Is Giants running back Orleans Darkwa named after the city of New Orleans?
EAST RUTHERFORD - You know you have thought about it, too.
With the Giants preparing to take on the New Orleans Saints this Sunday, and running back Orleans Darkwa in the news after his big day in the Giants' win over the Cowboys, a burning question on the minds of many is: Does Darkwa's first name have any connection to the city?
And the answer is ...
"No, I'm a junior. My dad is Orleans Sr.," Darkwa said. "It's actually a pretty common (name) in Ghana (Darkwa's nation of heritage; he was born in Nashville, Tenn.)."
Darkwa is used to the question, though. He played his college ball at Tulane University in New Orleans, and some home games at the Superdome, the site of Sunday's game. Darkwa said he got asked about his name a great deal while in school.
"Everybody asked me that when I went to New Orleans," he recalled. "They really didn't believe that was my name until I pulled out my ID. But that's my real name."