Roy Green

Last updated

Roy Green
1986 Jeno's Pizza - 08 - Roy Green (Roy Green crop).jpg
Green playing for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1984
No. 81, 25
Position: Wide receiver
Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1957-06-30) June 30, 1957 (age 65)
Magnolia, Arkansas, U.S.
Career information
College: Henderson State
NFL Draft: 1979  / Round: 4 / Pick: 89
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:559
Receiving yards:8,965
Touchdowns:66
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Roy Calvin Green (born June 30, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1979-1990) and Philadelphia Eagles (1991–1992).

Contents

Early life

Green was born in Magnolia, Arkansas.

College career

Green played college football at Henderson State University. [1] He played defensive back and returned kicks for Henderson State University, and achieved All-American status.

Professional career

Green was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1979 NFL Draft. [2] He starred as a rookie returning kicks, including a 106-yard return for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, tying an NFL record. Green also played well at cornerback. In 1981, he stepped in as wide receiver part-time and managed to gain 708 yards on merely 33 catches, which equated to nearly 21.5 yards per catch. [3] On September 20 against the Washington Redskins, he caught a touchdown pass and recorded an interception. This made him the first player since Eddie Sutton in 1957 to do both in the same game. Green did this twice more that year against the Dallas Cowboys and Washington. [4] The following season, Green fully transitioned to wide receiver and performed well in the strike-shortened season. Green truly shined during the next several seasons, particularly in 1984 when his 1,555 receiving yards were then the third highest in a season (through the 2005 season, this has since dropped to eighteenth). Green led the Cardinals in receiving in 1983, 1984 and 1988 (during those intervening years, veterans Pat Tilley and J. T. Smith split time leading the team in receiving). He was usually one of the few stars on a mediocre team. During his career, the Cardinals only made the playoffs once, in the strike-shortened 1982 season, and would only garner winning records two other times.

Green played with the Cardinals past their move to Phoenix, Arizona in 1987. He caught 68 passes in 1988 for 1,097 yards with seven touchdowns for his third and final 1,000-yard season in 1988. The following year saw him play in just twelve games and catch 44 passes for 703 yards with seven touchdowns. Green caught 53 passes in the 1990 season that got him to 500 career receptions, which as of the end of that season saw just 24 other players with as many receptions. On June 9, 1991, he was traded to the Cleveland Browns for an undisclosed draft pick. [5] On August 20, 1991, he was cut from the team when the Browns reduced their roster to sixty and elected to keep rookie Michael Jackson and Reggie Langhorne instead. [6] Green was subsequently signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, who sought veteran leadership at wide receiver to replace the retired Mike Quick and the waived Cris Carter. Green played much of that season, in which a lackluster offense was balanced by a sensational defense. Green played sparingly the following season and retired in 1993. John Madden honored Green in his annual All-Madden Team, stating that at one point, he regarded Green as not the best wide receiver in the game, but the best player. Green finished with 559 receptions for 8,965 yards and 66 touchdowns. He also rushed for 140 yards, returned 27 punts for 230 yards, and added another 2,002 yards on kickoff returns. He also intercepted 4 passes for 54 yards and recovered 20 fumbles. Overall, he gained 11,391 yards and scored 69 touchdowns, with his 62 for the Cardinals being a franchise record.

On October 2, 2016, Green was inducted as the 16th member of the Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor. On September 15, 2017, Green was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. [7]

Personal life

Green married his wife, Sharon, before the 1980 NFL season. Ottis Anderson and Theotis Brown served as groomsmen and his brother, Leotis, was best man. [8]

Since retiring from the NFL, Green has shifted his focus to helping improve the health of current and former professional athletes through promoting sleep apnea awareness across the country. He has teamed up with dental icon, David Gergen, and a company called Pro Player Health Alliance to hold free public awareness events in local communities all over the nation. After joining the cause of Pro Player Health Alliance and using his extensive number of connections to players, he has helped get over 150 former players successfully treated for sleep apnea. [9]

In 2012, Green was diagnosed with kidney disease due to the long-term use of anti-inflammatories during his playing career in the NFL. Following a year of dialysis three days a week, his daughters, Miyosha, 30, and Candace, 26, both offered to donate a kidney to their father. Both daughters were matches, but Miyosha was chosen to donate. Green had successful surgery on Nov. 14 at the Mayo Clinic. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anquan Boldin</span> American football player (born 1980)

Anquan Kenmile Boldin Sr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cris Carter</span> American football player (born 1965)

