Bishop was an outstanding football and baseball player at Willis High School in Willis, Texas. A two-year starter who averaged 221.2 yards-per-game passing as a senior, he was an All-Montgomery County, all-city and all-state selection in football. In baseball, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 28th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft.
College career
Blinn Junior College
Bishop initially attended Blinn Junior College in Brenham, Texas where as a freshman, he led the Buccaneers to a 12–0 record and the NJCAA National Championship. He rushed for 387 yards including three scores and passed for 1,712 yards and 18 touchdowns. His sophomore year, he once again led Blinn to a 12–0 record and an NJCAA National Championship. He was voted honorable mention All-Conference and controlled an offense which recorded 3,086 yards rushing, including 47 touchdowns and scored a total of 438 points (36.5 avg. per game). He passed for 972 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushed for 265 yards and four scores. After his two years at Blinn, he played baseball for one season at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas in the spring of 1997.
In 1997, his first year at Kansas State, Bishop started all 11 regular season games and completed 80-of-185 passes for 1,557 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also rushed for 556 yards and added nine rushing touchdowns. Bishop was voted second-team All-Big 12 Conference by the league’s coaches and Big 12 Newcomer of the year by Associated Press. During the 1997 season, Kansas State won 11 games including a 1997 Fiesta Bowl victory over Syracuse led by Donovan McNabb by a score of 35–18. Kansas State's only loss in the 1997 season came to the eventual national champion Nebraska Cornhuskers. The loss was the first of only three in Bishop's collegiate career.
In Bishop's senior year, Kansas State was considered a contender for the 1998 National Championship. That year, he broke school season records with 2,844 yards passing and 23 touchdowns with only four interceptions, He led the team with 14 rushing touchdowns and finished second with 748 yards on 177 attempts. He passed for 440 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-40 passes vs. Northeast Louisiana, his four touchdown passes tying a school record and his 440 passing yards ranking him second in school history. He passed for 306 yards and a pair of touchdowns and rushed 25 times for 140 yards (5.6 avg.) with two scores and was voted Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week as the Wildcats defeated Nebraska for the first time in 30 years. Bishop led the Wildcats to an undefeated regular season and the Big 12 North title, putting Kansas State in 1st place in the ESPN-USA Today Coaches poll[2] and 2nd in the Associated Press media poll.[3] Just two weeks later, the Wildcats' national championship dreams were put to an end. In the 1998 Big 12 Championship Game on December 5, 1998, Kansas State lost in double overtime to No. 10 Texas A&M team 36–33. Bishop ran for one touchdown in the game and threw for two more scores.
Bishop started in all 25 games (including bowl games) during his two seasons at Kansas State and posted a 22–3 (.880) record. He received 792 votes, including 41 first place votes, but finished second in the 1998 Heisman Trophy voting to Ricky Williams. He finished his Wildcat career fourth on the all-time passing list with 4,401 yards and broke Chad May’s career record with 36 touchdown passes despite playing only two seasons. He ranks second behind Lynn Dickey in Kansas State history with 5,715 yards of total offense. Also established a Kansas State record with 59 total touchdowns (rushing and passing). After his senior season, he was voted a consensus All-American and All-Big 12 Conference selection and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
The Wildcats finished ranked third in the BCS, and lost in the Alamo Bowl to Purdue, 37–34.
Bishop was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round (227th overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. However, he was inactive for all but one game. It was not until the 2000 season that he played in his first ever professional game. During that season, he saw only limited playing time, completing just 3-of-9 passes for 80 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. During a game against the Indianapolis Colts he threw a 44-yard Hail Mary touchdown at the end of the first half in his first career attempt.[4] Afterwards, several Patriots fans, upset with the poor play of starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe throughout the season, demanded that coach Bill Belichick name Bishop the starter, though this never happened. Tom Brady called Bishop "one of the best athletes he has ever seen" in the 2000 NFL season.[5]
NFL Europe
Bishop playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy.
