NFL training camps open this week with twelve former Marshall football players in tow. Here is quick look at each as they fight for roster spots or expanded roles on their respective teams.
1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, New York Giants
Ahmad Bradshaw battled persistent ankle and foot injuries during the 2011 regular season but still managed to rush for 659 yards and nine touchdowns while adding a additional 267 yards through the air on 34 catches with two TD’s. In New York’s 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Bradshaw scored an awkward game winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining.
Ahmad Bradshaw battled persistent ankle and foot injuries during the 2011 regular season but still managed to rush for 659 yards and nine touchdowns while adding a additional 267 yards through the air on 34 catches with two TD’s. In New York’s 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI Bradshaw scored an awkward game winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining.
This offseason the Giants did not re-sign Bradshaw’s backfield mate Brandon Jacobs but, New York did spend a first round pick on former Virginia Tech running back David Wilson.
2. C.J Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers
This offseason the San Francisco 49ers rewarded C.J Spillman with a three year $6 million dollar contract. As one of San Francisco’s gunners on punt coverage Spillman recorded 18 tackles last year while also playing a reserve role at safety.
3. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Pittsburgh Steelers
The 2011 NFL season started on a high note for Doug Legursky as he won the Pittsburgh Steelers starting right guard spot out of training camp. Injuries along the offensive front required the Beckley West Virginia native to play all three interior line positions while missing four games himself due to shoulder and toe problems.
The 2011 NFL season started on a high note for Doug Legursky as he won the Pittsburgh Steelers starting right guard spot out of training camp. Injuries along the offensive front required the Beckley West Virginia native to play all three interior line positions while missing four games himself due to shoulder and toe problems.
Pittsburgh bolsterd its depth at guard by drafting Stanford David DeCastro in the first round of this April's NFL draft.
4. Byron Leftwich, Quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers
Byron Leftwich’s season never got off the ground as he broke his arm in the preseason, landing him on the Pittsburgh Steelers injured reserve for all of 2011. Leftwich is back with Pittsburgh this season competing with Charlie Batch for the right to backup starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
5. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens
After spending all of 2010 on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad Albert McClellan made the 53 man roster out of training camp last year. Playing mostly special teams McClellan registered 19 tackles. He started one game, week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers, and was credited with four stops.
McClellan could see more playing time in 2012 as Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs tore his ACL this offseason and will be out for the year.
6. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills
Lee Smith started his NFL career as a fifth round pick of the New England Patriots but was cut during training camp. Buffalo picked him up shortly thereafter and Smith made his debut on October 2nd against the Cincinnati Bengals. Playing mostly special teams until week 13 Smith registered a few tackles and appeared in Buffalo’s goal line packages. Smith recorded his first NFL receptions on December 4th, catching three passes for 11 yards. For the year Smith caught four passes for 11 yards.
7. Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers
After a one year hiatus Randy Moss is back in the NFL. Moss signed a one year contract with the San Francisco 49ers this March that could be worth up to $4 million if certain performance incentives are met.
Moss’s last NFL season (2010) saw Marshall’s first ever Heisman Trophy candidate on three teams, the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. Playing for a trio of clubs did not help as Moss recorded career lows in receptions, 28 and yards, 393, while only catching five touchdown passes.
8. Daniel Baldridge, Offensive Tackle, Jacksonville Jaguars
Daniel Baldridge has spent the last two years on the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad after being signed as a undrafted free agent in 2010. Per NFL rules a player can spend a maximum of two seasons on the practice squad meaning Baldridge must make Jacksonville’s 53 man roster if he is to remain with the team.
9. Johnny Jones, Defensive Tackle, Green Bay Packers
A native Floridian Johnny Jones began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins. After appearing in two preseason games Miami released Jones who was signed shortly thereafter by the Green Bay Packers. The defensive tackle spent all of 2011 on Green Bay’s taxi squad and will fight to make the active roster during training camp.
10. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles
After a stellar career at Marshall which included a 2011 Conference USA defensive player of the year award Vinny Curry was selected in the second round, 59th overall, by the Philadelphia Eagles this April's NFL Draft. Curry joins an impressive group of Eagles defensive ends including Jason Babin and Trent Cole who both recorded double digit sacks last season.
11. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts
Mario Harvey’s time in the NFL got off to a tenuous start. After being signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a undrafted free agent Harvey suffered a leg injury that limited him to one preseason game. Harvey was cut at the end of training camp and spent 2011 out of football. This offseason Harvey signed with the Indianapolis Colts and will attempt to earn a roster spot during training camp.
12. Omar Brown, Safety, Baltimore Ravens
As an undrafted free agent Omar Brown faces an uphill climb to make the Baltimore Ravens roster. Baltimore is currently carrying seven safeties including future Hall of Famer Ed Reed and veteran Bernard Pollard.
13. Delvin Johnson, Nose Tackle, Washington Redskins
Delvin Johnson has already earned his way onto one NFL roster. Undrafted and unsigned as a free agent Johnson accepted an invitation to the Washington Redskins rookie minicamp in May. Over the three day camp Johnson impressed the Redskins coaching staff enough to be placed on the 90 man training camp roster.
Johnson will be learning a new position in Washington’s 3-4 defensive scheme, nose tackle, after playing defensive tackle at Marshall.
14. Chris Massey, Long Snapper, Free Agent
After signing a long term contract last offseason Chris Massey was set to be the St. Louis Rams long snapper for years to come. Instead, Massey was cut by the Rams right before the regular season in favor of rookie Jake McQuaide . Massey was picked up by the Chicago Bears on November 24th and spent the rest of the year as their long snapper.
Currently a free agent Massey will not be in an NFL training camp for the first time in 10 years if he is not signed this offseason.
Chris Crocker’s four year tenure with the Cincinnati ended shortly after the Bengals playoff loss to the Houston Texans. The nine year NFL veteran was released after registering 61 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and forced a fumble in 2011. Crocker has visited multiple teams this offseason including the Detroit Lions but, it looks like training camp will start without the former Marshall standout in uniform.
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