Highlighted Year: Jairus Byrd, 2009

Safety, Buffalo Bills

Age: 23 (Oct. 7)

1^st season in pro football

College: Oregon

Height: 5’10” Weight: 200

Prelude:

Byrd, the son of former NFL cornerback Gill Byrd, was a first-team All-Pac 10 selection in 2008 and Defensive MVP of Oregon’s Holiday Bowl win over Oklahoma State. Overall, he intercepted 17 passes in college and opted to forego his final year of eligibility to enter the ’09 NFL draft. Byrd was chosen by the Bills in the second round and exceeded expectations, moving into the starting lineup at free safety. What he lacked in speed he made up for with good overall skills and keen instincts.

2009 Season Summary

Appeared in 14 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 9 [1, tied with Asante Samuel, Darren Sharper & Charles Woodson]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at NY Jets 10/18, at Carolina 10/25, vs. Houston 11/1

Int. return yards – 118 [11]

Most int. return yards, game – 67 (on 2 int.) at Carolina 10/25

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Tackles – 30

Assists – 12

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL:  Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Bills went 6-10 to finish fourth in the AFC East while leading the conference in interceptions (28).

Aftermath:

Having performed well as a rookie, Byrd had problems with consistency in 2010 and, together with the team playing poorly against the run, intercepted just one pass. His play improved in 2011 and he was credited with 75 tackles in addition to three interceptions, and in 2012 he topped the AFC with five interceptions and returned to the Pro Bowl for the first of two straight years. Byrd also received first-team All-NFL honors from Pro Football Focus in 2012 and second-team recognition from the Associated Press after both 2012 and ‘13. Having intercepted 22 passes with Buffalo, he moved on to the New Orleans Saints as a free agent in 2014 where he missed all but four games with a knee injury. Through 2015, Byrd has accumulated 23 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and six fumble recoveries along with over 300 tackles. He has received at least some first-team All-NFL recognition once, second-team honors after three other seasons, and been chosen to three Pro Bowls.

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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

2009: Patriots Trade Matt Cassel to Chiefs

On February 28, 2009 the New England Patriots traded QB Matt Cassel and LB Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Cassel, an unknown backup prior to 2008, had distinguished himself when he filled in for star QB Tom Brady, who was lost for the year with a knee injury in the season-opening contest. The trade reflected the interest that Cassel had drawn as a result but also New England Head Coach Bill Belichick’s confidence that Brady, whose injury had been further complicated by an infection following surgery, would be fully recovered and ready to resume his starting role.

Prior to 2008, Cassel had not started a game since his senior year in high school in 1999, serving as a reserve during college at USC behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart before being chosen by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL draft. He threw a total of just 39 passes in three seasons, for 253 yards and two touchdowns. With a strong arm, intelligence, and good leadership qualities (refined by quality coaching), Cassel steadily improved over the course of the 2008 season as he threw for 3693 yards and 21 touchdowns while giving up just 11 interceptions. The Patriots, a year removed from a 16-0 regular season that fell short of ultimate perfection in the Super Bowl, barely missed the playoffs with an 11-5 tally. They initially used the franchise tag on Cassel before dealing him. Upon being traded to Kansas City, who had a new general manager in Scott Pioli, formerly in charge of player personnel with the Patriots, and a new head coach, Todd Haley, Cassel was immediately named the starter over QB Tyler Thigpen.

“It’s very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who everything the right way and flourish as a result,” said Belichick. “As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career.”

The Chiefs were coming off of two straight losing seasons under the previous head coach, Herman Edwards, including a miserable 2-14 record in 2008. The offense had been adjusted from one that was run-oriented to a spread that allowed Thigpen to operate exclusively out of the shotgun. While he showed talent, he also had limitations and the team won only one of the games he started.

Kansas City marginally improved to 4-12 with Cassel behind center in ’09. He took a pounding behind a mediocre line (he was sacked 42 times) and threw for 2924 yards with 16 TDs and 16 interceptions, resulting in a 69.9 passer rating. RB Jamaal Charles came on in the second half of the year to upgrade the ground game but it took the acquisition of WR Chris Chambers, who had been waived by the Chargers and appeared in the last nine games, to give Cassel a reliable target.

