The FHSAA named him an all-state quarterback on two occasions and he was named the All-Southern first-team quarterback for his play during his senior season with the War Eagles. Date of Birth: Jan 27, 1959 (64 years old) Place of Birth: Dayton. Hes won a total of 16 Emmy Awards. He's 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Can he play the same when he isnt perfectly protected like at BYU? Paul and Mike Brown, along with Infante and second-year head coach Forrest Gregg, were among the chief architects of that '81 Super Bowl team that is regarded as the best pro football team in Cincinnati history. Born in 1959, Anthony Cris Collinsworth played quarterback and ran sprints at Astronaut High School in Titusville, becoming a Florida High School Athletic Association Class 3A 100-yard-dash state champion in 1976. He scored 14 touchdowns receiving, two rushing, one on a kickoff return, and threw two touchdown passes. He is fast enough for any stunt or loop and wins quickly in one-on-one situations. Born in Ohio in 1959, Cris Collinsworth moved with his family to Florida at the age of four and later attended Astronaut High School in Titusville, where his father was the basketball coach and later the principal. Short legs get running faster than long legs, so the taller receiver always has to make up ground in the last 30 yards. Cris spent the next several years gaining broadcasting experience on several networks including HBO and the NFL Network. Very good balance and agility.". He spent 8 years in the NFL, all of them with the Cincinnati Bengals. He makes the kind of plays that can break open a football game. At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, Oweh ran a remarkable 4.3-second 40-yard dash. Count Collinsworth in the camp of those who believe he can have that same kind of impact at the next level, poor pre-draft workouts or not. Infante told the press the Verser pick was a consensus choice and that's what the notes from that 1981 draft reveal among the scouts. Despite all of his accomplishments on the football field, Cris Collinsworth still says that the biggest thrill he ever had in sports was winning that race. Collinsworth is also the color commentator on the popular video game, Madden NFL. He just doesn't remember it that way. By 2006, he was a sports superstar and well known by the public. Checkout the latest stats for Cris Collinsworth. Cris definitely ran by a lot of "speed corners" for the reasons he said, but he also could sink his hips and get in and out of cuts and get separation. I am not sure if the Patriots would prefer Mac Jones or Justin Fields, so I gave them my choice: Justin Fields. His hand swats are a thing of beauty, as he often runs right through punches. I loved watching his creative route running, which features subtle pauses and an ability to bounce off defenders to gain position. So, the Cardinals will try to replace Patrick Peterson with a similar presence in their secondary. You can tell he is smart and has a plan on each and every snap. After a while I figured out what they wanted.". "It is the fact that when you got the ball to David Verser, he was hell on wheels. The start is not relevant. His was very much a thinking offense that really relied on the receivers being able to basically play quarterback. The best word to describe him is probably slippery. He can look completely blocked at times and still find a way to sneak through for the sack as the quarterback steps up. Collinsworth made an immediate impact with 67 receptions for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie and was also named to the Pro Bowl and played in the Super Bowl in which he had five receptions for 107 yards against the San Francisco 49ers. PFF is a football performance data and technology company. His accuracy, touch, poise, anticipation, ability to quickly read defenses and distribute the ball are all unmatched in the class. [14] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1981 and was inducted into the University of Florida Student Hall of Fame the same year. He played college football at the University of Florida, where he was recognized as an All-American. Check Out Some Great Areas to Explore On and Off Road on a Can-Am Maverick from Route 1 Motorsports, HOT OFF THE PRESS! Going head-to-head with long time rival Lawrence, . It's a rare sight to see a quarterback escape Ojulari in space. For the latest news and events about Florida Sports Hall of Fame, please join our mailing list! This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. He's able to wiggle around into gaps. He is the majority owner and CEO of PFF. But, the first 10 yards for a receiver are not relevant. Three-time Pro Bowl Selection. He shoots gaps quickly and seems to always be a step ahead on his reads. He is a hammer on the edge and can play in a 4-3 or 3-4. The official time for his 40-yard dash at Pro Day was 5.04 seconds, the kind of number that has most draft analysts projecting Polite to fall well out of the first-round projection range they had . Welcome to PFF draft week! Jaylen Hurts gets an intimidator outside. In addition to these receiving yards, Collinsworth also stacked on an extra 726 yards on kickoff returns, averaging 24.2 yards per return on 30 total returns. I guess it just goes to