Wide Receiver,
New England Patriots
Age: 22
College: Ohio
State
Height: 5’10” Weight: 184
Prelude:
Glenn was a
consensus All-American in 1995 after catching 64 passes for 1411 yards and 17
touchdowns for Ohio State. He was chosen by the Patriots in the first round of
the 1996 NFL draft (seventh overall) and had an immediate impact, despite
suffering a hamstring injury during training camp that kept him out of New
England’s opening game, setting a then-NFL record for pass receptions by a
rookie.
1996 Season Summary
Appeared in 15
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 90
[7, tied with Tim Brown]
Most
receptions, game – 10 (for 112 yds.) vs. Miami 11/3
Yards – 1132
[11]
Most yards,
game – 124 (on 8 catches) at NY Giants 12/21
Average gain
– 12.6
TDs – 6
100-yard
receiving games – 2
Rushing
Attempts – 5
Yards – 42
Average gain
– 8.4
TDs – 0
Scoring
TDs – 6
Points – 36
Postseason: 3 G
Pass
receptions – 12
Most pass
receptions, game – 5 vs. Jacksonville, AFC Championship
Pass
receiving yards - 164
Most pass
receiving yards, game – 69 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Divisional playoff
Average yards
per reception – 13.7
Pass
Receiving TDs - 0
Awards & Honors:
AFC Rookie of
the Year: UPI
1st
team All-AFC: UPI
Patriots went
11-5 to finish first in the AFC East while leading the conference in touchdowns
(48) and scoring (418 points). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Pittsburgh
Steelers (28-3) and AFC Championship over Jacksonville Jaguars (20-6). Lost
Super Bowl to Green Bay Packers (35-21).
Aftermath:
In what would
become a chronic problem, Glenn suffered through an injury-riddled 1997 season
and caught just 27 passes for 431 yards and two TDs, although he grabbed nine
passes in the postseason. He again struggled with injuries in ’98, but his
production improved to 50 catches and 792 yards and he was named to the Pro
Bowl in 1999 after a 69-catch, 1147-yard season. While an explosive receiver
with the ability to make spectacular catches, he also was criticized for
inconsistency and there were questions regarding his attitude and toughness. In
2000, he played in every game for the first time as a pro and had a solid 79
receptions for 963 yards, but in 2001 he was suspended for most of the season for
disciplinary reasons, missing out on New England’s Super Bowl run. Glenn was
dealt to Green Bay for 2002 and moved on to Dallas in ’03, where he was
reunited with his first pro head coach, Bill Parcells. A fair first year with
the Cowboys was followed by a 2004 season in which a sprained foot limited him
to six games. He came back to have two of his most productive years in 2005 and
’06, with 62 catches for 1136 yards and a career-best 18.3 average gain and
seven touchdowns in the first year and 70 receptions for 1047 yards and six TDs
in the second. However, he missed all but one game in 2007 due to a knee injury
and was released, effectively ending his career. Overall, Glenn caught 593
passes for 8823 yards (14.9 avg.) and 44 touchdowns, with 329 receptions, 4669
yards, and 22 TDs coming with the Patriots. He was named to the Pro Bowl once,
and there was a lingering sense that, considering his level of talent, he could
have achieved much more than he did.
--
Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie
of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized
organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise
Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league
itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).