Things got much better for both Cassel and the Chiefs in 2010, albeit helped along by a weak schedule. Cassel showed better judgment and took fewer sacks while passing for 3116 yards and 27 touchdowns against just 7 interceptions, for a passer rating of 93.0. He was named to the Pro Bowl, as were Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1467 yards and caught 45 passes for 468 more yards, and WR Dwayne Bowe, with 72 receptions for 1162 yards and 15 TDs. Kansas City topped the AFC West with a 10-6 record and lost decisively to the Ravens in the Wild Card playoff round.

The Chiefs started off the 2011 season by being blown out in their first two games by a combined score of 89-10 and, while they finished with three wins in the last five games, they ended up back under .500 with a 7-9 record. The team had problems with injuries and Coach Haley was gone before season’s end. Cassel was on injured reserve after suffering a broken hand in the ninth game and he ended up passing for 1713 yards and 10 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Charles had gone down with an ACL injury in the second week and, while Bowe was still a capable receiver, his touchdowns dropped from 15 to five with the underperforming, patchwork offense.

Cassel’s hand injury required surgery but he was back in 2012. However, he was inconsistent and turnover-prone, provoking negative fan reaction, and, following a head injury, was consigned to the bench in favor of Brady Quinn. Playing in a total of nine games, Cassel threw for 1796 yards and six touchdowns while giving up 12 interceptions. The team dropped to 2-14 and, with wholesale changes occurring afterward, Cassel was released in the offseason.

Overall, in four seasons with the Chiefs, Cassel completed 854 of 1489 passes (57.4 %) for 9549 yards and 59 TDs with 44 interceptions for an overall rating of 77.5. He was sacked 109 times and the club went 19-28 in his starts, with one winning season out of the four. An effective game manager at his best, Cassel also displayed both class and toughness with an organization that was experiencing turmoil while he was there (for instance, there was a different offensive coordinator in each of Cassel’s four seasons). He moved on to the Minnesota Vikings, where he returned to a primarily backup role.

As to the other players involved in the trade with New England, Mike Vrabel, who turned 34 prior to the 2009 season, was expected to improve the pass rush from the outside linebacker position. While he was on the downside of his career and had lost a step, he also was a savvy player with excellent instincts. He provided the leadership that was expected, although he also continued to show signs of decline and his career ended after two seasons. The second-round draft pick that the Patriots received from the Chiefs was used to take safety Patrick Chung out of Oregon, who spent four years with the club, went to Philadelphia for a year in 2013, and returned to New England in ’14.

Highlighted Year: Ed Reed, 2003

Safety, Baltimore Ravens

Age: 25 (Sept. 11)

2^nd season in pro football & with Ravens

College: Miami (FL)

Height: 5’11” Weight: 205

Prelude:

Reed was chosen by the Ravens in the first round (24^th overall) of the 2002 NFL draft and was inserted into the starting lineup at strong safety. He made an impression with his skill as a tackler combined with his ballhawking ability. Reed had five interceptions as a rookie, which he returned for 167 yards. He quickly developed into a premier player at his position.

2003 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 7 [4, tied with Marcus Coleman & Patrick Surtain, 1^st in AFC]

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Cleveland 9/14

Int. return yards – 132 [8]

Most int. return yards, game – 55 (on 2 int.) vs. Cleveland 9/14

Int. TDs – 1 [7, tied with many others]

Sacks – 1

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 59

Assists – 12

Punt Returns

Returns – 5  

Yards – 33

Average per return – 6.6

TDs – 0

Longest return – 19 yards

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff vs. Tennessee)

Interceptions – 1

Interception return yards – 23

Int. return TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

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

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Ravens went 10-6 to finish first in the AFC North. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Tennessee Titans (20-17).