In 2001, Bishop played in Germany for the Frankfurt Galaxy of NFL Europe. He started six games for the Galaxy, and completed 76-of-153 passes for 1,090 yards, including 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He also gained 244 yards on 35 carries (7.0 avg.) and scored one rushing touchdown. Bishop was released by the Patriots in August 2001. He was then signed by the Green Bay Packers but was cut before the 2001 regular season.
Canadian Football League
In 2002, Bishop was traded from the Calgary Stampeders (who owned his CFL rights) to the Toronto Argonauts along with two 2002 late round draft picks for Michel Dupuis, a 2003 First-round CFL draft pick, and a conditional 2003 CFL draft pick. He signed with the Argonauts in April 2002 and had some brief stints as a starting quarterback with them, but was predominantly a backup.[6] Between 2002–2005, he completed 206-of-446 passes for 3,192 yards, 17 touchdowns and 32 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 53.2. He also rushed for 768 yards and seven touchdowns.
In 2003, Bishop was put in with just seconds left in a playoff game against the Montreal Alouettes. Since the Argonauts were not within field goal range, he was to throw a Hail Mary pass with hopes for a miracle. While the miracle did not come true, he was seen throwing the ball approximately 70 yards down the field, thus showing he had one of the stronger arms in professional football.[citation needed]
With his propensity for throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes and an inclination to run with the football, Bishop's intelligence as a quarterback came into question by many CFL fans. Despite the criticism, he had a satisfactory performance while Damon Allen was injured during the 2004 season and helped the Argonauts win the 92nd Grey Cup championship that season.
On April 21, 2006, the Argonauts released Bishop only to re-acquire him four months later on August 11, more than halfway into the season. During that season, the bulk of his playing time involved being inserted into the game exclusively during short yardage situations. During the 2006 East Division semi-final, however, he came in to replace Allen late in the fourth quarter and threw two touchdown passes to Arland Bruce III and R. Jay Soward, sending the Argonauts to the East Division Final.
In the 2006 Eastern Final against the Alouettes, Bishop again found himself replacing Damon Allen in the third quarter. Down 23–3, Bishop threw touchdown passes to Arland Bruce III and Michael Palmer, and was able to guide the Argonauts to within a touchdown of a comeback, however they fell short, losing 33–24.
Bishop had been playing in both the CFL and the Arena Football League (AFL) since 2004 and during the offseason, it was learned that the AFL's schedule had been shifted later into the year, thereby creating an overlap of the AFL's post-season with the CFL's training camp period. With Bishop signed to an AFL team, there were concerns throughout the CFL's offseason about whether or not he would report to the Argonauts' 2007 training camp. However, on May 14, 2007, he returned to Toronto and participated in an informal workout with some of his Argonauts teammates at the University of Toronto at Mississauga after being placed on the exempt list by his AFL team, the Grand Rapids Rampage for the purpose of leaving the team.[7]
Bishop backed up Damon Allen in the Argonaut's Week 1 loss to the BC Lions and came into the game in the fourth quarter throwing a touchdown to Michael Palmer and having another touchdown to Andre Talbot called back due to a penalty. Bishop's performance and Allen's struggles led to Bishop being named the Week Two starter against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 7, 2007 marking his first start since November 2005. He threw three touchdown passes to help lead the Argonauts to a 30–5 win over the Tiger-Cats. In a July 12, 2007 game against the Calgary Stampeders, while enjoying a second straight solid start, Bishop fractured his distal radius while being tackled on a run to the Stampeders' one-yard line and was scheduled to miss 6–8 weeks of the season.[8]
The Argonauts went 0–6 with Bishop out of the lineup; however after his return, the Argonauts went 9–1 and finished in first place in the CFL's Eastern Division. He finished the 2007 regular season with 2,920 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Bishop helped lead the Argonauts into the 2007 CFL Eastern Division final where they were defeated 19–9 by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He completed under 50% of his passes and while throwing for over 300 yards, he also failed to connect on multiple passes in crunch time. He went 11–1 as a starter in the regular season.
Before the start of the 2008 season, The Argonauts acquired the reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player, Kerry Joseph, from the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This was a surprise considering Bishop's record as a starter the previous season.[citation needed] Despite the perceived quarterback controversy, the Argonauts started the season with both quarterbacks. While Bishop did get some playing time, Joseph played the majority of the games.