show the draft is potluck to some degree.". More of PFF's 2021 NFL Draft tools here: (Complete Story), What Happened To Peter Warrick? Im expecting new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen to attack much like Wink Martindale does in Baltimore. So, the 49ers go the developmental route with Trey Lance and let Jimmy Garoppolo play one more year. "You watch the tape of him and think of a boxer who is great with that movement, he's hard to get a hand on, he's hard to jam. The Life And Career Of David Klingler (Story), The Life And Career Of Carl Pickens (Story), The Life And Career Of Archie Griffin (Story), The Life And Career Of Anthony Muoz (Story), The Life And Career Of Jack "Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Story), What Happened To Chris Henry? Because they were short. Your email address will not be published. If all it took was straight line speed, every Olympic sprinter would be a great wideout. I remember the conversation afterward," Collinsworth says. Mike Brown says. He didn't run with a pretty or classic running style. Accuracy is the key, and Jones is very accurate. I hope he is there Only (Isaac) Curtis has better catching abilities (on the Bengals). But dont let his thin frame fool you: He will show some pop against linemen trying to pull and kick him out. Bolton led the SEC in defensive stops the past two years while setting the tone for Missouri. Bill Belichick, Cris Collinsworth and Rich Eisen introduce former San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lance Alworth to the NFL 100 All-Time Team. Bateman is a free-flowing route runner who doesnt look overly fast or quick on tape. Farley is the higher upside pick, with 4.25-second speed that jumps out on tape. "He wanted Collinsworth. He finished his outstanding career at Florida with 120 receptions for 1,937 yards and 14 touchdowns. Does that mean he knows that anybody with a build that would conjure up ungainly comparisons from Don Knotts to Ichabod Crane shouldn't even think about being selected in the first round of any NFL Draft? Tennessee had some success getting linemen on him and attacking downhill, but generally, he is very difficult to block. "Lindy was from Florida. He was an All-Pro selection from 1981-1983, and played for the 1982 and 1989 Super Bowl teams. Your IP: Playing quarterback for the War Eagles outstanding coach Jay Donnelly, he was also named to the all-state team in basketball during his senior year, and won the 100-yard dash in the Class 3A State Track and Field Championships as a junior. Like his father, Joe Horn, he will battle all day. They raved about both. "He has some wayward motion with his arms. He appeared EA Sports NFL Madden 09, 10 as well as 11 and 12. After Al Michaels gave a brief introduction for the upcoming game, the camera would pan out slightly and allow Collinsworth to slide himself into the picture via his broadcasting chair, after which he provided insights of his own. Austin was also a football player and team captain for Notre Dame. But Riverfront Stadium wasn't exactly some kind of barnyard in that rookie season of 1981. Three others finished with the exact same time but the 6'5 Collinsworth outleaned his competitors at the tape to take the title. "When I got the call, I didn't really trust it when I got it. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Just like you, we are excited to get back to football. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLKlQ8wMpgg. He began his broadcasting career as a sports radio talk show host for WLW in Cincinnati and later became a reporter for HBOs Inside the NFL in 1989. He may have benefited from a lot of open receivers in college, but his tight-window throws stood out. As much as I would love to see the Bengals trade back, it just never seems to happen in Cincinnati. But the Ohio State product will have to break the habit of running as a second option in his passing reads, or he will get blitzed to death in the NFL. What a tough SOB Collinsworth was, He'd get killed over the middle and get right back up. He finished his eight-season NFL career with 417 receptions for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns in 107 games. 2,579. Paye's get-off is unimpressive for his athleticism. Worse, he seemed to compound the issue with a set of poorly timed remarks to reporters about what he went through in the NFL interview process at the Combine, airing some comments that probably would have been best kept to himself. I could see Cullen drawing up crazy blitz schemes to take advantage of his skill set. San Francisco already fields the most creative offense in the NFL, and Lance may add that final piece that proves too much to stop. This draft had become more than a passing fancy with Collinsworth still there at No. He remained with the Bengals until the 1988 season, catching three passes for 40 yards in Super Bowl XXIII, the final game of his career. Marshall is an uninterested blocker, but he has the size to do it at the next level, where there will be added motivation. [8] Though he was recruited as a run-first quarterback for the Gators' option offense, Collinsworth threw a 99-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Gaffney against the Rice Owls in his first collegiate attempt, a toss which remains tied for the longest touchdown pass in NCAA history. His straight line speed was average at best, but he could separate and get open. Billions of hours of game play were played with his voice in the background calling plays while gamers controlled their virtual teams. Some 30 years before Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu got pranked by a caller that said the Bengals were picking him in the first round before they really draftedhim in the third, Collinsworth got a phony call that said the New York media was poised to talk to him. Despite weighing only 177 pounds, he shows power when running over potential tacklers. He fights hard to get to the edge against guards, using his hands well, and then is just too much to keep from turning the corner. 