Aftermath:

Reed followed up in 2004 with a season in which he led the league with 9 interceptions and a then- record 358 return yards, and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He had a lesser year in ‘05 as injuries limited him to 10 games but, shifted to free safety, came back strong in 2006 as he regained his status as one of the dominant defensive players in the NFL. After 11 seasons capped by a championship in 2012, Reed left the Ravens and signed with the Houston Texans for 2013 but was waived during the season and signed by the Jets in what was his final year. Reed was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection on five occasions, received at least second-team consideration after three other seasons, and was named to nine Pro Bowls, including seven straight from 2006-12. He led the league in interceptions twice more, with 9 in 2008 and 8 in 2010, and had a career total of 64 that he returned for a NFL-record 1590 yards and seven touchdowns. 61 of the interceptions were with the Ravens, making him the club’s career leader by far.

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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

Highlighted Year: Ray Brown, 1974

Safety, Atlanta Falcons

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football & with Falcons

College: West Texas A & M

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 202

Prelude:

Brown was chosen by the Falcons in the sixth round of the 1971 NFL draft and started nine games at free safety as a rookie, intercepting three passes. He became part of a secondary that led the NFC in pass defense twice in three years (1971 and ’73) and finished a close second in ’72, the year Brown moved over to strong safety. In 1973 he picked off six passes and also returned 40 punts for a 9.0-yard average.

1974 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 8 [3, tied with Thom Darden & Jake Scott, 1^st in NFC]

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Chicago 10/13

Int. return yards – 164 [4]

Most int. return yards, game – 59 (on 1 int.) at NY Giants 10/6

Int. TDs – 1 [4, tied with many others]

Fumble recoveries – 0

Punt Returns

Returns – 9

Yards – 96

Average per return – 10.7

TDs – 0

Longest return – 23 yards

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFC:  UPI

Falcons went 3-11 to finish fourth in the NFC West while leading the conference in fewest passing yards allowed (1572) – but also giving up the most rushing yards in the NFL (2564).

Aftermath:

Brown was shifted to free safety in 1975 and had another fine season while he intercepted four passes and returned one for a touchdown. He moved back to strong safety for the next two years and was dealt to New Orleans in 1978, where he continued to be a solid performer. Brown spent three years with the Saints before retiring in 1980. Overall, he appeared in 137 games over ten seasons and intercepted 38 passes, 31 of them with the Falcons, two of which were returned for TDs.

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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

Highlighted Year: Rich Camarillo, 1989

Punter, Phoenix Cardinals

Age: 30 (Nov. 29)

9^th season in pro football, 1^st with Cardinals

College: Washington

Height: 5’11” Weight: 185

Prelude:

Following two years at Cerritos Junior College in California, Camarillo transferred to the Univ. of Washington and averaged 39.3 yards on 115 punts in 1979 and ’80. He joined the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1981 and spent seven seasons with them. Camarillo proved to be an excellent directional punter with good hang time. He received second-team All-NFL recognition from NEA in 1982 and was a consensus first-team All-NFL choice in ’83, when he was also chosen to the Pro Bowl. Camarillo was released by the Patriots following the 1988 season, having punted 468 times for a 42.6-yard average. He spent ’89 with the Rams where his average dropped to a career-low 39.5 yards over the course of nine games, after which he was again released. Camarillo signed with the Cardinals as a free agent for 1989.

1989 Season Summary

Appeared in 15 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 76 [10, tied with Hank Ilesic]

Most punts, game – 8 at Dallas 10/29, vs. Denver 12/16

Yards – 3298 [8]

Average – 43.4 [1]

Best average, game – 48.6 (on 7 punts) at LA Rams 11/19

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 58 yards

Passing

Attempts – 1

Completions – 1

Yards – 0

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 0

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

2^nd team All-NFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Cardinals went 5-11 to finish fourth in the NFC East.

