Alge Crumpler Algernon Darius " Alge " Crumpler ( ; born December 23 , 1977 ) is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football League ( NFL ) for ten seasons . He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft . He played college football for North Carolina . Crumpler has also played for the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots . He is a one - time All - Pro selection and four - time Pro Bowl selection . Early years . Crumpler attended New Hanover High School in Wilmington , North Carolina and was a letterman in football and track and field . In football , he started as a tight end and as a linebacker , and as a senior , he was an All - Midwest 4 - A Conference selection . In track & field , he was a three - time State Champion on the discus , and won a State Championship on the shot put in 1996 . He graduated from high school in 1996 . College career . After graduating from high school , Crumpler attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . During his last three seasons with the Tar Heels , Crumpler was named to the All - ACC first team . As a sophomore , Crumpler caught 24 passes for a total of 278 yards , with four of those catches being touchdowns . In his junior season , Crumpler had 20 catches for 191 yards . His senior season concluded with him amassing 23 catches for 287 yards and one touchdown and he finished second in All - American voting . Professional career . Atlanta Falcons . Crumpler was drafted by the Falcons in the second round ( 35th overall ) of the 2001 NFL Draft . Crumpler made the first start of his NFL career against the Carolina Panthers on September 23 , 2001 . He caught his first two passes for a total of 13 yards . His first touchdown was scored against the New Orleans Saints , on October 21 , 2001 . He finished his rookie season starting 12 of 16 games and totaling 25 receptions for 330 yards and three touchdowns . In 2002 , Crumpler started 9 of 16 games , recording 36 receptions for 455 yards and five touchdowns . Crumpler earned his first Pro Bowl honor in 2003 , starting all 16 games for the Falcons , catching 44 passes for 552 yards , the most for a Falcons tight end since 1980 ; he also had three touchdowns . Crumpler played in and started 14 games for the Falcons in 2004 , who advanced to the NFC Championship Game . Crumpler finished the regular season with 48 receptions for 774 yards and six touchdowns and was elected to the Pro Bowl . In 2005 , Crumpler returned to start 16 games for the Falcons , setting career highs with 65 receptions for 877 yards , as well as five touchdowns . He was also named to his third - consecutive Pro Bowl . In 2006 , Crumpler set a career high with eight touchdowns , while also making 56 catches for 780 yards in 16 games started . Crumpler made 10 starts in 14 games in 2007 , in his first season without Michael Vick at quarterback . He finished the year with 42 receptions for 444 yards and five touchdowns . In December 2007 , Crumpler was fined by the NFL for wearing black eye strips during a Monday Night Football which had the letters MV and the number 7 written on them in support of Vick , who was in prison at the time . On February 15 , 2008 , Crumpler was released by the Falcons . Tennessee Titans . On March 2 , 2008 , Crumpler signed with the Tennessee Titans . He made his debut with the team on September 7 , 2008 against the Jacksonville Jaguars . He started 15 games for the Titans in 2008 , making 24 catches for 257 yards . In the Titans ' Divisional Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens , Crumpler fumbled after a reception from Kerry Collins on the Ravens ' 5 - yard line , which helped the Ravens ultimately win the game over the top - seeded Titans . On August 9 , 2009 in the Titans ' first preseason game , Crumpler weighed approximately 300 pounds , gaining an estimated 30 pounds during the offseason . However , Crumpler played in all 16 games for the Titans in 2009 , starting 14 and catching 27 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown . He was also part of a blocking unit that aided Titans running back Chris Johnson in a 2 , 006 - yard rushing season . New England Patriots . On March 24 , 2010 , Crumpler signed with the New England Patriots . After running back Kevin Faulk , an offensive captain , was lost for the season with a knee injury in Week 2 , the team named Crumpler an offensive captain prior to their Week 6 game . The next day , head coach Bill Belichick lauded Crumpler ' s professionalism : Crumpler finished the 2010 season with six receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games played ( 10 starts ) . On July 29 , 2011 , the Patriots announced that Crumpler had been released . Personal . He is the son of former Buffalo Bills player Carlester Crumpler and younger brother of former Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings tight end Carlester Crumpler Jr . . Alge is named after his father ' s favorite book , " Flowers for Algernon " . In a 2012 interview , Star Wars novelist and BioWare video game writer Drew Karpyshyn jokingly says Crumpler ' s name sounds like " some kind of monster crawling up from the depths of a mystical swamp , " as in " Ah – look out ! It ’ s the Alge Crumpler ! "