2023 Maverick Multimedia, Inc. 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His double-moves are frightening, given his speed, and few receivers run them more often. All rights reserved. Collinsworth retired from professional football in 1989. Who is Cris Collinsworth? 1 announce team from 2002-2004 alongside Joe Buck and Troy Aikman before leaving the network. Even the scouting combine photo of Cris Collinsworth, which turned 40 this spring, seems to reflect the audacity of that second-round pick in 1981. I have never seen a player quite like Rousseau, who is 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds with an 83-inch wingspan. [24] He joined the NBC pregame show in 1996.[24]. Cris Collinsworth led the acquisition of Pro Football Focus (PFF) in 2015. Collinsworth earned prep football All-America honors from Parade, Scholastic Coach, Joe Namath Prep and Kickoff magazines. "The guy had me on the hook for five minutes," Collinsworth says. In 2001, he was inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall of Fame. [29][30], On March 12, 2011, Collinsworth reportedly was among 83 people rescued from Jeff Ruby's Waterfront restaurant in Covington, Kentucky, when the floating restaurant tore loose from its moorings and began to drift on the Ohio River, only to be stopped by the Brent Spence Bridge that links Ohio to Kentucky. Both of Cris's parents were educators; Donetta was a teacher, and Abe was a high-school teacher and coach who later became a principal and eventually the superintendent of schools for Brevard County. Was Cris Collinsworth Any Good as an NFL Player? His mother left the room in tears, still recalling what the agent had said about the Bengals not being a fit. The Gators struggled the next season but Collinsworth caught 41 passes for 593 yards and two touchdowns despite Florida finishing 0-10-1. At No. Toney is the flashiest player in this draft. But football certainly wasnt the only sport in which Collinsworth excelled as he also played baseball, was a four-year letterman in basketball, and also won a state championship in track. Following the 2018 season, NBC SNF became the first-ever 10-time honoree for Outstanding Live Sports Series and won its 11 th honor in the category . Cris Collinsworth. But, the first 10 yards for a receiver are not relevant. He has great eyes and awareness in zone coverage and makes plays on the ball. At Notre Dame, his son earned an MBA in Investments. When he got off to a slow start his senior year, they took away the invite and when he finished strong they invited him again. Its time to move on". "I'm not here to condemn anyone. Ohio State put a tight end outside him and just beat him up. Can't you see this through the haze of the Freezer Bowl at the end of that rookie year? 8 years later he joined FOX's team. Horn allowed a completion rate of only 33% on throws into his coverage in 2020. Or does that mean he knows that in that first round everyone is going to miss out on one of the toughest and most productive wide receivers in the 1980s NFL? Jerry will be tempted to go for Caleb Farley, the best athlete in this cornerback class, but the injury risk associated with the Virginia Tech corner is just too great. He is by far the most skilled pass rusher of the players left on the board. Likes. He retired from the NFL following the 1988 season. As a sick-of-this-stuff shot at the combine, Collinsworth says he swiped an offensive lineman's XL shorts for the photo. ", Infante compared Verser's fluid running style to future Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann: "We were looking for someone who can beat the bump-and-run coverage, a guy who's quick enough and strong enough to outmaneuver individuals in the defensive secondary.". He has no fear across the middle, while his ability to take big hits and hold onto the ball may be his best trait. 