Braylon Jamel Edwards(born February 21, 1983) is an American former professionalfootballplayer who was awide receiverin theNational Football League(NFL). He was aunanimous All-Americanplayingcollege footballfor theMichigan Wolverines,winning theBiletnikoff Awardin 2004. He is the all-time leader for theUniversity of Michiganin receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.[1]He was also the first wide receiver inBig Ten Conferencehistory to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and only the third to do so inNCAA Division I-A.He was selected by theCleveland Brownswith the third overall pick in the2005 NFL draft.He also played in the NFL for theNew York Jets,San Francisco 49ersandSeattle Seahawks.
 Edwards with the New York Jets in 2009 | |||||||||
| No. 17 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 21, 1983 Detroit,Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Bishop Gallagher (Harper Woods, Michigan) | ||||||||
| College: | Michigan(2001–2004) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2005/ round: 1 / pick: 3 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life
editEdwards was born inDetroit, Michigan.During his three active high school years atBishop Gallagher High School,Edwards played a variety of positions for hishigh school footballteam, and made 63 receptions for 740 yards and eight touchdowns.[2]
College career
editEdwards attended theUniversity of Michigan,following in his fatherStan Edwards's footsteps, where he played for coachLloyd Carr'sMichigan Wolverines footballteam from 2001 to 2004. During his senior season in 2004, he set Michigan season records for receptions (97) and receiving yards (1,330), and career records with 252 receptions, 3,541 yards, and 39 touchdowns,[3]aBig Tenrecord.[4]Edwards also set the Michigan career record for the most games with 100 or more receiving yards (17). During the2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl,Jeremy Galloneclipsed Edwards' school single-season receiving yardage record with a total of 1373.[5]
Following his senior season, he won theFred Biletnikoff Awardgiven to the nation's top receiver, was awarded theChicago Tribune Silver Footballas theBig Ten Conference's most valuable player, and was recognized as a unanimous first-teamAll-American.
Edwards is the only wide receiver in Big Ten history and the third in NCAA Division I-A annals to gain 1,000 or more receiving yards in three consecutive years. Edwards concluded his college career by recording three touchdown catches in the2005 Rose Bowlagainst theTexas Longhorns,tying the Rose Bowl record. Edwards also fell just short of eclipsingJack Clancy's 10-game single-season records of 76 receptions and 1,077 yards by recording 76 and 1,049 in his first 10 in 2004.
College statistics
edit| Season | Team | GP | Receiving | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||
| 2001 | Michigan | 6 | 3 | 38 | 12.7 | 0 |
| 2002 | Michigan | 13 | 67 | 1,035 | 15.4 | 10 |
| 2003 | Michigan | 13 | 85 | 1,138 | 13.4 | 14 |
| 2004 | Michigan | 12 | 97 | 1,330 | 13.7 | 15 |
| Totals[6] | 44 | 252 | 3,541 | 14.1 | 39 | |
Track and field
editBraylon Edwards also rantrack and fieldat Michigan. His indoor200 metertime of 21.81 seconds was the third fastest in school history at that time. Edwards also ran the60-meter dashand the100-meter dash.He placed third in thehigh jumpat the 2003 Meyo Invitational, with a personal-best leap of 2.11 meters.[7]
Personal bests
edit| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 meters | 6.88 | University Park, Michigan | February 14, 2003 |
| 100 meters | 10.80 | West Lafayette, Indiana | May 15, 2004 |
| 200 meters | 21.81 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | January 31, 2004 |
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Bench press | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft2+7⁄8in (1.90 m) |
211 lb (96 kg) |
33+1⁄8in (0.84 m) |
9+7⁄8in (0.25 m) |
4.45 s | 4.02 s | 6.83 s | 38 in (0.97 m) |
22 reps | ||||
| All values fromNFL Combine/MichiganPro Day[8][9] | ||||||||||||
Cleveland Browns
edit
Edwards was selected in the first round (third overall) in the2005 NFL draftby theCleveland Browns.[10]
Edwards began his rookie season as Cleveland's third wide receiver – a hold-out caused him to miss the beginning of training camp. Early in the season Edwards revealed that he had astaph infection,and missed a few weeks as a result of it. He moved into the starting lineup by midseason. He made his NFL debut versus theCincinnati Bengalson September 11 and caught his first NFL touchdown at theGreen Bay Packerson September 18. He amassed 512 receiving yards and three touchdowns before suffering a season ending knee injury. Edwards had surgery in the offseason, and, while rehabilitating, bonded withKellen Winslow II.Both were determined to make a full and speedy recovery.
