You had to think your way through it.It ended up being a nice fit. [20] In his first season, Collinsworth was the team's leading receiver and set the Bengals franchise record for receptions by a rookie with 67, the most by an NFL rookie wide receiver in 21 years. You can rely on him to do what he's told to do.". 1 WR in the draft. And while he has the weakest arm of these top five quarterbacks, it is plenty strong enough to win a Super Bowl. He had some explosive catch-and-run plays against Vanderbilt, Missouri and South Carolina last season. His hand swats are a thing of beauty, as he often runs right through punches. I dont believe the Niners traded up with Trey Lance in mind. He was all over the place. He reads plays so quickly that zone-blocking offensive linemen often cant reach him. He had a short stride and could make a 90 degree cut, at full speed, without slowing down, or chopping his feet. He is not afraid of man coverage and brings a very aggressive mindset. He has no fear across the middle, while his ability to take big hits and hold onto the ball may be his best trait. 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. For the latest news and events about Florida Sports Hall of Fame, please join our mailing list! 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? This is where the action really begins. Still seething, the one time Collinsworth kicked back and relaxed was the ninth pick of the second round when the Bengals went to pick at No. He was a quick runner, at a 4.4 second 40 yard dash speed, he was a true threat to opponents. "He has some wayward motion with his arms. Plus, his hustle sticks out, as he often chased down scrambling quarterbacks running downfield. Waddle likely would have been a top-10 pick but for his injury. The fumble would be immediately followed by a 92-yard 49ers touchdown drive, and San Francisco won 2621. 40 Times for Tall Receivers are a Poor Indicator of Speed, Welcome to FootballProsLive.com. cris collinsworth 14 18 year olds. Toney's weakness comes in traditional route running. 8 years later he joined FOX's team. 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. Phillips flew all over the field with a violent approach and never showed any signs that he was dealing with a history of concussions. [25] and as of 2022 is in his fourteenth season of the high-profile telecast, and is now paired with Mike Tirico, after Michaels was named the new play-by-play announcer for Prime Videos coverage of Thursday Night Football. Three-time Pro Bowl Selection. So was Collinsworth's future Bengals Super Bowl teammate James Brooks. He isnt a power player or a finesse player, but he lands somewhere dependably in between. 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. He has much to learn, but sometimes, that's what teams are looking for: guys who can improve. Sometimes the team is at fault. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 39 the Vikings picked McDole, one of the receivers whom had been unfavorably compared to Collinsworth and whose career consisted of three catches. American football player and sports broadcaster (born 1959). He surpassed 1,000 yards receiving four times (in 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1986) and was named to the Pro Bowl 3 times. Infante, who passed away five years ago at age 75, coached and played at the University of Florida in the two decades before Collinsworth enrolled at Gainesville. Andrew Livingston Plus he caught everything. Good quickness on cuts. 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 . He received a Sports Emmy Award in April 1998 as Outstanding Studio Analyst and his second in 1999. This was a coinflip for me between Farley and the safer pick of Northwesterns Greg Newsome II. Cris Collinsworth's 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Penei Sewell goes to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida rush end Jachai Polite became one of the most talked about names coming out of the NFL Combine last month. Collinsworth was moved to wide receiver, where his new position coach was former Gator quarterback Steve Spurrier in his first year as a coach. He catches the ball so easily that converting to his great running skills happens very quickly. 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 initially pegged him at. Scout Frank Ubile compared Collinsworth favorably to a current Bengal ("A Pat McInally with speed") and some of the draft's top receivers, such as Mississippi State's Mardye McDole and UNLV's Sam Greene:"More speed than Verser, much more than McDole more consistentthan Verser and Greene. He was a quick runner, at a 4.4 second 40 yard dash speed, he was a true threat to opponents. Moehrigs passion will fit perfectly in Tampa, and he likely wont be left in as many slot man coverages with the Bucs. Much like Kwity Paye, he doesnt take advantage of his speed getting off the ball. Collinsworth was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons (1981-1988), all with the Cincinnati Bengals. Over the course of his three years playing wide receiver, Collinsworth hauled in 120 passes for a total of 1,937 yards. He is nearly impossible to cover inside on option routes. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark four times and ended his eight-year pro career with 417 catches for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns, adding an additional 21 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown in three postseason games. When Chase ran under 4.4 at his pro day, I knew he would be the first receiver off the board. 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 likes to grab a little jersey at the catch point, which may catch up to him. Wilson floats around the pocket like Joe Montana and flicks the ball like an Aaron Rodgers. He finished his outstanding career at Florida with 120 receptions for 1,937 yards and 14 touchdowns. Collinsworth and Costas paired again during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. He also was part of NBCs broadcast team for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. That rover position has been used a lot in college, but the wide college hash marks that created such a need don't really exist in the NFL. I will always think that Kyle Shanahan traded up to get Mac Jones, but the fan base revolted. When the call didn't come at No. But Verser was a hell of a player. Fans have been ripping Collinsworth for his description of the play. He also has a 39.5-inch vertical and an 85.0 PFF grade in 2020 to his name but no sacks this past year. Not Infante. Next to strong points von Mann jotted, "Great athletic skill. I found myself laughing while watching people trying to tackle or cover him. It's a rare sight to see a quarterback escape Ojulari in space. 1 overall. Collinsworth played his final NFL game in the 1989 Super Bowl, catching three passes for 40 yards as the Bengals fell 20-16 to the San Francisco Giants. 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. He would provide instant offense for Ryan Fitzpatrick in Washington. "It's always a wild ride," Collinsworth says of a draft he now covers as one of the NFL's best and visible network analysts, another confirmation of those smart kid scouting reports. THE 2017 SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME Banquet and Induction Ceremony will take place at the Cocoa Beach Country Club on Friday, May 12 with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and dinner and ceremony at 7 p.m. Forinformation aboutthe Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017, or to make a nomination, call 321-615-8111 or e-mailContact@SpaceCoastDaily.com. Jay Feely. Sewell is a potential Hall of Fame talent, and the Bengals know who their best player in franchise history is Anthony Muoz. I think he could easily be the best lineman out of this draft. A guy that would leave eight years later as the franchise's all-time leading receiver with a game of guts and guile that Brown would call great? Austin was also a football player and team captain for Notre Dame. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He also led the country in forced fumbles, with six. He then started working for HBO as a reporter in 1989. Collinsworth was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons (1981-1988), all with the Cincinnati Bengals. Bateman is a free-flowing route runner who doesnt look overly fast or quick on tape. His was very much a thinking offense that really relied on the receivers being able to basically play quarterback. Collinsworth played four years of basketball for his dad and also played some baseball for the War Eagles. Later in 1991 he earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnatis College of Law. 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. Known more for pregame slides and an intense affinity for line play, Collinsworth was one of the better receivers of the 1980s. 5, New England Patriots trade up for Justin Fields By Cris Collinsworth Apr 29, 2021 Welcome to PFF draft week! 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. One of my favorite traits of Bolton's is his ability as a read blitzer. The start is not relevant. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. He is currently serving as a sportscaster at NBC, Showtime, and the NFL Network since 2009. He knew all about Collinsworth," Wood says. [24] He also served as color commentator for NFL Network Thursday night games (and one Saturday-night game) alongside play-by-play man Bryant Gumbel and Bob Papa. [31] Collinsworth also has a steak named after him by the same restaurant.