1 on the Bengals list, Collinsworth No. [email protected], Mailing Address: January 30, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, College Cant Wait! It might have come up (during the draft), but if it did, I don't remember. "I don't remember the workout. [8] He also returned 30 kickoffs for 726 yards for an average of 24.2 yards per return. He has power and a great inside move; his one-armed jam creates space that he takes advantage of, and he just has a frenzied approach to the game. 10, his agent went to great lengths to assure him that Cincinnati wasn't the place for him. You will see him flip out on scrambles like a Russell Wilson, and he is just as mobile. Surtain has many of those traits: he sees route combinations coming, he studies the QB and not the receiver, he easily gets his head around and finds the ball on deep passes, he is very physical tackling in the flat and he plays with the savvy of a much older player. In the next round at No. Not Infante. . [24], Collinsworth is on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. Good hands, speed, quickness. He had four 1,000-yard seasons, played in . He had a famous 99 yard touchdown pass when he was playing for his college squad, the Florida Gators. Sunday night, the longtime NBC NFL analyst gave fans what they wanted prior to kickoff between the Buccaneers and the Chiefs. So will this one coming up when it starts with Thursday's first round, 40 years to the day the morning newspapers hit the street bannering the news that the Bengals' antiquated offense had taken two receivers in the first two rounds. ProFootballHistory.com. He was incredibly fast, which not only helped him succeed on the football field but as a track and field star as well. 37. Graduate of the University of Florida, chosen in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he had a eight-year NFL career that included three Pro Bowl appearances (1981-'83) and a pair of Super Bowls. With a 3.9+ GPA, he got a degree in Accounting from the University of Florida. This is a big swing for the fences. His running skill was inherited by his daughter Ashley who won the Kentucky High School title in the 100 meters race, and ran for Harvard later where she became a team captain. He had quickness, size and he was fast. Right away you knew. [24] He lives in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, with his wife, Holly (Bankemper) Collinsworth, an attorney, and their four children. It was a close-run thing.". "I figured there was no way they were going to take another receiver," Collinsworth says. Waddle likely would have been a top-10 pick but for his injury. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. I considered USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker here due to his guard-tackle versatility, but I ultimately went with the more powerful player in Leatherwood to block for Henry. While all this back and forth was going on in Cincinnati in the months leading up to the draft, Collinsworth didn't know he was a prospect until the Hula Bowl invited him in the preseason for the post-season all-star game. His daughter received her degree in Psychology from Harvard. Better runner than our running backs.". January 16, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper. ("But I was only trying to make him feel better," the agent pleaded is how Collinsworth remembers it) and he can't recall who called from the team. Then Brown, 72 years young, the man who sketched the beginnings of the modern passing game as the head coach in Cleveland three decades before, bounced out of the room cocking his arm to throw an imaginary football. He was also recognized with his 3rd and 4th Sports Emmy Awards in 2003 and 2004 as Outstanding Sports Personality/Studio Analyst. In May 2006 he added a 5th Emmy Award in the same category for his work with HBO. Lawrence hit Kirk perfectly in the hands. He was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection in 1978, 1979 and 1980, and was named both a first-team All-American and a first-team Academic All-America in 1980. INDIANAPOLIS _ Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin says he only compares Joe Burrow, his quarterback, to Joe Burrow, a Pro Bowler and two-time winner of the AFC North. He can play any position on the defensive line and create problems. American football player and sports broadcaster (born 1959). Any time you have a 240-pound edge player, there will be physical concerns. He would likely be the first cornerback taken in this draft but for his recent back surgery. No one projected that in their reports. When Chase ran under 4.4 at his pro day, I knew he would be the first receiver off the board. Collinsworth, who received his bachelors degree in accounting from Florida in 1981, earned his law degree from the University of Cincinnatis College of Law in 1991. During the Muoz era of the '80s, Cincinnati had two MVP QBs and went to the Super Bowl twice. In 2009, Collinsworth filled the color-commentator role vacated by John Madden on NBC's Sunday Night Football, with Al Michaels. And when I watched the tape, my first question was, what am I suppose to not like about Mac Jones?. Good running ability after catch. Collinsworth book-ended his career in the Super Bowl with his 107 yards leading all receivers in Super Bowl XVI and his last career catch converting a third-and-eight on the drive the Bengals. Bolton possesses untapped potential as a man coverage linebacker and likely will not come off the field. I was told that Mac Jones would be a late first-round pick early in the process. Cris Collinsworth is among Brevard Countys greatest four-sport athletes as he starred in football, basketball, track and field and baseball for Astronaut High School. 