The Falcons signed veteran safety Dwight Lowery in April to shore up their back line. He replaced departed starter Thomas DeCoud in the lineup and has helped with his sure tackling. He also added needed leadership, with veteran William Moore on injured reserve.
Before he joined the Falcons, Lowery, 28, played three seasons for the Jets and three with the Jaguars. The Jets drafted him in the fourth round in 2008 out of San Jose State.
We talked to Lowery about his strange run-in with a fan and the basketball career that almost was (edited for clarity and space).
Q: During a game with the Jaguars in 2012, you chased down and corralled a fan who had run on to the field. What was that about?
A: Security couldn't catch him. All of the players were sitting there watching the whole thing go down, and it just got to the point where it was getting to be too much and somebody had to do something.
Q: Did the guy say anything to you when you caught him?
A: No, I think he was shocked that I caught up to him so fast. He didn't even realize I was chasing him until he turned around and I was right in front of him.
Q: You were an accomplished basketball player in high school back in Santa Cruz County, Calif. Do you still play?
A: I haven't played in quite a long time, to be honest with you. Just because with your knees and your ankles and joints and stuff like that, playing too much basketball as you get older, it takes a toll on you. I kind of stayed away from it. I will go out and shoot the ball, but not really play for real.
Q: Do you miss basketball?
A: At times I do. If I was 6-3 instead of 5-11, I probably would have went a different direction with it. I get enjoyment out of watching NBA basketball. That's how I fill that void a little bit. I go to games. The Warriors are the team that is closest to where I live and where I'm from. That's the team that I follow. They are exciting to watch. They have always been exciting to watch play, but now they are actually winning, so it's a little more enjoyable.
Q: You played football at Cabrillo College before San Jose State. What was it like playing at the JUCO level?
A: It was great for me. Coming out of high school, my grades were holding me back more than anything else. Going to a junior college, which was right down the street from where I went to high school, was a great opportunity for me academically, and also a chance to mature a little bit. Everybody is there for a different reason. Some people just want to play football because it's their last opportunity; some guys want to move on. It was a real cool combination of people.
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