- Marlon McCree
-
Marlon McCree 200px No. -- Free Agent Safety Personal information Date of birth: March 17, 1977 Place of birth: Orlando, Florida Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) Weight: 202 lb (92 kg) Career information College: Kentucky NFL Draft: 2001 / Round: 7 / Pick: 234 Debuted in 2001 for the Jacksonville Jaguars Career history Roster status: Active Career highlights and awards - N/A
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2008 Tackles 419 Sacks 3.0 INTs 16 Stats at NFL.com Marlon Tarron McCree (born March 17, 1977 in Orlando, Florida) is an American football safety who is currently a free agent, as well as a mentor and coach. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the Seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kentucky.
McCree has also played for the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.
Contents
Early years
McCree survived a tumultuous childhood in inner-city Orlando during the 1980s and 90s that saw him lose an older brother, Cameron, to leukemia. But with the guidance of family members, teachers and other mentors, McCree was able to excel at Atlantic High School in Port Orange, Florida, where he was a letterman in football, basketball, and track.
Professional career
2001 NFL Draft
McCree played four years at the University of Kentucky and was drafted in the 7th round 233rd overall of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though unheralded, McCree immediately made an impact in training camp with Jacksonville, and assumed a starting role early in his rookie season.
Pre-draft measureables Wt 40 yd 20 ss 3-cone Vert BP Wonderlic 197 lb* 4.62s* 4.14s* 7.36s* 38"* 10* 16*[1] (* represents NFL Combine)
Jacksonville Jaguars
McCree received significant playing time during his first two seasons, playing in all but three games, and making six interceptions in 2002.
Houston Texans
McCree was waived by the Jaguars in 2003 and was picked up by the Houston Texans. On December 21, 2003 he scored his first career touchdown, a 95 yard interception return off of the Tennessee Titans' Steve McNair.
Carolina Panthers
McCree was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers prior to the 2005 NFL season, where he served as the starting free safety. McCree recorded three interceptions in the regular season, but truly made his mark in the first playoff game of his career.
On January 8, 2006, McCree played smothering defense in Carolina's first round game against the New York Giants. His second interception of the game of New York's Eli Manning preserved a 20-0 lead, and effectively put the Panthers ahead for good. Carolina won, 23-0.
"We were always overlooked. We don't know why that is," said McCree after the victory. "We've got the third best defense in the league. Sooner or later, we'll get the respect and recognition that we deserve."[2]
San Diego Chargers
On March 11, 2006, the San Diego Chargers signed McCree to a five-year deal through 2010 with $16 million guaranteed.[3]
McCree's tenure with the Chargers was defined by suffocating defense, aggressive, game-changing hits, and a fierce determination to win.
During a January 14, 2007, playoff game against the New England Patriots, McCree had a critical fourth quarter interception with the Chargers leading, 21-13. However, while tackling McCree following the interception, Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown managed to strip the ball away from him. Reche Caldwell would recover for the Patriots. San Diego's defense was unable to stop New England on the drive that followed, and the Patriots scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to tie the game at 21. The Patriots eventually won, 24-21.
“Anytime I get the ball I am going to try and score regardless," said McCree. "Troy Brown stripped it. He made a great play, and I was trying to make a big play. (In) hindsight I don't regret it because I would never try and just go down on the (ground). I want to score.”[4]
The following season, almost a year to the day, McCree would exact a measure of redemption. On January 13, 2008, late in the fourth quarter of a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning was driving Indy toward what appeared to be a go-ahead score. But on third down and five, McCree delivered a vicious hit on Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne, knocking Wayne out of the game and forcing the Colts to use their final timeout.
"As an emphatic hush fell over the crowd," wrote Jim McCabe in the Boston Globe, "the reality of the situation sank in, thanks to McCree's superb play. It was now fourth and 5 and Manning was without any timeouts or either of his prized wideouts, Marvin Harrison having left the game with a sore knee and Wayne having been shown the sideline courtesy of McCree's hit...When on the following snap Manning delivered his third straight incompletion, McCree could celebrate along with his teammates. This time, he had performed with textbook precision with a playoff game hinging on his split-second thinking."[5]
McCree and the Chargers would advance to the AFC Championship game, where they would lose a rematch with the New England Patriots.
On February 28, 2008 the Chargers released McCree to allow more playing time for the younger safety, Eric Weddle.
Denver Broncos
On March 8, 2008, McCree was signed by the Denver Broncos.
Second Stint with Jaguars
McCree re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on June 3, 2009. He was released by the Jaguars on September 5, 2009.
Mentor and Coach
Currently, McCree tutors players at the high school, college and professional levels, providing the same kind of guidance that proved instrumental in his own success, on and off the playing field.
External links
References
Jacksonville Jaguars 2001 NFL Draft selections Marcus Stroud • Maurice Williams • Eric Westmoreland • James Boyd • David Leaverton • Chad Ward • Anthony Denman • Marlon McCree • Richmond Flowers • Randy ChevrierCategories:- Players of American football from Florida
- American football safeties
- Kentucky Wildcats football players
- Jacksonville Jaguars players
- Houston Texans players
- Carolina Panthers players
- San Diego Chargers players
- Denver Broncos players
- 1977 births
- Living people
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