2021 NFL Draft Big Board | 2021 NFL Draft Guide | 2021 NFL Draft Stats Export | NFL Mock Drafts | NFL Mock Draft Simulator. The 40 is a very over rated stat when looking at WR's. He has a great feel for loops and stunts and is the best player available at a position of desperate need for Pittsburgh. He currently takes a lot of short, choppy steps that put little pressure on the tackle. When he sees backs blocking, he adds on as that extra rusher very quickly. You can rely on him to do what he's told to do.". Abroken hand slowed Collinsworth his first season as he moved to wide receiver for his sophomore season, and began a three-year stretch where he would be named All-Southeastern Conference first-team each season. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. He filled the color-commentator vacancy left by all-time NFL great John Madden in 2009. He was a quick runner, at a 4.4 second 40 yard dash speed, he was a true threat to opponents. In 1990, he began what has become a successful broadcasting career as a part of the NBC networks NFL broadcasts. Collinsworth, who was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1959, has won five Emmy Awards. Again, I would have taken Dyami Brown here, but Brown ran only a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at just 185 pounds, so he will give way to Bateman despite looking much faster on the field. Anthony Cris Collinsworth[1] (born January 27, 1959) is an American sports broadcaster and former professional football player. After all, he came up just two sacks short of tying Florida's school record for sacks in a single season, notching 11 as a junior in 2018. "My only memory of how Cris was built is at the weigh-in at Tampa, which is where the combine was then. It is usually more difficult for long striders to choke it down and make those cuts and be great route runners. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In his first game, Collinsworth tied a collegiate record with a 99-yard scoring pass to Derrick Gaffney. Nobody hates being predictable more than Jerry Jones, but Surtain is the safe choice for Dallas. Dyami Brown blew past Virginia Techs corners in 2020. Collinsworth is also the color commentator on Madden NFL 09 and Madden NFL 10 with Tom Hammond, as well as in Madden NFL 11 and Madden NFL 12 with Gus Johnson. The fumble would be immediately followed by a 92-yard 49ers touchdown drive, and San Francisco won 2621. Alabama running back Najee Harris could be the choice here if the Steelers opt to go for one of the more powerful offensive linemen in Round 2. My mock draft features one trade, as I have the New England Patriots moving up for Ohio State's Justin Fields, while thefirst two picks rank first and second on PFF's draft board. "Uncle Willie was 40 years older than us," he says . The Dallas defense really struggled last year, and while Surtain is not the fastest corner in this class, he has played 662 snaps in press coverage over the last two years, by far the most of any corner in this class. He can also drop into coverage for new Jets head coach Robert Saleh. 43. [31] Collinsworth also has a steak named after him by the same restaurant.[32]. It was a challenge to play Cover 0 versus Florida because you couldnt leave Toney one on one with anybody. Despite his reputation of having a limited route tree, I think he will prove that it had nothing to do with him. Plus he caught everything. My personal choice would have been North Carolinas Dyami Brown, but Marshall likely gets the nod due to his size. Advertisement Cris Collinsworth 40 time What was Cris Collinsworth's 40 time? Pro Bowl & Super Bowl [26], One of the most well-known trademarks of Collinsworth's work in the broadcasting booth was his performance of the "Collinsworth Slide" before each game. My concern is how he'll fare against speed off the edge; he has such great energy in the running game, but I would just like to see him use that same energy finishing in protection. [24] Collinsworth and Costas paired again during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Gender: "It's not like it is today," Collinsworth says. Just like you, we are excited to get back to football. He has flashy speed and is almost impossible for backs and tight ends to block when he sets his sights on the quarterback. Now it wasn't my rookie year. Ojularis balance sticks out, too. He has size and strength. And while he has the weakest arm of these top five quarterbacks, it is plenty strong enough to win a Super Bowl. James Lofton, Cris Collinsworth, Nolan Cromwell, Joe Cribbs, Jimmie Giles The second-round draft choice. University of Notre Dame, Football, Roster, University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, Thursday night games (and one Saturday-night game), List of Florida Gators football All-Americans, List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members, "Cris Collinsworth wins 15th Emmy, gets animated", "Cris Collinsworth liked using Pro Football Focus, so he bought it", "Abraham Lincoln Collinsworth's Obituary on FloridaToday", "Astronaut High's Cris Collinsworth; Winner Of Multiple Emmy Awards, NFL Pro Bowler", Seven to be inducted into UF Hall of Fame, "Super Bowl XVI - San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals - January 24th, 1982 - Pro-Football-Reference.com", "Collinsworth Finds New Life on Showtime's 'Inside the NFL', "Cris Collinsworth Tapped To Replace Madden", "Why Does Cris Collinsworth Slide in the NFL Booth?