BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Encyclopedia
BenJarvus Jeremy Green-Ellis (born July 2, 1985) is an American football
running back
for the New England Patriots
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008. After playing college football
his freshman and sophomore seasons at Indiana University
, Green-Ellis transferred to Mississippi
. He is commonly known by his nickname, The Law Firm, due to his verbose name.
. He attended St. Augustine High School
in New Orleans, and was a student and a letterman in football
and track
. In football, he was named as an All-City selection and as an All-Metro selection, and the Clarion Herald
and the New Orleans Times-Picayune
named him as an All-District selection. In track, he was an All-District selection and an All-Region selection.
in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Green-Ellis transferred when then-coach Gerry DiNardo
was fired and replaced by Terry Hoeppner
before the 2005 season. As a freshman in 2003, Green-Ellis had a breakout year with 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 225 carries. For his sophomore season at IU, Green-Ellis was a part of a two running back rotation with Chris Taylor. Still, he led the team with 794 yards rushing on 231 carries and scored five touchdowns.
At Ole Miss
, BenJarvus Green-Ellis was only the second running back in the school's history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. During his senior season in 2007, he recorded 1,137 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior in 2006, Green-Ellis posted 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns on a school record of 234 carries. He was named as an All-SEC
first team selection by the Associated Press
.
Green-Ellis made his NFL
debut on October 12, 2008, recording one catch for 9 yards in the Patriots' loss to the San Diego Chargers
. On October 20, 2008, the same day that the Patriots placed fellow running back Laurence Maroney
on injured reserve, Green-Ellis had his first NFL start in the Patriots' 41-7 victory against the Denver Broncos
on Monday Night Football
. Green-Ellis had 65 yards on 13 rushes in the second half, and scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard run, entering the end zone untouched. During Sunday Night Football
's November 2, 2008 broadcast, Al Michaels
and John Madden
noted that his Patriots teammates had nicknamed Green-Ellis "Law Firm," on account of his multi-part name.
In Week 10, against the Buffalo Bills
, Green-Ellis had his first 100-yard game in the NFL (with 105 yards), and scored a touchdown for the fourth consecutive game, giving him a touchdown in every NFL game he has started. The one-yard touchdown run capped a 92-yard drive whose 19 plays tied a franchise record for most plays on one drive.
, all as a reserve, carrying the ball 26 times for 114 yards, while catching two passes for 11 yards.
Following the team's trade of Laurence Maroney
and early-season injuries to Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk
, Green-Ellis saw an increased role in the Patriots offense in 2010
. In Week 3, he rushed for 98 yards on 16 carries (6.1 yard average) and a touchdown in a win over the Buffalo Bills
. He made his first start of the season the next week, rushing for 76 yards on 16 carries and adding another touchdown against the Miami Dolphins
. On Thanksgiving
, Week 12, against the Detroit Lions
, Green-Ellis ran for two touchdowns in a Patriots win. He added another two touchdowns in a 45–3 Patriots win over the New York Jets
on Monday Night Football
in Week 13. In Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins
, Green-Ellis eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing plateau on the season, becoming the first Patriots running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Corey Dillon
in 2004
.
Green-Ellis finished the 2010 season with 1,008 rushing yards on 229 carries (4.4 yard average), and 13 rushing touchdowns.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008. After playing college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
his freshman and sophomore seasons at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, Green-Ellis transferred to Mississippi
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
. He is commonly known by his nickname, The Law Firm, due to his verbose name.
Early years
Green-Ellis was born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He attended St. Augustine High School
St. Augustine High School (New Orleans)
St. Augustine High School or "St. Aug" is an all-boys parochial high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1951 and covers grades 6 through 12 .-History:...
in New Orleans, and was a student and a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
. In football, he was named as an All-City selection and as an All-Metro selection, and the Clarion Herald
Clarion Herald
The Clarion Herald is the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.The stated mission of the Clarion Herald is to chronicle the activities and events of local church parishes around the Archdiocese. However, the newspaper also functions as an outlet for editorials by the Archbishop of...
and the New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Orleans Times-Picayune
The Times-Picayune is a daily newspaper published in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.-History:Established as The Picayune in 1837 by Francis Lumsden and George Wilkins Kendall, the paper's initial price was one picayune—a Spanish coin equivalent to 6¼¢ .Under Eliza Jane Nicholson, who inherited the...
named him as an All-District selection. In track, he was an All-District selection and an All-Region selection.
