Croudip’s Funeral Brings Feelings of Sadness, Disbelief

Friends and family of David Croudip called the cocaine-induced death of the Atlanta Falcons defensive back senseless and remembered him as an honest, family-oriented man.

“It’s just sad for us,” said Falcons Coach Marion Campbell, who was among the 100 people who attended services for Croudip, 30, Saturday at Greenwood Mortuary.

“He was one of the most popular guys on the team,” Campbell said. “I know he’d want us to go ahead and win (today in Denver). That’s just the kind of guy he was.”

Dr. Nels Oas read the eulogy.

Croudip, the Falcons’ special teams captain and a former defensive back at San Diego State University, died last Monday at a hospital in suburban Atlanta after suffering seizures at his home. A report released Wednesday by metro Atlanta area coroner Joseph L. Burton said a substantial amount of cocaine was found in Croudip’s stomach during the autopsy.

Many at Saturday’s services said the report was hard to believe.

“It’s senseless, senseless,” said Croudip’s sister, Maria Croudip. “I just don’t believe he used drugs.”

Jim Duffner, who befriended Croudip while both played for the USFL’s Los Angeles Express, said the official cause of death was out of character for Croudip.

“Everybody knows he didn’t use drugs,” Duffner said. “We had a players association meeting in L.A. last year and (Croudip) wouldn’t even drink.”

Croudip’s widow, Holly, said in an interview after his death that Croudip had been depressed over the Falcons’ 1-5 record, but she maintained that he had not been using drugs.

The couple have a young daughter, Amy, and maintain homes in San Diego and Atlanta.

Croudip was born Jan. 25, 1958, in Jeffersonville, Ind., and moved with his family to Los Angeles in the early 1960s. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1975, serving for 2 1/2 years before receiving an honorable discharge.

After one season with the L.A. Express, Croudip was picked up by the USFL’s Houston Gamblers. He played for the San Diego Chargers for 3 weeks, was placed on waivers, and then picked up by the Falcons in 1985.