Highlighted Year: Dallas Clark, 2009

Tight End, Indianapolis Colts

Age: 30

7^th season in pro football & with Colts

College: Iowa

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 252

Prelude:

Clark started out as a linebacker in college before shifting to tight end where he was a consensus first-team All-American in 2002 when he caught 43 passes for 742 yards (14.3 avg.). He was chosen by the Colts in the first round of the 2003 NFL draft (24^th overall) and started ten games as a rookie where he typically lined up in a double-TE set along with veteran Marcus Pollard and ended up with 29 pass receptions for 340 yards (11.7 avg.) and a TD.. An excellent receiver after the catch Clark led the club by averaging 16.9 yards on his 25 catches for 423 yards in 2004. A solid fit in an excellent passing offense Clark added 37 receptions for 488 yards (13.2 avg.) and four TDs in 2005, 30 for 367 yards (12.2 avg.) in the 2006 season that concluded with a Super Bowl victory, 58 catches for 616 yards (10.6 avg.) and 11 touchdowns in ’07, and 77 receptions for 848 yards (11.0 avg.) and 6 TDs in 2008.

2009 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 100 [5, tied with Reggie Wayne]  

Most receptions, game – 14 (for 119 yds.) vs. Houston 11/8

Yards – 1106 [16]

Most yards, game – 183 (on 7 catches) at Miami 9/21

Average gain – 11.1

TDs – 10 [7, tied with Reggie Wayne & Brandon Marshall]

100-yard receiving games – 2

Rushing

Attempts – 2

Yards – 11

Average gain – 5.5

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 10 [19, tied with four others]

Points – 60

Postseason: 3 G

Pass receptions – 18

Most pass receptions, game – 7 vs. Baltimore, AFC Divisional playoff; vs. New Orleans, Super Bowl

Pass receiving yards – 180

Most pass receiving yards, game – 86 vs. New Orleans, Super Bowl

Average yards per reception – 10.0

Pass Receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

2^nd team All-NFL: Pro Football Focus

Pro Bowl

Colts went 14-2 to finish first in the AFC  Northwhile leading the conference intouchdowns (53). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Baltimore Ravens (20-3), AFC Championship over New York Jets (30-17). Lost Super Bowl to New Orleans Saints (31-17).

Aftermath:

Clark followed up in 2010 with 37 catches for 347 yards (9.4 avg.) and three TDs in an injury plagued season when he was limited to six games. Following a 34-catch year in 2011, the Colts released Clark. He signed with Tampa Bay for 2012 and caught 47 passes for 435 yards (9.3 avg.) and four touchdowns.He moved on to the Baltimore Ravens in 2013, accumulating 31 receptions for 343 yards (11.1 avg.) and three TDs in his last year. For his career, Clark, caught 505 passes for 5665 yards (11.2 avg.) with 427 for 4887 yards occurring while with the Colts. He added another 64 receptions for 847 yards (13.2 avg.) and four TDs in the postseason, all with Indianapolis.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970