Edwards, like Winslow, had a successful rehabilitation that enabled him to be ready to play in the team's opening game in 2006. Edwards became the top receiver for the Browns after an injury toJoe Jureviciusthat season. Edwards totaled 61 receptions for 884 yards and six touchdowns on the season. At the end of the season, Edwards announced he would give $500,000 to theUniversity of Michiganfor a scholarship endowment for football players. Edwards also had an altercation withCharlie Fryeon the sidelines of a game in 2006. He said "and they're talking about video games." Edwards continued to make headlines that season when he called outMike Minter,Chris Gamble,Ricky Manningand other defensive backs of theCarolina Panthers.Additionally, he attended the annualMichigan-Ohio State rivalrygame after being advised not to go by several veteran captains. Edwards was late getting back from Columbus and was late to a team meeting.
Edwards had a breakout season in 2007 and made his firstPro Bowl,becoming the first Browns receiver to make the Pro Bowl sinceWebster Slaughterin1989.Edwards broke franchise records for receiving yardage with 1,289 receiving yards compared to Slaughter's record of 1,236 in 1989 and receiving touchdowns with 16 compared toGary Collins's 13 in1963.Edwards' 16 touchdowns was also second in the league behind onlyRandy Mosswho set an NFL record with 23 touchdowns.
Edwards publicly made a bet withMichael Phelpsthat he would catch 17 touchdowns in 2008. However, Edwards and the Browns struggled during the entire year. The Browns finished at 4–12, and Braylon led the NFL in dropped passes with 23. He caught only three touchdown passes.[11]
New York Jets (first stint)
edit
On October 7, 2009, Edwards was traded to theNew York Jetsfor wide receiverChansi Stuckey,linebackerJason Trusnikand a third and fifth round draft pick in the2010 NFL draft.[12][13]Edwards cited a need for a "fresh start" following the deal's completion.[14]In 12 games for New York, Braylon had 35 catches for 541 yards and four touchdowns. Braylon had his first taste of the postseason in the2009–10 NFL playoffs.In the Jets first two games, Braylon only had 4 catches for 56 yards but in theAFC Championshipagainst theIndianapolis Colts,Braylon caught an 80-yard touchdown pass to give the Jets their first points of the game. He finished the game with 2 catches for 100 yards and a touchdown as the Jets lost 30–17.
Edwards remained with theNew York Jetsin 2010, catching 53 passes for 904 yards and 7 touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers
editOn August 4, 2011, Edwards signed a one-year contract worth $1 million with theSan Francisco 49ers.The contract would have increased to $3.5 million had Edwards recorded a 90-yard-catch or Pro Bowl season. He started five games and was waived by the 49ers on December 27 without having achieved either incentive.
Seattle Seahawks
editOn July 31, 2012, Edwards signed a one-year deal with theSeattle Seahawks.[15]On December 4, 2012, he was waived by the Seahawks.
