Atari Bigby

Infobox NFLactive


|currentteam=Green Bay Packers
currentnumber=20
currentpositionplain=Safety
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|9|19
birthplace=Kingston, Jamaica
country=Jamaica
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=211
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Green Bay Packers
college=UCF
undraftedyear=2005
pastteams=
* Miami Dolphins (2005)*
* New York Jets (2005)*
* Green Bay Packers (2005-present):*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
status=Active
highlights=
* NFC Def. Player of the Month (Dec. 2007)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=88
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=0.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=5
nfl=BIG264860

Atari David Bigby (born September 19, 1981 in Kingston, Jamaica) is an American football strong safety for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Central Florida. He played one season for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe.cite web
url=http://www.packers.com/team/players/bigby_atari
title=Atari Bigby's Personal at packers | publisher=packers.com| accessdate= 2007-09-11]

Early years

Bigby attended Miami High School in Miami, Florida where he lettered three years in football and two in track with his 4.2 speed. He attended high school with Denver Broncos safety Marquand Manuel, Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Roscoe Parrish, Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jamaal Jackson, and Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem. As a prep player at Miami (Fla.) Senior High School, played every position on the field other than lineman. His senior year, Bigby recorded 72 tackles, four forced fumbles, and one interception, on defense. On offense, he had 500 receiving yards, 315 rushing yards, and nine touchdowns. Bigby earned second-team Class 6A all-state honors and also played in the Dade-Broward All-Star Game. .cite web
url=http://www.packers.com/team/players/bigby_atari/
title=Atari Bigby's Bio at packers | publisher=packers.com| accessdate= 2007-09-11]

Professional career

Green Bay Packers

Atari was originally signed to the Packers practice squad on Nov 1, 2005. Was then promoted to the active roster on December 22, 2005 and made his NFL debut on December 25th against the Chicago Bears. He was inactive for the final contest against the Seattle Seahawks.

Sidelined much of the 2006 training camp after breaking his hand in the 'Family Night' intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 5, 2006.

Bigby was waived by the Packers at the end of the 2006 preseason, but was signed two days later to their practice squad.

After spending the first 10 weeks of the season on the Packers practice squad, Atari was signed to the active roster on November 15th, 2006.

During the 2006 season Bigby was a solid contributor on special teams, where he collected five tackles. He also played six snaps on defense for the first time in his professional career. He first professional defensive play was on December 3rd against the New York Jets.

After a very successful 2007 training camp and pre season, Bigby replaced 2006 Packers starting safety Marquand Manuel who was released prior to the 2007 regular season.

On January 3, 2007 the NFL announced that Bigby was named the NFC Defensive Player of the month for December, 2007. cite web | url = http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2007/12/20/2/ | title = Atari Bigby Voted Defensive Player Of The Week | publisher = Packers.com | accessdate = 2007-12-23] Bigby tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions during the month in just four games. The Packers posted a 3-1 record in December and clinched the NFC North division, locking up the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Bigby posted an interception in three of Green Bay's four December games. He had a 22-yard interception in Week 14 and recorded a career-high two interceptions the next week against St. Louis. Bigby finished the month with an interception in the Packers' win over Detroit.

On January 12, Bigby started his first playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. He finished the game with seven tackles (one for a loss), a forced fumble and a pass defensed. Bigby had two big hits, one that led to a Marcus Pollard fumble that was recovered by Green Bay's defensive end Aaron Kampman. Green Bay took the lead on the ensuing drive.

On March 21st 2008, Bigby signed a one year tender deal with the Green Bay Packers. Bigby is now under contract with the Packers until the end of the 2008 season. cite web | url = http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/archive/2008/03/21/packers-re-sign-bigby.aspx | title = Packers re-sign Bigby | publisher = JSOnline.com | accessdate = 2008-03-21] He was an exclusive rights free agent.

Bigby had the Packers first 2008 interception in the first of an ESPN Monday Night Football double-header game against the division rivals, Vikings. Tarvaris Jackson was trying to come back to win the game at 24-19, but Bigby got the interception and ended the game.

NFL Statistics

Additional statistics: Special teams tackles - 1 in 2005; 5 in 2006; NFL total: 6.

Personal

Atari Bigby was born in Jamaica and moved to the U.S. at age 4. He was named by his grandmother, who liked the name Atari. "Atari" is a Japanese word meaning "attack". During his time at UCF, she insisted he was not named after the video game of the same name.

He is married to Jill and has 2 daughters, Michelle, 6, and Leenah, 3. cite web
url=http://www.packers.com/team/players/bigby_atari | title=Atari Bigby's Personal at packers | publisher=packers.com| accessdate= 2007-09-11] Atari Bigby is a Rastafarian who chose not to attend the University of Miami (Fla.), because the school would have required him to cut his hair in conflict with his beliefs. cite web|url=http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/index.php?ntid=279476&ntpid=2 |title=Packers: Hair today, gone tomorrow? NFL to decide | publisher=Wisconsin State Journal| accessdate= 2008-03-31]

External links

* [http://www.footballdb.com/players/atari-bigby-bigbyat01 Bigby'and NFL & NFL Europe Stats]

References