Darren Hambrick

Darren Hambrick (born August 30, 1975) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League.

At 6'2" and 227 lbs, Hambrick had his best season in 2000 when he led the Dallas Cowboys with 154 tackles. Hambrick later played for the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.  He played college football first at the University of Florida and then he transferred to the University of South Carolina.

Early years
Hambrick and his brother Troy helped Pasco High School win the 1992 Class 3A state championship in football. In 1999 he was chosen as the best football player in Pasco County history by the St. Petersburg Times. He was an all-state linebacker and a track star, as well as a basketball player.

He began his collegiate career at the University of Florida, but head coach Steve Spurrier kicked him off the team just prior to the Sugar Bowl, after he got into an altercation in which he struck another player in the jaw with broken glass. He eventually transferred to the University of South Carolina and was named second team All-SEC in 1996.

Dallas Cowboys
Hambrick was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and had a five-year NFL career that was cut short because of his off-the-field issues.

Although he was the team's leading tackler in the 2000 season with 154 tackles, in Dallas he is best known for replying "What do voluntary mean?" when asked why he did not report to offseason workouts in 2001. His quote is often referenced in jest by the Dallas sports media. He was released by the Cowboys during 2001 season, because of personal conflicts, even though at the time he was fourth on the team with 22 tackles through the first five games of the year.

Carolina Panthers
Hambrick was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers, starting in eight of nine games and leading the team in tackles twice. During his tenure with the team, he reported as stolen a paycheck from the Panthers he had already cashed. At the end of the season he wasn't resigned.

Cleveland Browns
He signed with the Cleveland Browns during the 2002 offseason but didn't make the team.

Personal life
Darren is the brother of NFL running back Troy Hambrick. He is also related to Major League Pitcher Mudcat Grant.

Among a number of criminal incidents, on November 20, 2008 Hambrick was sentenced to 12 months probation after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery. He then violated his probation in May 2010 and in July 2010 had his probation revoked and was sentenced to 30 days in the Pasco County Jail.