45 Facts About Brandon Meriweather

Brandon Meriweather was born on January 14,1984 and is a former American football free safety.

Brandon Meriweather played college football at the University of Miami, and was drafted by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Brandon Meriweather's mother gave birth to him when she was 13 years old.

Brandon Meriweather started living with his adopted parents at age 11.

Brandon Meriweather attended Apopka High School in Apopka, Florida, where he played high school football.

Brandon Meriweather helped lead his school to the Florida Class 6A state championship as a senior in 2001.

Brandon Meriweather started as a kick returner, returning four kicks for touchdowns as a senior.

Brandon Meriweather received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami and played for the Miami Hurricanes football team.

In 2003, Brandon Meriweather played the majority of the season on special teams and in different nickel and dime packages.

Brandon Meriweather got his first start against West Virginia as a nickel back.

Brandon Meriweather finished the year with 22 tackles, one interception and five pass break-ups.

Brandon Meriweather played in all 12 games of the 2004 season but only started seven because of a nagging shoulder injury.

Brandon Meriweather contributed 62 tackles, a half sack, two forced fumbles, five pass break-ups and two interceptions.

Brandon Meriweather was named to the All-America team as voted by the Football Writers Association of America and was selected first-team All-ACC in 2005.

Brandon Meriweather was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.

Brandon Meriweather led the team with a career-high 115 tackles, seven pass break-ups, one sack, one fumble recovery, two forced fumbles and three interceptions.

Brandon Meriweather received the team's Hard Hitter Award for the second consecutive season.

In 2006 Brandon Meriweather was a member of the 50th Anniversary Playboy Preseason All-America Team and was on the Thorpe Award watch list for the second straight year.

In 12 games, Brandon Meriweather registered 91 tackles, one sack, eight pass break-ups and one interception.

Brandon Meriweather was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, and was voted first-team All-ACC and All-American.

Brandon Meriweather left Miami with the record for most tackles by a defensive back with 293.

Brandon Meriweather was invited to the Senior Bowl at the end of the season.

Brandon Meriweather was a member of the 7th Floor Crew, a rap group which consisted of several members of the Miami Hurricanes football team, including Greg Olsen, Jon Beason and Tavares Gooden.

On July 21,2006 Brandon Meriweather was involved in a shooting incident when teammate Willie Cooper was shot in the buttocks.

Brandon Meriweather was not charged with a crime because his gun was owned legally.

Brandon Meriweather was ultimately suspended by the ACC and Miami for his role in the incident.

Brandon Meriweather was selected in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

The pick used to select Brandon Meriweather was traded by the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Deion Branch.

Brandon Meriweather played in Super Bowl XLII as a fourth safety in the Patriots' defense behind Rodney Harrison, James Sanders, and Eugene Wilson.

In Week 14, Brandon Meriweather recorded his first career sack to stifle a late-game Seattle Seahawks drive and secure a Patriots victory.

Brandon Meriweather finished the season with 83 tackles, two sacks, and four interceptions.

In Week 7, Brandon Meriweather had two interceptions against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including one returned 39 yards for a touchdown, and was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Brandon Meriweather started all 16 games and finished the 2009 season with 83 tackles and five interceptions, and was named to his first Pro Bowl as a replacement to the injured Jairus Byrd.

Brandon Meriweather was not part of the Patriots base defense to begin the 2010 season, something which Brandon Meriweather described as a coaching decision as a result of him freelancing in the defense during training camp.

In Week 6, Brandon Meriweather was penalized for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap.

In 16 games played, Brandon Meriweather recorded 68 tackles, three interceptions, and six passes defensed.

Brandon Meriweather was named to his second Pro Bowl following the season.

Brandon Meriweather signed with the Chicago Bears on September 4,2011 to a one-year deal.

Former Bears wide receiver, Tom Waddle, negatively criticized Brandon Meriweather's tackling technique stating that it doesn't show any regard for the safety of other players.

Brandon Meriweather signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Washington Redskins on March 15,2012.

Brandon Meriweather ended up colliding with Aldrick Robinson during pre-game warmups and both were inactive for the game, due to Meriweather re-injuring his knee and Robinson out with a concussion.

Brandon Meriweather was placed on injured reserve on December 19,2014.

On December 23,2015, Brandon Meriweather was re-signed by the Giants.

Brandon Meriweather was initially stopped for speeding on westbound I-66, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, who said that officers detected an odor of alcohol on his breath and performed a field sobriety test, which Meriweather failed.

Sternbeck further stated that Brandon Meriweather refused a breathalyzer test, was arrested and spent the night in the Arlington County jail.