Fernando Antoneyo Bryant was born on March 26, 1977 in Albany, Ga. ... Was an All-American as a two-way starter at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tenn. ... As a senior, recorded 82 tackles with six interceptions, averaged 30 yards per punt return and caught 48 passes for 798 yards with eight touchdowns ... Named the Lions 2004 Robert Porcher Man of the Year for his countless charitable contributions off the field ... Recipient of 2004 Detroit Sports Fans Choice "Humanitarian" Award for his commitment to the Detroit community ... Supports organ donation programs (brother, Larry, received a life-saving kidney transplant in 2001) ... Initiated the T.A.L.K. (Talking About Life with Kids) program with which he spent many Tuesdays during the 2004 season going to different high schools in Detroit to visit with student athletes and talk to them about academics, peer pressure and stress management ... Started an essay writing contest in Detroit inner city middle schools. Winners were selected each week of a Lions' home game and were rewarded with an opportunity to attend the game and meet Bryant ... Helped to purchase and shop for emergency relief supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims at Costco Wholesale ... Majored in physical education at Alabama ... Fernando is married with three children.

Fernando Bryant was signed by the Patriots as a veteran free agent on March 20, 2008 ... Originally selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (26th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft ... Placed on the reserve/injured list (1/1/02) ... Signed by the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent (3/5/04) ... Placed on the reserve/injured list (9/27/05) ... Placed on the reserve/injured list (12/27/06) ... Released by the Lions (2/25/08).

GP/GS (Playoffs): 110/109 (2/2)

• Bryant joins the Patriots in 2008 as a veteran of nine NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1999-2003) and the Detroit Lions (2004-07).
• Bryant enters 2008 having played in 110 career games with 109 starts, totaling 509 tackles (435 solo), seven interceptions, 88 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.
• In 2007 with Detroit, Bryant started every game at left cornerback and made 76 tackles, his highest singleseason total since his rookie season (1999). He also tied his career high with a pair of interceptions for the Lions in 2007 and tied another career best with 14 passes defensed.
• Bryant spent the first five years of his career with Jacksonville (1999-2003), playing in 72 games with 71 starts over that period.
• As a rookie in 1999, Bryant was named to all of the major all-rookie teams as he started every game and finished second among Jaguars defensive backs with a careerhigh 78 tackles in addition to a pair of interceptions, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries.
• In 2000, he led Jacksonville's cornerbacks with 57 tackles and added an interception.
• Bryant led Jaguars cornerbacks with 56 tackles in 2001, despite playing in only 10 games with nine starts. Bryant started every game of the 2002 and 2003 seasons for the Jaguars, totaling 67 tackles and an interception in 2002 and concluding his Jacksonville career with 71 tackles and an interception in 2003.

2007 (16/16 - Detroit): Started all 16 games for the first time since 2003 and totaled 76 tackles (65 solo) ... Notched his 500th career tackle at Minnesota (12/2) ... Tied a career high with 14 passes defensed ... Started at left cornerback at Oakland (9/9), where he posted eight tackles (seven solo) and a pass defensed ... Had nine tackles (nine solo) and had a pass defensed against Minnesota (9/16) ... Had an excellent all-around game against Chicago (9/30), posting nine tackles (seven solo), three pass defenses and a key interception at the goal line that stopped a potential Bears' scoring drive ... In his 100th career start, Bryant made seven tackles (seven solo), one special teams tackle and secured a Lions victory with an endzone interception with 45 seconds left in the fourth quarter at Chicago (10/28).

2006 (10/10 - Detroit): Made 46 tackles (42 solo), six passes defensed and one fumble recovery ... Posted solid numbers with eight tackles (seven solo) and two pass breakups against Seattle (9/10) ... Posted a season-best nine solo tackles and one pass breakup against Buffalo (10/15) ... Recorded four tackles (three solo), one pass breakup and recovered his first fumble of the year vs. Miami (11/23).

2005 (2/2 - Detroit): Started the first two games of the season, but was placed on the reserve/injured list (9/27) and missed the remainder of the year.

