Robert Meachem

This article is about the athlete. For the Reconstruction-era Florida politician, seeRobert Meacham.

Robert Meachem

Meachem with the Saints in 2009
No. 12, 17
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1984-09-28)September 28, 1984 Tulsa, Oklahoma,U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Booker T. Washington(Tulsa)
College:	Tennessee(2003–2006)
NFL draft:	2007/ Round: 1 / Pick: 27
Career history
As a player:
New Orleans Saints(2007–2011) San Diego Chargers(2012) New Orleans Saints (2013–2014) Richmond Roughriders(2018)
As a coach:
De La Salle High School (New Orleans)Wide receivers coach (2019–present)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion(XLIV) First-teamAll-American(2006) First-teamAll-SEC(2006)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 178 Receiving yards: 2,914 Receiving touchdowns: 27
Player stats atPFR

Robert Emery Meachem(born September 28, 1984) is an American former professionalfootballplayer who was awide receiverin theNational Football League(NFL), primarily with theNew Orleans Saints.He playedcollege footballfor theTennessee Volunteers,earning first-teamAll-Americanhonors in 2006. Meachem was selected by New Orleans in the first round of the2007 NFL draftwith the 27th overall pick. He also played one season with theSan Diego Chargers.

Early life

Raised inTulsa, Oklahoma,Meachem played football in elementary school for the "Mabee Babies" ofThe Salvation ArmyNorth Mabee Boys & Girls Club.He won a national basketball title in the summer after eighth grade with hisAAUteam, the Tulsa Jammers. He later attendedBooker T. Washington High School,where he was a teammate of future NFL playersFelix JonesandMark Anderson,and was named a high schoolAll-AmericanbyParadeand SuperPrep reporting services.Meachem was also apoint guardon his high schoolbasketballteam, which won back to back state titles in 2001 and 2002.

College career

Meachem attended theUniversity of Tennessee,arriving in 2003.He was part of a heralded recruiting class with receiversJayson SwainandBret Smith.Meachem, however,redshirtedthe 2003 season after suffering a knee injury in preseason practice.

Meachem caught 25 passes for 459 in 2004 as a redshirt freshman. He returned to play in all 13 games (no starts) and led the team with 459 yards on 25 catches (18.4 average) and four touchdowns.Meachem was the only Vols receiver with 100 yards in a game that year. Meachem's first career reception occurred in the game againstUNLV,which was a 35-yard touchdown.

Meachem appeared in all 11 games in 2005, with twostarts,and again led the team in receiving yards with 383 on 29 catches (13.2 average) and two touchdowns.

2006 was Meachem's breakout year. Along withDavid Cutcliffe's return to Tennessee asoffensive coordinatorin 2006, Meachem, Swain and quarterbackErik Aingeall turned in career seasons. In the November 25 game againstKentucky,Meachem had 116 receiving yards, pushing his total to a new school record of 1,265 yards in a single season. Meachem also totaled 11 scores, a career best. He also had six 100-yard games that season.He ranked fourth in the nation with an average of 99.85 yards per game receiving and ranked 24th nationally with 5.46 receptions per game. He led the team with a career-high 71 catches for a school single-season record 1,298 yards (18.3 avg) to lead theSEC,including 11 touchdowns.He recorded two solo tackles, gained 16 yards on a kickoff return and 12 yards on a punt return. In 37 games at Tennessee, Meachem started 15 times. He caught 125 passes and became the sixth player in school history to gain more than 2,000 yards receiving, totaling 2,140 yards (17.1 avg) with 17 touchdowns. All this earned him an all SEC, consensus All-American selections. Meachem decided to forgo his senior season and enter the2007 NFL draft.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	214 lb (97 kg)	32+1⁄4in (0.82 m)	9+3⁄8in (0.24 m)	4.41 s	1.49 s	2.52 s	4.19 s	6.97 s	37.5 in (0.95 m)	10 ft 8 in (3.25 m)
All values taken fromNFL Scouting Combine/Pro Day

New Orleans Saints (first stint)

With the 27th pick in the first round of the2007 NFL draft,Meachem was selected by theNew Orleans Saints.Meachem signed a five-year deal worth $11.3 million in base salary and incentives with $5.71 million guaranteed.However, Meachem underwent knee surgery and was unable to play in his rookie season.

Meachem was once again inactive for the Saints' opener against theTampa Bay Buccaneersin 2008. On September 14, 2008, Meachem caught his first pass in theNFL,a 19-yard touchdown pass against theWashington Redskins.