New York Jets (second stint)
editEdwards was claimed off waivers by the Jets on December 11, 2012.[16]On July 25, 2013, Edwards signed a one-year deal with the Jets for the 2013 season.[17]He was waived on August 26, 2013.[18]
NFL career statistics
edit| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | Rushing | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2005 | CLE | 10 | 7 | 32 | 512 | 16.0 | 80T | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | CLE | 16 | 15 | 61 | 884 | 14.5 | 75 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 2.3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 80 | 1,289 | 16.1 | 78T | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 2 |
| 2008 | CLE | 16 | 16 | 55 | 873 | 15.9 | 70 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | CLE | 4 | 4 | 10 | 139 | 13.9 | 24 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| NYJ | 12 | 11 | 35 | 541 | 15.5 | 65T | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |
| 2010 | NYJ | 16 | 15 | 53 | 904 | 17.1 | 74T | 7 | 1 | 4 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | SF | 9 | 5 | 15 | 181 | 12.1 | 24 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | SEA | 10 | 1 | 8 | 74 | 9.3 | 16 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| NYJ | 3 | 3 | 10 | 125 | 12.5 | 19 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 112 | 93 | 359 | 5,522 | 15.4 | 80 | 40 | 4 | 11 | 2.8 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 4 | |
Legal issues
editEdwards was stopped at least seven times from 2002 to 2010 for speeding violations,[19]the most recent of which was in October 2008 when he was pulled over for driving 120 mph in a 65 mph zone.[20]
Two days before being traded to the New York Jets, on October 5, 2009, Edwards reportedly punched Edward Givens, a local party promoter, in the face at 2:30 A.M. outside of the View Ultralounge & Nightclub.[21]Givens, who is an acquaintance ofLeBron James,alleged that Edwards was jealous of James' success thus prompting Edwards' attack. This prompted James to call the incident "childish."[21]On October 26, 2009, Edwards was charged with misdemeanor assault[21]and later pleaded no contest to the charge of aggravated assault on January 12, 2010.[22]Edwards was given a suspended 180-day jail sentence, was fined $1,000 and placed on inactive probation.[22]Though Edwards offered no explanation or apology for his actions, he reportedly regretted the entire ordeal according to his lawyer.[22]The NFL did not suspend Edwards for his actions.[23]
On September 21, 2010, Edwards was arrested on a drunken driving charge in New York early in the morning.[20]He was originally pulled over for having excessively tinted windows on his Range Rover.[20]Police smelled alcohol on Edwards who blew 0.16—twice the legal limit.[20]He was arrested on a DUI charge.[20]
In October 2013, Braylon was accused of physically assaulting a man who had taken a video of Edwards fighting in the street earlier in the evening with an unknown man. The photographer said he was approached by Edwards who demanded the video be deleted and when the photographer refused and started to walk away, Braylon grabbed the photographers ankles from behind and lifted them up, causing the photographer's face to strike the pavement and then followed up by slamming him into the side of a car on the street. When approached by the media Braylon Edwards' representatives denied the incident, claiming the story was concocted in a shameless attempt to "take Braylon's money." The next day, TMZ presented video footage showing the incident taking place as the victim had described.[24]
On March 4, 2024, Edwards was called a hero by theFarmington HillsPolice. Edwards came to the aid of an 80-year-old man, saving the victim's life following an attempted murder and assault in aYMCAlocker room.[25]
Philanthropy
editIn 2007, Edwards pledged to 100 Cleveland high school students that, if they maintained grade point averages at 2.5 or higher and performed 15 hours of community service, he would pay for their college tuition, an offer valued at $1 million.[26]On May 25, 2011, it was widely reported that Edwards announced he was keeping his pledge.Sporting Newswebsite quoted Edwards as saying:
As the 2nd most hated man in Clev & a man of my word, today I will honor a promise made to 100 students in Cleveland years ago, "Edwards tweeted." The last of my Advance 100 students will graduate from my program and head off to college on scholarships that I will provide them with. Guys, enjoy and embrace your new beginnings and remember your promise to me, to reach back & help someone else along the way.[27][28]
The scholarships are worth $10,000 each and fulfill a promise Edwards made to 100 eighth-graders in the Cleveland area in 2007 as long as they continued to meet the academic and community service requirements. According to published reports, Edwards actually selected 101 students. In an interview Edwards said: 101 Scholarships at $10,000 each is $1.01M.
This was not a tax write-off. This was something we wanted to do the right way and something I was going to be a part of until the end. I know that some of these kids could have easily steered off the right path or maybe wouldn't have been able to go to college at all without this, and I just hope someday they pay it forward.[29]
The pledge was through a program called the "ADVANCE 100 Program", an educational initiative established by the Braylon Edwards Foundation in May 2007.[26][30]
Personal life
editEdwards started working for theBig Ten Networkas a television analyst in the summer of 2017. On September 3, 2018, he was suspended for comments in violation of media guidelines after he tweeted "Ruizis weak, line is weak,Sheais scared, fucking Michigan offense is so predictable. Michigan football is sadly one thing……Trash. "Edwards had a longstanding feud withMichigancoachJim Harbaugh,which intensified after theNotre Damegame at the beginning of the 2018 season.[31]Edwards currently works at the Woodward Sports Network.
