Lewis Billups
Lewis Billups (October 10, 1963 in Tampa, Florida – April 10, 1994 in Orlando, Florida) was an American football cornerback who played seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers in the National Football League, recording 9 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries. Billups was known to wear an opponent’s T-shirt the day of the game to stay focused.[1]
| Born: | October 10, 1963 Tampa, Florida |
|---|---|
| Died: | April 10, 1994 (aged 30) Orlando, FL |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Cornerback |
| College | North Alabama |
| NFL draft | 1986 / Round: 2 / Pick 38 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1986–1991 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1992 | Green Bay Packers |
Known as a tough corner who played with a chip on his shoulder, Billups was a defensive back who was very popular among teammates. Billups is often remembered for his critical dropped interception in Super Bowl XXIII. In the beginning of the fourth quarter with the Bengals up 13–6 over the San Francisco 49ers and the 49ers driving from the Bengals 10-yard line, quarterback Joe Montana threw a pass towards Billups that he dropped in the end zone. On the next play, the 49ers scored a touchdown, tying the game at 13. Towards the games conclusion, Montana threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor to give San Francisco a 20–16 lead with 34 seconds left. The 49ers won the game 20–16.
When not playing football, Billups was a family man and when he wasn't playing football he spent a great deal of his time in Florida with his family members. One of Billups closest of friends was Bengals wide receiver Tim McGee who was picked alongside Billups in the 1986 draft. In 1987, Billups was charged with beating up a Cincinnati woman, Tracy Fair, after their relationship ended. She later dropped the charges. Although the criminal charges were dismissed, Ms. Fair pursued a civil action against Billups; Billups ultimately paid Ms. Fair $30,000 in settlement of her damages. Fair testified that she dropped the charges because Billups threatened to pay someone to finish the job and take a razor blade to her face if she had him arrested or put in jail. Fair required six plastic surgeries, including reconstructing her nose with bones from her skull and rib, as a result of the beating.[2]
Post-NFL Career
At the end of his NFL career, Billups committed numerous criminal acts of violence. He pled guilty in June 1993 for making threats against Washington Bullets basketball player Rex Chapman, whose sister Billups had been dating and abusing. Billups had a romantic relationship with Jenny Chapman and twice called her to warn her against seeing other people. Because of earlier threats, Jenny Chapman had contacted the FBI, which recorded two calls. In one, Billups said, "You got your brother's knees in your hands." He also said Chapman would "get a visit, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, down. Next thing you read, Rex Chapman through for the year, maybe for the rest of his career."[3] Additionally, "Now, I'm telling you right now as God is my witness, I swear on my mother's life, if you ever speak to a guy, speak -- just say 'Hi' to a guy from Kentucky, I promise you {his associates will} go see your brother and he'll never play basketball again," Billups said during the first call. Numerous people testified about Billups's violent nature, including Jenny Chapman, who received the threats made against her brother and tape recorded them.[4]
He also had pleaded no contest to a local charge of criminal conspiracy after being accused of drugging and raping a woman in Longwood and of trying to extort $20,000 with a videotape of the attack. He attempted to extort the money from his victim in exchange for not sending the tape to her husband and others.[5] He eventually served over a year in prison for the Chapman threats, gaining his release on April 4, 1994. He was to serve three years' probation for the Longwood offenses.
Death
Six days later, Billups died in a car crash. Driving at speeds in excess of 100 mph, he lost control on Interstate 4 his Corvette convertible, destroying over 50 meters of steel railing. Billups' friend, Danny Green, who was seated next to him, was killed on impact, but Billups was thrown from the car and was later found by highway patrol men attending the scene. Billups was taken to the Orlando hospital where he died from his injuries. The details of Billups' exploits are prominently featured in the best-selling book, "Pros And Cons."
References
- 1990 NFL Pro Set trading card, Lewis Billups, Card No. 60, Pro Set Properties
- "United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee, v. Lewis Kenneth Billups, Jr., Defendant-appellant, 19 F.3d 1434 (6th Cir. 1994)". JUSTIA US Law. March 4, 1994.
- "BILLUPS GUILTY OF CHAPMAN THREATS". CHICAGO TRIBUNE. June 13, 1993.
- "BILLUPS PLEADS GUILTY TO THREATS AGAINST CHAPMAN".
- "BILLUPS, 30, DIES IN THE FAST LANE". April 10, 1994.