[32]. Collinsworth played wide receiver on a competitive Cincinnati Bengals team that made the Super Bowl twice during his eight-year career. He was an All-Pro selection from 1981-1983, and played for the 1982 and 1989 Super Bowl teams. And he looked as though he was toying with defenses at times this past year. Collinsworth on being a modern athletic rarity, a four-sport (football, basketball, baseball, track) star at Astronaut High in Titusville, the metropolis of 31,494 people adjacent to Mims: "It's. He's an easy pick for No. I guess it just goes to show the draft is potluck to some degree.". Teams played way off him after that, creating some easy throws underneath for his quarterback. This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 07:02. He has flashy speed and is almost impossible for backs and tight ends to block when he sets his sights on the quarterback. Except he was fast. Brady's competitiveness during his time with the New England Patriots. ", "Jac Collinsworth Joins ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown", "Mike Tirico will fill in for Al Michaels during Sunday Night Football 'bye weeks', Cris Collinsworth rescued from runaway floating restaurant, 2007 New England PatriotsNew York Giants game, Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality, Analyst, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cris_Collinsworth&oldid=1141080314, Notre Dame Fighting Irish football announcers, Players of American football from Cincinnati, Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio, Players of American football from Florida, University of Cincinnati College of Law alumni, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Short description is different from Wikidata, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 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. 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. Collinsworth was the host of Inside the Vault on WGN America. Cris Collinsworth. He will not beat himself with penalties, either. [5] They moved to nearby Titusville in 1972, where his brother and he attended Astronaut High School, while their father was the principal. That is my only doubt. I hope he is there Only (Isaac) Curtis has better catching abilities (on the Bengals). [2] He is also the majority owner of Pro Football Focus. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com. His son, Austin, played football at the University of Notre Dame. 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. 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? 556. Miami even dropped him into coverage from the nose tackle position. A very intelligent person. Net Worth: $25 Million. Mon-Fri : 9am to 5pm - 603-459-8358 After Hours : 603-921-6158 Polite pulled up hurt after running a 4.84-second 40-yard dash, a slow time given his penchant for harassing opposing quarterbacks in college as an electric pass-rusher. His son, Austin is currently the Vice President of Distribution for Pro Football Focus. Atlanta is in cap hell and would love to trade for additional picks to rebuild this team with lower-priced rookies. 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. Bolton possesses untapped potential as a man coverage linebacker and likely will not come off the field. Port St. Lucie, FL 34952, Stay alert on sports news and events from the Hall. It was announced on April 16, 2009 that Collinsworth would replace John Madden in NBCs Sunday Night Football, leaving the NFL Network. Tough pick here. Collinsworth was taken in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft with the 37th overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. If Farley can maintain his health, he will make Deion Sanders-like flashy plays running down overthrown balls. If they want a good test for WRs, they should run 60 yards and ignore the first 20. Cris spent his entire NFL career with the Bengals. He retired from the NFL following the 1988 season. Can't you see this through the haze of the Freezer Bowl at the end of that rookie year? "Makes things happen!" Im expecting new defensive coordinator Joe Cullen to attack much like Wink Martindale does in Baltimore. The Ravens can rush anybody on the field from any position. 100 Yard Dash: 10.18: 1982 Preliminary 4 . It was a challenge to play Cover 0 versus Florida because you couldnt leave Toney one on one with anybody. What we do know now on the 40th anniversary of that draft is that just not Tom Brady is a result of fate and fortune. 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. The Lions will take the win. 7. [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 may have benefited from a lot of open receivers in college, but his tight-window throws stood out. In 2009, Collinsworth filled the color-commentator role vacated by John Madden on NBC's Sunday Night Football, with Al Michaels. "If I walk in here again," said Infante after they picked Collinsworth, "I'm dreaming. . Emmy Award Winner. As much as I would love to see the Bengals trade back, it just never seems to happen in Cincinnati. Ojularis balance sticks out, too. Fields has so much talent as both a passer and a runner that I think he will become a star. Most of the pressures Leatherwood gave up at Alabama were to speed rushers, but with his strength, he may never allow a pressure if bumped inside to guard. "If he somehow slips to the second round, he is going to be a big-time steal.". Three others finished with the exact same time but the 65 Collinsworth outleaned his competitors at the tape to take the title. His double-moves are frightening, given his speed, and few receivers run them more often. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He can catch the ball in his hands. All rights reserved. Cris spent his entire NFL career with the Bengals. After a while I figured out what they wanted.". 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. "He reminds me of a shorter but faster Pat McInally," Pete Brown wrote. He could play anywhere inside, including defensive end in a 3-4 defense. And Lindy was right. 4. Your email address will not be published. The Lions, meanwhile, are quietly building their own war chest as protection behind a one-year trial with quarterback Jared Goff. Free agents Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler will team with Darrisaw to complete the transformation. At 6ft 5in (1.96m) in height, Collinsworth often created mismatches against much smaller cornerbacks. "He wanted Collinsworth. He is the majority owner and CEO of PFF. Sunday night, the longtime NBC NFL analyst gave fans what they wanted prior to kickoff between the Buccaneers and the Chiefs. This draft had become more than a passing fancy with Collinsworth still there at No. More of PFF's 2021 NFL Draft tools here: [24], Collinsworth is on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. ABOVE VIDEO: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. . [10][8] Though Florida's offense did not improve enough to save the jobs of Dickey or his coaching staff, Collinsworth flourished in his new role. The Gators even played him at running back against LSU to try to isolate him, and the Tigers still doubled him. "It's not like it is today," Collinsworth says. [3], Collinsworth was born in Dayton, Ohio,[4] the son of Abraham Lincoln "Abe" Collinsworth (who was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday) and Donetta Browning Collinsworth. Checkdowns will become his best friend in the new 17-game season. So, the Cardinals will try to replace Patrick Peterson with a similar presence in their secondary. He proved last year that he can play left tackle after previously featuring at guard. Nobody is better with mobile quarterbacks than Urban Meyer, as Tim Tebow and Alex Smith will attest. With a 3.9+ GPA, he got a degree in Accounting from the University of Florida. Still, for so many to be so down on Polite comes as a bit of a surprise even with the bad numbers. His pedigree as a former five-star recruit doesn't hurt matters, either. 250+ three-page scouting profiles - advanced stats, 3-year grades, player comps, combine data and Senior Bowl grades - for the 2023 draft class. 10, his agent went to great lengths to assure him that Cincinnati wasn't the place for him. 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. He finally figured out it was a Florida teammate and not the Giants. He is Brady-like with his in-pocket movements but still has enough speed to be a factor in the running game. His daughter Katie was a Manager of Marketing and Education Projects at GolfNow. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. He tends to struggle one-on-one against offensive linemen, as his speed can run him past or out of gaps if blocks are made. The Florida tight end is a brilliant catcher of the ball and possesses a comical catch radius. [8] He also returned 30 kickoffs for 726 yards for an average of 24.2 yards per return. He gave no indications that he was going into, or coming out of a cut. 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. The ubiquitous Cowboys and Raiders had told him they could take him late in the first round. 43. It is also possible that Pittsburgh could draft injured Alabama center Landon Dickerson and wait for him to recover. He's able to wiggle around into gaps. Despite his flaws, he still carries a very impressive 26% pass-rush win rate. His father played in the NBA for eight years, and if Rashawn's feet are anything to go by, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. He shoots gaps quickly and seems to always be a step ahead on his reads. He had a famous 99 yard touchdown pass when he was playing for his college squad, the Florida Gators. He allowed only 12 catches on 34 targets for 93 yards in 2020. Welcome to PFF draft week! Write by: . When he sees backs blocking, he adds on as that extra rusher very quickly. The more tape I watched, the more I was convinced that Phillips was the best defender in this class. 10 and then chose Verser when he took one last look at Collinsworth in his shorts. Lance will eventually give the 49ers that final element: a QB who can run on bootlegs opposite those stretch runs. He did get bulled into the QB at times, though. Even the scouting combine photo of Cris Collinsworth, which turned 40 this spring, seems to reflect the audacity of that second-round pick in.