After his accomplished career in high school and collegiate football in the state ofMichigan,Edwards will be enshrined into theMichigan Sports Hall of Fameon October 17, 2024.[32]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Michigan Wolverines Receiving".Sports Reference-CFB.
- ^"Braylon Edwards, WR, Michigan".USA TODAY. May 18, 2005.RetrievedDecember 30,2007.
- ^"Record Book"(PDF).University of Michigan & Host Interactive. 2007. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 29, 2008.RetrievedDecember 30,2007.
- ^"Big Ten Football: Individual Records (All Games)"(PDF).The Big Ten Conference. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 26, 2018.RetrievedDecember 30,2007.
- ^Lage, Larry (December 29, 2013)."Michigan takes step back under Hoke, finishing 7–6".The Washington Post.Associated Press.Archived fromthe originalon December 30, 2013.RetrievedDecember 30,2013.
- ^"Braylon Edwards College Stats".
- ^"The Record Book (through the 2006 season)"(PDF).MGoBlue. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on February 29, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 8,2008.
- ^"Braylon Edwards, Michigan, WR, 2005 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football",DraftScout,retrievedJanuary 1,2010
- ^"Braylon Edwards, Combine Results, WR – Michigan".nflcombineresults.RetrievedOctober 19,2021.
- ^"2005 NFL Draft Listing".Pro-Football-Reference.RetrievedMay 7,2023.
- ^"League Stats, Dropped Passes".iWon. January 17, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon January 17, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 17,2009.
- ^"Edwards headed to Jets".ESPN.October 8, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^Grossi, Tony (October 7, 2009)."Braylon Edwards traded by Cleveland Browns to New York Jets for two players and draft picks".Cleveland.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^"Edwards eager for 'fresh start' after Browns trade him to Jets".NFL.Associated Press.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^"Braylon Edwards tries to rekindle career, signs one-year deal".The Seattle Times.
- ^Orr, Conor (December 11, 2012)."Jets claim WR Braylon Edwards off waivers from Seattle".The Star-Ledger.Archived fromthe originalon December 3, 2013.RetrievedDecember 11,2012.
- ^"Braylon Edwards Back for 3rd Hitch with Jets".New York Jets. July 25, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon July 28, 2013.RetrievedJuly 25,2013.
- ^Jets Staff (August 26, 2013)."WR Braylon Edwards Released".New York Jets. Archived fromthe originalon August 29, 2013.RetrievedAugust 26,2013.
- ^Glorioso, Chris (September 21, 2010)."Braylon Edwards No Stranger To Traffic Violations".LA Times.Archived fromthe originalon July 25, 2013.
- ^abcde"Braylon Edwards to dress despite arrest".ESPN.September 22, 2010.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^abcPlain Dealer staff (October 26, 2010)."Braylon Edwards charged with assault in downtown dispute".Cleveland.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^abcSangiacomo, Michael (January 12, 2010)."Braylon Edwards pleads no contest in connection with downtown fight; gets probation".Cleveland.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^Cannizzaro, Mark (October 28, 2009)."Braylon ban not likely".NY Post.RetrievedSeptember 23,2010.
- ^"EX-NFL STAR BRAYLON EDWARDS VIDEO OF NIGHTCLUB ATTACK".
- ^"Police say EX-NFL player Braylon Edwards is a hero for saving man during Farmington Hills YMCA assault".CBS News.March 4, 2024.
- ^abBraylon Edwards follows through on a big promiseArchivedAugust 16, 2011, at theWayback MachineCBS Interactive. May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^Braylon Edwards pays for 100 students to attend collegeSportingNews. May 27, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^Ex-Michigan WR Braylon Edwards keeps promise, pays for 100 students to attend collegeDetroit Free Press. May 26, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
- ^Braylon Edwards Keeps His WordArchivedMay 29, 2011, at theWayback MachineNational Football Post. Reign Net Media. May 27, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^Braylon Edwards fulfills promise to provide 100 Cleveland high schoolers with college tuitionNew York Daily News. May 25, 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
- ^"Braylon Edwards suspended from TV gig as feud with Jim Harbaugh intensifies".ProFootballTalk.September 3, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 3,2018.
- ^"Meet the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame's star-studded Class of 2024".The Detroit News.
External links
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