Aftermath:

Camarillo’s excellent 1989 season, in which he put 21 punts inside the 20 with only six touchbacks, was the first of five with the Cardinals, which were his best. He was a Pro Bowl selection after three consecutive seasons, when he was also a first-team All-NFC choice of Pro Football Weekly and UPI, and received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition in 1992. Camarillo had a career-high 45.3 average in ’91 and, moving on to the Houston Oilers in 1994, set a then-league record with 35 punts inside the 20 (along with Pittsburgh’s Mark Royals). He spent one more year with the Oilers in ’95, which effectively concluded his NFL career although he was active for one game with the Raiders in 1996 but added nothing to his punting statistics. Overall, over the course of 16 seasons, Camarillo averaged 42.7 yards on 1027 punts, with 346 punts for a 43.7-yard average coming with the Cards. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors twice, first- or second-team all-conference recognition after four other seasons, and was chosen to five Pro Bowls.

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Highlighted Years features players who were 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

Highlighted Year: Raymond Chester, 1983

Tight End, Oakland Invaders

Age: 34

13^th season in pro football, 1^st in USFL & with Invaders

College: Morgan State

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 232

Prelude:

In the market for a tight end, the Raiders took Chester in the first round of the 1970 NFL draft (24^th overall), impressed with the speed he brought to the position. He moved directly into the starting lineup and responded by catching 42 passes for 556 yards (13.2 avg.) and seven touchdowns, receiving Rookie of the Year honors from NEA and second-team All-AFC as well as Pro Bowl recognition. Chester went to the Pro Bowl after the 1971 and ’72 seasons, after which he also received first-team All-AFC honors, although his numbers were below those of his first year. But while his output was 62 catches over those two seasons, 15 of them went for touchdowns. He was dealt to the Baltimore Colts for DE Bubba Smith in 1973 and, over the course of five seasons with the Colts, caught 148 passes for 2122 yards and 11 TDs. Chester returned to the Raiders in 1978 and, in ’79, achieved NFL career highs in pass receptions (58) and yards (712) while earning a fourth Pro Bowl selection. His second stint with the Raiders came to an end in 1981, but after sitting out a year he signed with the Invaders of the new USFL for the Spring of ’83.

1983 Season Summary

Appeared in all 18 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 68 [4] 

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 101 yds.) at Michigan 3/19, (for 120 yds.) at Denver 3/28, (for 100 yds.) at Los Angeles 4/3

Yards – 951 [7]

Most yards, game – 120 (on 7 catches) at Denver 3/28

Average gain – 14.0 [17]

TDs – 5 [10, tied with eight others]

100-yard receiving games – 3

Scoring

TDs – 5

Points – 30

Postseason: 1 G (USFL Semifinal playoff at Michigan)

Pass receptions – 4

Pass receiving yards – 41

Average yards per reception – 10.3

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-USFL: League, Sporting News, College & Pro Football Newsweekly, Pro Football Weekly

Invaders went 9-9 to finish first in the USFL Pacific Division. Lost USFL Semifinal playoff to Michigan Panthers (37-21).

Aftermath:

Chester retired following his lone USFL season. For his 12-year NFL career, he caught 364 passes for 5013 yards (13.8 avg.) and 48 touchdowns and was chosen to four Pro Bowls.

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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

Highlighted Year: Don Geyer, 1937

Halfback/Fullback, Cincinnati Bengals

Age: 23

1^st season in pro football

College: Northwestern

Height: 5’10” Weight: 192

Prelude:

Geyer was a member of the Northwestern team that won the Big Ten title in 1936 and was selected to the East-West Shrine and College All-Star games. He joined the Bengals (no relation to the current NFL franchise, other than being the namesake), who entered the second major-league American Football League in its second season.

1937 Season Summary

Appeared in all 7 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Scoring

TDs – 4 [5, tied with Butch Beatty, Al Nichelini & Jerry Donnell]

Field Goals – 4 [1]

Extra Points – 5

Points – 41 [1]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFL: League

Bengals went 2-3-2 to finish fourth in the AFL.

Aftermath:

Geyers’ pro football career was brief as the league folded following the 1937 season (although the Bengals continued on as an independent team in ‘38). He was an assistant coach at the Univ. of Cincinnati and later enlisted in the Navy during World War II.

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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