Brian Baldinger: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|American football player and analyst (born 1959)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=JanuaryMarch 20192024}}

| name = Brian Baldinger

'''Brian David Baldinger''' (born January 7, 1959) is a former professional [[American football]] [[offensive line]]man in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Dallas Cowboys]], [[Indianapolis Colts]], and [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He covered [[Philadelphia Eagles]] preseason games as an analyst with [[Scott Graham]] for several years. He currently works for [[NFL Network]], where he serves as an analyst for the television show [[NFL Total Access]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Duke University]].

==Early yearslife and education==

Baldinger was born in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Always big, strong, and athletic for his age, Baldingerhe spent much of his youth playing a variety of sports in and around [[Cherry Hill, New Jersey]]., in suburban [[Philadelphia]].

His family later moved to [[Apple Valley, Minnesota]], and then [[Massapequa, New York]], where he and his brothers became well known locally as they continued to excel in sports. Brian practicedplayed football, [[basketball]] and [[track & field|track]] at [[Massapequa High School]], where his graduating class in 1977 included [[Jessica Hahn]], [[Brian Setzer]], and [[Tim Van Patten]].<ref name=NYT1995>Ketcham, Diane. [https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/nyregion/about-long-island-at-the-repository-of-high-school-memories.html?pagewanted=all "ABOUT LONG ISLAND; At the Repository of High School Memories"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319214852/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/12/nyregion/about-long-island-at-the-repository-of-high-school-memories.html?pagewanted=all |date=2021-03-March 19, 2021 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 12, 1995. Accessed January 3, 2017. "Copies of The Sachem, as the Massapequa book is called, are scattered throughout the collection. A long-haired Jerry Seinfeld pops out of the pages of 1972. In '74, Mr. Buttafuoco and his wife graduated. There is just one comment under Mr. Buttafuoco's picture. It says, 'I love Mary Jo.' Other graduates of the Massapequa schools include the Baldwin brothers, Alexander, '76, class president; Dan, '79; Billy, '81, and Steven, '84. In Ms. Hahn's Class of '77 were also Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats, Tim Van Patten, an actor and Brian Baldinger, a professional football player."</ref>

In 1979, he transferred to [[Duke University]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Tom |date=March 18, where1979 |title=Clemson leads area recruiters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/653746112/?terms=%22Brian%20Baldinger%22%20&match=1 |access-date=February 19, 2024 |page=6 |newspaper=The News and Observer|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> As a sophomore, he was a backup tight end, before being converted into aan [[Guard (Americanoffensive football)|guard]] because of his blocking ability.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19801101&id=e6VPAAAAIBAJ&pg=5117,660685&hl=en | title=Tar Heels Face Clemson Saturday | access-date=February 19, 20202024}}</ref> As a senior, he was voted the team's most improved player and started all 11 games.

Baldinger was signed as an [[undrafted free agent]] by the [[Dallas Cowboys]] after the [[1982 NFL Draftdraft]] on April 30. In [[Training camp (NFL)|training camp]], he was tried at center, guard and tackle.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/635350012/?terms=%22Brian%20Baldinger%22%20&match=1 | title=Night was bad, news was good | author=Ken Sins | newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram | date=September 7, 1982 | page=1C | access-date=February 19, 2024}}</ref> As a rookie, he appeared in 4 out of 9 games, playing mostly on [[special teams]]. In [[1983 NFL season|1983]], he saw playing time as a backup at [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] and [[Guard (American football)|guard]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19831014&id=bCJOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3573,3980414&hl=en | title=Terps' White premier defensive player in NFL | access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref>

In [[1984 NFL season|1984]], he started two games at [[right tackle]] replacing an injured [[Phil Pozderac]], and also started 2 games at [[Guard (American football)|right guard]] in place of an injured [[Kurt Petersen (American football)|Kurt Petersen]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=861&dat=19840809&id=SLZjAAAAIBAJ&pg=4922,2239641&hl=en | title=Cowboys Injured In Drills | access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref> In [[1985 NFL season|1985]], he injured his right knee in the third preseason game against the [[Chicago Bears]] and was placed on the [[injured reserve list]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=860&dat=19850828&id=cJhUAAAAIBAJ&pg=3269,6968771&hl=en | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref>

In [[1986 NFL season|1986]], he was a backup at [[Center (American football)|center]] and also played as a third [[tight end]] in short-yardage situations. On September 2, [[1987 NFL season|1987]], he was placed on the [[injured reserve list]] with a left knee injury he suffered in a preseason game.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1901&dat=19870903&id=T5kpAAAAIBAJ&pg=4400,1373021&hl=en | title=Giants: Listen To Reasons | access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref> On October 24, he was activated to the regular season roster. He was declared inactive in 6 of the final 8 games.