Graduel Christopher Darin Carter is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989), the Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001) and the Miami Dolphins (2002). He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hines Ward</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Hines Edward Ward Jr. is an American former professional football wide receiver of the National Football League (NFL), who is the current head coach of the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL. He played college football at the University of Georgia and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. Ward played his entire professional career for the Steelers and he became the team's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yardage and touchdown receptions. Ward was voted MVP of Super Bowl XL and upon retirement was one of eleven NFL players to have at least 1,000 career receptions. Ward is often regarded as one of the best wide receivers of the 2000s, as well as one of key figures for the Steelers’ success during the 2000s. Aside from his career in the NFL, Ward has appeared in various forms of film and television media, including the reality TV series Dancing With The Stars and brief cameos in the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises and in the television series The Walking Dead. He was a studio analyst for NBC's Football Night in America from 2012 to 2015. Ward joined CNN and HLN in May 2016. He was the player relations executive of the Alliance of American Football. In 2019, Ward began his coaching career as an offensive assistant for the New York Jets, working with wide receivers coach Shawn Jefferson. In 2021, Ward was hired by Florida Atlantic as special assistant to the head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Williams (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1981)

Roy Eugene Williams Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Collins (American football)</span> American football player (born 1940)

Gary James Collins is a former American football wide receiver and punter who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1962 to 1971.

Homer Carroll Jones is a former American football wide receiver, who played for the National Football League's New York Giants from 1964 to 1969, and for the Cleveland Browns in 1970. During his career, he was known for his considerable size and speed. Fran Tarkenton claimed that he was faster than Dallas Cowboys great Bob Hayes. Jones is credited with inventing the "spike" touchdown celebration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwayne Bowe</span> American football player (born 1984)

Dwayne Lorenzo Bowe is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Louisiana State University, and was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played for the Chiefs from 2007 to 2014. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with 15 in 2010, earning Pro Bowl and Second-team All-Pro honors. He also played for the Cleveland Browns in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Howton</span> American football player (born 1930)

William Harris Howton is a former American football player, an end in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, and expansion Dallas Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doug Baldwin</span> American football player (born 1988)

Douglas Dewayne Baldwin Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was signed by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2011. Baldwin is the Seahawks third all-time leader in team receptions and receiving yards, second in receiving touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl twice and won Super Bowl XLVIII with them over the Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendall Wright</span> American football player (born 1989)

Kendall Thomas Wright is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Baylor, where he is the career leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Wright was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round, 20th overall, of the 2012 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefon Diggs</span> American football player (born 1993)

Stefon Marsean Diggs is an American football wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Evans (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1993)

Michael Lynn Evans III is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Evans played college football at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus first-team All-American honors after recording a school record of 1,394 receiving yards on 69 receptions, and was drafted by the Buccaneers in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl four times and was a Second-team All-Pro in 2016. Evans holds nearly every major Buccaneers franchise receiving record including, career receptions, yards and touchdowns. Evans is the only player in NFL history to start his career with nine consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He won his first Super Bowl championship on February 7, 2021, in a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaron Brown</span> American football player (born 1990)

Jaron Brown is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football for Clemson. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Boyd (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Tyler Alexander Boyd is an American football wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, and was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Janis</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jeffrey Ronald "Jeff" Janis is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State, and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Brown (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1990)

John Brown, nicknamed "Smokey" or "Smoke," is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Pittsburg State and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Baltimore Ravens and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Golladay</span> American football player (born 1993)

Kenneth Golladay is an American football wide receiver for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Dakota and Northern Illinois and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns with the Lions in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendrick Bourne</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kendrick L. Bourne is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Eastern Washington. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DK Metcalf</span> American football player (born 1997)

DeKaylin Zecharius "DK" Metcalf is an American football wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ole Miss. He is the son of former NFL guard Terrence Metcalf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquise Brown</span> American football player (born 1997)

Marquise"Hollywood" Brown is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at College of the Canyons and Oklahoma and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

References

  1. ↑ "Roy Green". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Roy Green". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  3. ↑ "This Date In Football: Happy Birthday, Roy Green". NFL Films Blog. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Roy Green 1981 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com .
  5. ↑ "Browns Get Green".
  6. ↑ "Browns cut veterans Green and Reeves - UPI Archives".
  7. ↑ https://www.stlshof.com/
  8. ↑ Sonderegger, John (23 July 1980). "Ottis, Theotis Got The Glory, But Green Got The Girl". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . p. 4C. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  9. ↑ Jacobs, Kyle. "Public Relations". Pro Player Health Alliance. PRWeb. Retrieved May 10, 2013.
  10. ↑ Weinfuss, Josh. "Roy Green's Fight Helped By Old Friend". azcardinals.com. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
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.