Meachem at the Saints'Super Bowl XLIVvictory parade inDowntown New Orleans

In week 4 against theSan Francisco 49ers,Meachem got the chance to see more game time when number 1 receiverMarques Colstonwas sidelined with a broken thumb. In this game, Meachem had only 2 receptions, his first a 47-yard touchdown grab, his second a 52-yard flea flicker catch with a defender draped all over him. Meachem ended week 4 with 2 receptions for 99 yards and the Saints got the win over the 49ers.Meachem finished the season with 12 receptions for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also had a 24.1 yards per catch.

On December 6, 2009, afterKareem Mooreof the Redskins interceptedDrew Brees,Meachem tore the ball out of Moore's grasp and ran it for a touchdown. In the same game, Meachem caught a 53-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 left in regulation, tying the game at 30. The Saints won, 33–30, in overtime to improve to 12–0. He had a career-high 142 receiving yards in the game.The 2009 Saints went on to win Super Bowl XLIV.

In the 2010 season, Meachem had 44 receptions for 638 yards and five touchdowns in 16 games and seven starts.Meachem remained with the Saints through the2011 season.In Week 13 of the 2011 season, he had three receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Lions.During his five years with the team he had 141 regular-season catches for 2,269 yards and 23 touchdowns; he also played in six playoff games and had 14 receptions for 184 yards and a touchdown.

San Diego Chargers

On March 13, 2012, Meachem signed a four-year contract with theSan Diego Chargersworth $25.5 million including a $7.5 million signing bonus.He was part of the Chargers' plan to replacePro BowlreceiverVincent Jackson,who left the team as afree agent.Meachem caught two touchdowns in a2012matchup with New Orleans, but he dropped a potential touchdown in a 7–6 loss to theCleveland Browns.His time with the Chargers was disappointing, as he underperformed the high expectations reflected in his large contract, and was compared to a previous Chargers free agent "bust",David Boston.Kevin Acee ofUT-San Diegocalled him "the worst free agent acquisition in the history of the Chargers".On September 1, 2013, the Chargers released Meachem during final roster cuts, even though they had guaranteed him $5 million for the upcoming2013 season.

New Orleans Saints (second stint)

On September 3, 2013, Meachem signed a one-year contract to return to the Saints.In the 2013 season, he recorded 16 receptions, 324 yards, and two touchdowns.The Saints signed him to another one-year contract on April 18, 2014.Meachem was among the last cuts made by the Saints before the 2014 season. However, a few days later, he re-signed with the team, on September 3, 2014, after rookieKhairi Forttwas placed on short-term injured reserve.He finished the 2014 season with seven receptions for 114 yards in 11 games and two starts.His contract expired after the 2014 season and he did not re-sign, making him a free agent. He missed the entire 2015 season as a free agent.

On June 14, 2016, he tried out for the Saints at minicamp wearing the number 12 on his jersey. It was last worn by Marques Colston for 10 years. The tryout was put on hold the following day as Meachem had a foot injury and didn't practice.

Richmond Roughriders

Meachem signed with theRichmond Roughridersof theAmerican Arena Leaguein 2018.

NFL statistics

Year	Team	Games	Receptions	Targets	Yards	Yards per reception	Longest reception	Touchdowns	First downs	Fumbles	Fumbles lost
2008	NO	14	12	20	289	24.1	74	3	8	0	0
2009	NO	16	45	64	722	16.0	54	9	30	2	1
2010	NO	16	44	66	638	14.5	55	5	27	0	0
2011	NO	16	40	61	620	15.5	67	6	29	0	0
2012	SD	15	14	32	207	14.8	46	2	8	0	0
2013	NO	15	16	30	324	20.3	60	2	9	0	0
2014	NO	11	7	20	114	16.3	25	0	7	0	0
Career		103	178	293	2,914	16.4	74	27	118	2	1

Personal life

Meachem was a contestant onNBC'sMinute to Win Itin an online exclusive episode playing to win money for theBoys and Girls Clubof Greater New Orleans.

Meachem created the Robert Emery Meachem Follow Your Dreams Foundation to help American youth. Its first goal is to supply books to at least 200 kids ages 4 to 17 in north Tulsa.

On February 14, 2017, Meachem was jailed for 30 days for having more than $400,000 in unpaid child support.

In 2018, Meachem was a player inYour Call Football,an interactive game where in real time, participants call plays live for players which include former professional football players.

External links

• Tennessee Volunteers bio
• Media related toRobert Meachemat Wikimedia Commons