On July 19, [[1988 NFL season|1988]], he was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Indianapolis Colts]], to provide depth in the case of a lengthy contract holdout by [[Guard (American football)|guard]] [[Ron Solt]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/105944933/ | title=Free Agent | date=July 20, 1988 | access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref> He was the lightest member of the [[offensive line]]. He appeared in 16 games, starting three contests at [[right tackle]]. He caught his first career pass (37 yards) from a tackle-eligible position against the [[Green Bay Packers]].

In [[1991 NFL season|1991]], he started 13 games at [[Center (gridiron football)|center]] in place of [[Ray Donaldson]], who was lost for the season with a broken leg he suffered against the [[Los Angeles Raiders]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19911021&id=vJcbAAAAIBAJ&pg=4473,6220058&hl=en | title=Colts are pointing fingers at each other | access-date=February 19, 20202024}}</ref>

On April 2, [[1992 NFL season|1992]], he was signed in [[Plan B free agency]] by the [[Buffalo Bills]], joining his brother [[Gary Baldinger]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19920403&id=yLUqAAAAIBAJ&pg=1583,1588018&hl=en | title=Football | access-date=February 19, 20202024}}</ref> He was released on August 31.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1957&dat=19920901&id=gsBKAAAAIBAJ&pg=2217,112128&hl=en | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 20202024}}</ref>

On September 28, [[1992 NFL season|1992]], he was signed as a [[free agent]] by the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] to replace an injured [[John Hudson (American football)|John Hudson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1992-09-29/sports/26021897_1_training-camp-eagles-kick-post-jackson-era|title=Archives - Philly.com|website=articles.philly.com|access-date=AprilJanuary 26, 20202024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092037/http://articles.philly.com/1992-09-29/sports/26021897_1_training-camp-eagles-kick-post-jackson-era |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> In [[1993 NFL season|1993]], he started 4 games at [[Guard (American football)|right guard]] in place of an injured [[Eric Floyd (American football)|Eric Floyd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-09-30/sports/25985509_1_guard-offensive-linemen-brian-baldinger|title=Archives - Philly.com|website=articles.philly.com|access-date=AprilJanuary 26, 20202024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070517/http://articles.philly.com/1993-09-30/sports/25985509_1_guard-offensive-linemen-brian-baldinger |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> On June 4, [[1994 NFL season|1994]], he was released in a salary cap move, along with 11 other veterans.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-06-05-1994156054-story.html | title=Transactions | date=June 5, 1994 | access-date=February 19, 20202024}}</ref>

Baldinger began his [[broadcasting]] career as a color analyst at [[Bucknell University]] in [[Lewisburg, Pennsylvania]], in 1995, and then moved to Fox in [[1997 NFL season|1997]], providing analysis for [[NFL Europa|NFL Europe]] games. The network was impressed with his soothing voice and handy repertoire of clichés, and promoted him to a [[color commentary]] slot for NFL games. Baldinger worked alongside [[play-by-play]] voices [[Ray Bentley]], [[Curt Menefee]], [[Joe Buck]], [[Pat Summerall]], [[Kenny Albert]], and [[Dick Stockton]].

A resident of [[Marlton, New Jersey]], he has two younger brothers, [[Rich Baldinger|Rich]] and [[Gary Baldinger|Gary]], who also played in the [[National Football League]]. Baldinger frequently works at [[The NFL Network]] in [[Mount Laurel, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F51B4910B9E40D9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM | title= Lessons in Dallas prepared Baldinger | publisher=[[The Dallas Morning News]] | author=Luksa, Frank | date=July 7, 2002 | access-date=February 19, 20202024}}</ref> He has a slightly mutilated right pinky finger that was injured when it became entangled in the jersey of [[Randy White (American football)|Randy White]].

{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:PeopleSportspeople from Cherry Hill, New Jersey]]

[[Category:PeopleSportspeople from Massapequa,Dakota NewCounty, YorkMinnesota]]