On August 23, 2008 Bishop was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a conditional draft pick.[9][10] He was immediately named the starter and won his first game for the team, against the Blue Bombers. He also won his second game with a fourth quarter rally, where the Roughriders scored 20 unanswered points to defeat the Blue Bombers. Bishop was named the CFL's Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Winnipeg comeback. In the 2008 West Semifinal game against the BC Lions, he threw three interceptions and fumbled twice.
On November 10, 2008, it was reported in the Regina Leader Post that the Roughriders had placed Bishop on waivers, leaving to doubt about his future in Saskatchewan. Roughriders head coach Ken Miller confirmed that he and General Manager Eric Tillman had met on November 9 and agreed to release Bishop. Miller himself informed Bishop of the decision the next evening.[11]
On July 26, 2009, Bishop made his return to the Canadian Football League after signing with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.[12] In his first game back in the CFL as a starting quarterback, he led the Blue Bombers to a 13–12 victory, completing 16 of 30 pass attempts for 213 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.[13]
On February 23, 2010, Bishop was released by the Blue Bombers due to poor play throughout the year
After second-string quarterback Drew Tate was injured in a preseason game, the Calgary Stampeders signed Bishop as a backup for incumbent starter Henry Burris. Bishop was officially signed on June 29, 2011.[14] Once Tate was healthy enough to return, Bishop was released after five games on August 3, 2011.[15]
On September 27, 2011, Bishop was signed by the Blue Bombers because of many injuries in the QB position. He was shortly after released.
Arena Football League
From 2004-2007, Bishop played in both the CFL and the Arena Football League. In his first AFL season in 2004, Bishop seldom saw any playing time with the Grand Rapids Rampage, playing in only five games. In 2005, he started in 15 games for the Rampage and led the league in rushing yards, rushing attempts, yards-per-rush, and rushing touchdowns. He also set a record for most rushing yards in a single game on February 5, 2005 against the Colorado Crush by becoming the first player to ever rush for 100 yards in an AFL game. In addition to this record, he also holds the AFL record for most rushing yards in a season with 459. Because of his rushing statistics as a quarterback combined with his strong arm, comparisons between him and NFL quarterback Michael Vick were made. Some fans and sports writers have labeled him the "Michael Vick of the AFL".[5][16][17][18]
In 2006, Bishop signed with the Chicago Rush. Despite the buzz he created in 2005, he was relegated to sharing the backup quarterback role behind Matt D'Orazio with Asad Abdul-Khaliq. Bishop received very little playing time upon joining the Rush in 2006, though some of that was a result of a leave of absence he took from the team due to the passing of his mother.[citation needed] The Rush went on to win ArenaBowl XX that season.
On October 31, 2006, Bishop signed with the Kansas City Brigade. However, on March 13, 2007, he was traded to the Rampage, marking his second stint with the team since 2005. On May 15, 2007, he was placed on the Rampage's reserve list under the "left squad" category. This move was done to clear the way for his return to the Canadian Football League.
Adrian Jamal McPherson is a former gridiron football quarterback. McPherson played the majority of his professional career for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State before being dismissed from the team as a result of a November 2002 arrest. As a professional, McPherson has also been a member of the Indiana Firebirds, Utah Blaze, Austin Wranglers, Grand Rapids Rampage, Tampa Bay Storm, Calgary Stampeders, Los Angeles KISS and Toronto Argonauts.
Damon L. Allen is a former professional quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is currently fourth in all-time professional football passing yards and second in all-time CFL passing yards after he was surpassed for first place by the Montréal Alouettes' Anthony Calvillo on October 10, 2011. Allen retired as professional football's all-time leading passer with 72,381 passing yards after he surpassed Warren Moon's total of 70,553 yards on September 4, 2006 in the annual Labour Day Classic. He also retired in third place in all-time CFL rushing yards with 11,920 yards, behind Mike Pringle and George Reed. The 2007 season marked Allen's twenty-third season in the CFL and he officially announced his retirement on May 28, 2008 at age 44. Allen is the younger brother of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marcus Allen.
