Colonel_Reb
Hall of Famer
Jerome Mathis
Height: 5-11
Weight: 184
Age: 24
Experience: 3
NFL. com
Redskins' first free agent addition is returner Mathis
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins added thier first free agent of the offseason on Friday, signing receiver and former Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis.<BR style="DISPLAY: none"><BR ..>
Mathis made the Pro Bowl as a returner with the Houston Texans in 2005, but he was injured for most of the last two seasons. He became a free agent this year when the Texans opted not to make him a qualifying offer at the end of the season.<BR style="DISPLAY: none"><BR ..>
As a rookie in 2005, Mathis led the NFL in kickoff return touchdowns (two) and yardage (1,542) on 54 returns. He has six career receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown.<BR style="DISPLAY: none"><BR ..>
Mathis has had two recent run-ins with the law. In December, he received a misdemeanor citation after his pit bull chewed through a fence and was behaving aggressively. In February, he was charged with assaulting his pregnant common-law wife, a charge that was later dropped at the woman's request.<BR style="DISPLAY: none"><BR ..>
The 24-year-old Mathis broke the NCAA record for career kickoff return average at Hampton, averaging 26.6 yards. He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown with six.<BR style="DISPLAY: none"><BR ..>
The signing is a minor first addition for the usually big-spending Redskins, who uncharacteristically have de-emphasized the free agent market this year and are instead concentrating on this month's draft. Washington's only previous moves this offseason had been to re-sign some of their own free agents.<BR style="DISPLAY: none"><BR ..>
I commented the following about this bulletin post a few minutes ago:
Wow, they sign a guy like this who has barely played in the last two years, has been in trouble with the law, and who is fairly small for a receiver. Why not bring in guys like David Kircus or David Ball? Both are taller and are proven talents, Kircus with the Broncos, and Ball breaking Jerry Rice's record in college. Yet they will probably rot away because of their skin color while inferior talent like Mathis gets playing time at WR, a position he probably shouldn't even be playing. He's a great KR and should specialize at that. Chicago will realize the same thing with Devin Hester, while 2005's best college receiver, Mike Hass, is forced to waste his talent on the practice squad. The NFL has too many coaches who will not give white skill players a fair shot at playing time. These are just two of many recent examples that can be presented to prove it.