2004 (10/10 - Detroit): In his first season with the Lions, ranked second on the team in passes defensed (13) and led all cornerbacks in tackles (48) ... Recorded a season-high eight tackles twice: vs. Indianapolis (11/25) and in home opener vs. Houston (9/19).

2003 (16/16 - Jacksonville): Started all 16 games and played every snap on defense in eight of the games ... Made six tackles at Indianapolis (9/21) and held all-pro WR Marvin Harrison to just 31 yards on four catches ... Put together a solid effort at Houston (9/28) with three passes defensed and his first interception of the season off David Carr.

2002 (16/16 - Jacksonville): Played left cornerback and started all 16 games for second time in career and first time since rookie season ... Led Jaguars cornerbacks with 67 tackles (61 solo) ... Received a defense game ball for his performance vs. Philadelphia (10/6) when he made seven tackles while playing with a sprained ankle.

2001 (10/9 - Jacksonville): Finished with 56 tackles (50 solo), tops among Jaguars cornerbacks ... Made nine tackles vs. Cleveland (9/30), tying his career high ... Injured his foot in Monday night game vs. Green Bay (12/3) after making a career-high 10 tackles and missed the remainder of the season.

2000 (14/14 - Jacksonville): Started all 14 games played, leading Jaguars cornerbacks with 57 tackles (42 solo) ... Received a defensive game ball along with 13 other players for team's first shutout ever vs. Cincinnati (9/17) ... Tied for team lead with seven tackles (six solo) in a Monday night game at Indianapolis (9/25) ... Made four tackles and recovered a fumble to thwart a Dallas drive in the fourth quarter at Dallas (10/29).

1999 (16/16 - Jacksonville): Named to every All-Rookie team (Pro Football Writers of America/Pro Football Weekly, Football News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly and Football Digest) ... Started every game and led Jaguars cornerbacks second among defensive backs (fourth on the team) with 78 tackles (64 solo) ... Became sixth Jaguars rookie to start on opening day ... Made his first NFL interception in his second pro game at Carolina (9/19) off Steve Beuerlein ... Got his first fumble recovery the next week vs. Tennessee (9/26), which set up a Jaguars touchdown ... Earned a defense game ball at Cincinnati (10/31) when he set up a touchdown with a recovery of a Corey Dillon fumble at Bengals' eight-yard line as well as making a season-high nine tackles (seven solo) and team-leading four passes defensed ... Earned his second defensive game ball after he made his second interception of the season vs. New Orleans (11/21) off Billy Joe Hobert in the fourth quarter to set up a touchdown, as well as seven solo tackles and two passes defensed ... Made the first postseason interception of his career vs. Tennessee (1/23) off Steve McNair in the AFC Championship game.

Made 40 starts in 45 games at Alabama, registering 179 tackles (149 solo), had three fumbles recovered and eight interceptions and also returned 17 kickoffs for 466 yards (27.4 avg) ... Played in two bowl games: 1996 Outback and 1997 Music City ... Consensus All-SEC first-team selection as a senior in 1998 after starting every game and recording a career-high 51 tackles (44 solo) with two interceptions and four pass deflections ... Closed out his career with an interception and a pass deflection in the Music City Bowl against Virginia Tech ... All-SEC second-team choice in 1997 when he made 47 tackles (39 solo) with two tackles for loss, recovered two fumbles and forced one, deflected 10 passes, had three interceptions for 106 yards in returns and one touchdown and returned 15 kickoffs for 416 yards (27.7 avg) ... Second-team All-SEC selection in 1996 when he started every game, making 42 tackles (36 solo) with one fumble recovery, deflected 14 passes, blocked a kick, had three interceptions for 13 yards and blocked an extra point attempt.

• Fernando, a Georgia native, was honored on April 10, 2007 at the Georgia State Capitol in front of the General Assembly. The resolution, initiated by Senator Ron Ramsey, Sr. was bestowed in honor of Fernando's extensive community work and humanitarian efforts.
• Fernando's 25-Sports Foundation was established in 2001 to provide guidance and encouragement to inner-city children through a variety of initiatives. Fernando graduated from the University of Alabama in the Spring of 2008 with a degree in human environmental studies.