Ricky Ray is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also briefly spent time in the af2, as well as with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Ray is the all-time leader in passing yardage, pass completions, and passing touchdowns for both the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts. He won a Grey Cup championship four times as a starter, in 2003, 2005, 2012, and 2017.
Kevin Glenn, Jr. is a former American professional Canadian football quarterback. He was originally signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football for the Illinois State Redbirds and high school football at Detroit St. Martin de Porres. Glenn is a journeyman quarterback who is the only player to ever have had his rights held by every team in the CFL.
Casey J. Printers is a former professional American football, Canadian football and indoor football quarterback. Printers spent most of his professional career with the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League, and also played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Kansas City Chiefs and Allen Wranglers.
Drew Tate is an American gridiron football coach and former player. He is the tight ends coach at the University of Northern Iowa, a position he had held since 2022. He played college football as a quarterback at the University of Iowa and was signed by the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2007. Tate has played professionally for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Calgary Stampeders and Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a defensive analyst at Coastal Carolina University in 2018, before coming out of retirement to rejoin the Roughriders. On December 17, 2018, Tate retired from playing and was named quarterbacks coach for the BC Lions the following day.
Ian "Rocky" Butler is a former quarterback who last played professionally in the Canadian Football League.
Gerry Dattilio is a former professional Canadian football quarterback in the Canadian Football League.
Russell Walter Michna is a former arena football quarterback. A two-time league champion of the United Football League (UFL), he is the only player that has been signed to a team in every current major professional football league: National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), UFL and AFL. Michna also played in the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL).
Ryan Dinwiddie is the head coach of the Toronto Argonauts and is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. After playing college football, he went undrafted and signed with the Chicago Bears, however he was cut from their training camp. Dinwiddie later went on to play professionally for the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe, and also played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.
The 2007 BC Lions season was the 50th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 54th season overall. They finished first in the West Division for the fourth consecutive season with a 14–3–1 record, establishing new franchise records for wins and points in a season and most consecutive first-place finishes. They were defeated in the Western Final 26–17 by the Saskatchewan Roughriders, ending their hopes of repeating their Grey Cup Championship.
Gilbert Renfroe is an American former gridiron football quarterback.
Drew Willy is a former American professional Canadian football quarterback. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Buffalo. Willy has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Locomotives, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, and most notably the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Zachary J. Collaros is an American professional Canadian football quarterback for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Collaros won the 107th Grey Cup and 108th Grey Cup as the starting quarterback with the Blue Bombers when they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in both games. He had previously won the Grey Cup as the backup quarterback with the Toronto Argonauts in the 100th Grey Cup. Collaros played football at the University of Cincinnati, and has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Toronto Argonauts.
Cody Michael Fajardo is an American professional Canadian football quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Nevada and was their starting quarterback from 2011 to 2014. Fajardo accounted for over 13,000 yards and 101 touchdowns in his career at Nevada.
James Franklin is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. He played college football at Missouri. He was the Tigers' starting quarterback from 2011 to 2013. He was also a member of the Detroit Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, and Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Brandon Colin Bridge, nicknamed Air Canada, is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was previously a member of the Montreal Alouettes, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and BC Lions. He was drafted in the fourth round, 31st overall, by the Alouettes in the 2015 CFL Draft. He played college football at Alcorn State and South Alabama.
Jonathon Jennings is an American professional Canadian football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He attended Saginaw Valley State University, where he played college football and studied finance. Jennings made his professional debut for the BC Lions in 2015.
Nicholas Arbuckle is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also been a member of the Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Redblacks, Toronto Argonauts, and Edmonton Elks.
Nathan Rourke is a Canadian professional football quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Rourke played college football for the Ohio Bobcats. Rourke set the all-time CFL records completion percentage (79.2%) during the 2022 CFL season.
↑ "Transactions". southernifl.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
↑ McAuliffe, Shane (June 23, 2009). "College Station Gets Arena Football Team". kbtx.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
