone a football game
Tom Coughlin was unprepared for one thing, and one thing all season, when he got hit on the sideline, everything, EVERYTHING else was meticulously planned, to the best of any coaching ability.
The Giants, were anything but “not ready.” They were well off, battle tested, ready to play offense, defense, and special teams. Manningham was ready to make that perfect catch. Pascoe was ready to make that leap over the cowboy DB, victor cruz was ready to take that 99 yards TD to the House, Nicks was ready to pull down that jumpball in the endzone against the packers.
The Giants won because they were one and only one thing…”ready to play”
I am no cynic, and I am not one to make light of someone’s death, but can anyone on this site honestly say he knew who the heck Charles Drake was before reading this? I don’t remember him any more than I do the 900th member of my high school graduating class. Honestly, telling me he died doesn’t resonate any more than telling me some guy I met once at college and never thought of again had died. I’d be sorry on principle but feel very little genuine sadness.
I know, I know. Cruel. Where’s my humanity? Well, I guess with the thousands around the world who died while I was writing this comment just as much as it is with Charles Drake.
Now, tell me Joe Pisarchik or Dave Brown died and I might react otherwise, albeit not as the PC police would like. And I really do dread starting to see more members of the great teams of the early 60′s starting to go. Inevitable, but sad.
Please don’t mention Dave Brown while I’m eating.
Please don’t mention Dave Brown while I’m breathing.
“You like the Drake?”
“I love the Drake!”
Funny story about Dave Brown. I caddied him when I was a young buck (about 10 years ago). On 16 he hit a ball deep into the woods, me being the expert caddy I was at the time found the ball in no time. I started having flashbacks of being depressed, angered, and confused as a child leaving Giants stadium. Buried his ball under some leaves and said I couldn’t find it. Feels so good to this day
To those of us who golf, that may quite possiably be the nicest thing a Giant’s fan had ever done for Dave Brown.
You most likely saved him two or three strokes FOX.