College career
Before transferring to Mississippi, Green-Ellis was a productive running back for Indiana UniversityIndiana Hoosiers football
The Indiana Hoosiers football program represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football and in the Big Ten Conference.-Bowl games:...
in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Green-Ellis transferred when then-coach Gerry DiNardo
Gerry DiNardo
Gerard DiNardo is a former American football player and coach. He played college football as a guard for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish where he was selected as an All-American in 1974...
was fired and replaced by Terry Hoeppner
Terry Hoeppner
Terry Hoeppner was an American college football coach who served as head coach of the Miami RedHawks from 1999 to 2004 and the Indiana Hoosiers from 2005 to 2006...
before the 2005 season. As a freshman in 2003, Green-Ellis had a breakout year with 938 yards and seven touchdowns on 225 carries. For his sophomore season at IU, Green-Ellis was a part of a two running back rotation with Chris Taylor. Still, he led the team with 794 yards rushing on 231 carries and scored five touchdowns.
At Ole Miss
Ole Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
, BenJarvus Green-Ellis was only the second running back in the school's history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. During his senior season in 2007, he recorded 1,137 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior in 2006, Green-Ellis posted 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns on a school record of 234 carries. He was named as an All-SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
first team selection by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
2008 season
Green-Ellis was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2008. He was waived by the team on August 30, 2008, and signed to the team's practice squad on September 1, 2008. He was promoted to the active roster on October 11.Green-Ellis made his NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
debut on October 12, 2008, recording one catch for 9 yards in the Patriots' loss to the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On October 20, 2008, the same day that the Patriots placed fellow running back Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney is an American football running back who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 21st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.-Early years:Maroney attended Normandy Senior High School in St...
on injured reserve, Green-Ellis had his first NFL start in the Patriots' 41-7 victory against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
. Green-Ellis had 65 yards on 13 rushes in the second half, and scored his first touchdown on a 1-yard run, entering the end zone untouched. During Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is a weekly American football game held throughout most of the season by the National Football League. Sunday night games have been played regularly since 1987 and have thus far aired on three different television outlets:...
's November 2, 2008 broadcast, Al Michaels
Al Michaels
Alan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
and John Madden
John Madden (American football)
John Earl Madden is a former American professional football player in the National Football League, a former Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Oakland Raiders in the American Football League and later the NFL, and a former color commentator for NFL telecasts. In 2006, he was inducted into...
noted that his Patriots teammates had nicknamed Green-Ellis "Law Firm," on account of his multi-part name.
In Week 10, against the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Green-Ellis had his first 100-yard game in the NFL (with 105 yards), and scored a touchdown for the fourth consecutive game, giving him a touchdown in every NFL game he has started. The one-yard touchdown run capped a 92-yard drive whose 19 plays tied a franchise record for most plays on one drive.
2009–10 seasons
Green-Ellis was active for 12 games with the Patriots in 20092009 New England Patriots season
The 2009 New England Patriots season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and 50th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and a division title before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs....
, all as a reserve, carrying the ball 26 times for 114 yards, while catching two passes for 11 yards.
Following the team's trade of Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney is an American football running back who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 21st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.-Early years:Maroney attended Normandy Senior High School in St...
and early-season injuries to Fred Taylor and Kevin Faulk
Kevin Faulk
Kevin Troy Faulk is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at LSU.As of 2010, Faulk is the longest-tenured current member of the Patriots,...
, Green-Ellis saw an increased role in the Patriots offense in 2010
2010 New England Patriots season
The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets...
. In Week 3, he rushed for 98 yards on 16 carries (6.1 yard average) and a touchdown in a win over the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He made his first start of the season the next week, rushing for 76 yards on 16 carries and adding another touchdown against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. On Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Classic
The National Football League's Thanksgiving Classic is a series of games played during the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. It has been a regular occurrence since the league's inception in 1920. Since 2006, three games are played every Thanksgiving...
, Week 12, against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Green-Ellis ran for two touchdowns in a Patriots win. He added another two touchdowns in a 45–3 Patriots win over the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
in Week 13. In Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Green-Ellis eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing plateau on the season, becoming the first Patriots running back to rush for 1,000 yards since Corey Dillon
Corey Dillon
Corey James Dillon is a former American football running back. He played his ten-season career for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, wearing jersey number 28 for both teams. Dillon played college football the University of Washington where he wore the number 4.-High school...
in 2004
2004 New England Patriots season
The 2004 New England Patriots season was the 35th season for the team in the National Football League and 45th season overall. They finished with their second straight 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXIX, their third Super Bowl victory in four years.Following a Super Bowl...
.
Green-Ellis finished the 2010 season with 1,008 rushing yards on 229 carries (4.4 yard average), and 13 rushing touchdowns.