Derrick Pope

Pope saw extensive action at middle linebacker during the season, but opened game the at Oakland on November 27 and against Buffalo on December 5 at weakside linebacker when Channing Crowder moved to the middle to replace an injured Thomas. Pope recorded seven tackles in the Raiders game, a team high that day, and matched that total the following week in the Bills contest. He had five tackles and a forced fumble the following week against the New York Jets, when he saw extensive time as Crowder left the game early with a shoulder injury. In the game, Pope stripped the ball from running back Cedric Houston with defensive end Matt Roth recovering at the Dolphins’ 39. That led to a Ricky Williams 23-yard touchdown run six plays later. Pope was known to be one of the hardest hitters on the team. In 2007 pope recorded 64 tackles two interceptions and one of those coming from the great Tom Brady

Pope played in 12 games with ten starts at strongside linebacker as a senior when he served as team captain. He was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the Associated Press. He was the recipient of the team's Lee Roy Jordan Headhunter Award. On the year he finished third on the team with 105 tackles (55 solo), including five sacks, nine stops for losses and five quarterback pressures. He also deflected six passes and intercepted another. Following the season, he played in the Senior Bowl and Blue–Gray Football Classic.

Pope signed a practice roster agreement with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 20, 2009. He was released seven days later.

On March 14, 2008, Pope was signed by the Minnesota Vikings. The team's Vice President of Player Personnel, Rick Spielman, was general manager of the Dolphins when Pope was drafted in 2004. Pope was later released by the Vikings on August 25, 2008.

Pope played in a reserve role 11 times and was inactive five times due to a hamstring injury in 2006. On the year, he posted 12 tackles (nine solo). He had a season-high fiver tackles (three solo) in a 24-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings on November 12.

In 2005, Pope played in 12 games, including two starts, while being inactive for four contests. He posted 23 tackles and a forced fumble on defense and seven stops on special teams unit. He was inactive for the first four games of the season before making his 2005 debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 16.

Pope was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh-round (222nd overall) in the 2004 NFL Draft. He was selected with a pick obtained from the Baltimore Ravens in a draft trade-down. On July 30, 2004 Pope was signed to a four-year deal worth around $2.4 million. The deal included a signing bonus of about $43,000, along with incentives that could increase the contract's value.

Pope played at Garden City Community College for two seasons (2000–01) prior to enrolling at Alabama. As a freshman, he led the team with 127 tackles and twenty sacks, and was a first-team JUCO All-America and first-team All-Jayhawk Conference choice.

Although he did not start, Pope saw extended action at San Francisco on November 28 after Zach Thomas left the game in the first quarter with a hamstring injury. Pope responded with seventeen tackles, his first career sack and a fumble recovery. With 3:10 to play in the game, Pope picked up a Tim Rattay fumble that was forced by Jason Taylor and took it in one yard for a touchdown. The score gave the Dolphins a 24-10 lead in a game they went on to win, 24-17. He became the first defensive rookie to score a touchdown for the Dolphins since Zach Thomas returned an interception 26 yards for a score on November 17, 1996 against the Houston Oilers. Pope's first career start came the following week against the Buffalo Bills, and he kept that spot for three straight weeks before Thomas returned to the lineup. In the Bills game, Pope recorded eight tackles and his second sack in as many weeks. On December 12 against the Denver Broncos, he tallied a season-high 14 tackles and a forced fumble, with the tackle figure leading the team that day.

Derrick Trayon Pope (born May 4, 1982) is a former American and Canadian football linebacker. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Alabama.