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Chris Carr (football player)
Encyclopedia
Chris Carr is an American football
cornerback
, punt returner
, and kick returner
for the Baltimore Ravens
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
at Boise State.
Carr has also played for the Tennessee Titans
.
, he played both football
and basketball
at Robert McQueen High School
in Reno. He also played for the Reno Steelers Pop Warner team. He played defensive back
and was an All-State running back
as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was also named Northern Nevada Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year his senior year, where he rushed for 1,944 yards on 206 carries and 34 touchdowns.
at Boise State University
in Boise, Idaho
, lettered
all four years, played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2001 and posted 32 tackles. Carr was the Pat Fuller Memorial Award winner for Academic Achievement. As a senior, in 2004, he finished the season as the NCAA active career leader in average yardage per punt return, with 19.8 (22 punt returns for 432 yards). Even though he missed the last six games of regular season, as a senior, he was named honorable mention All-WAC
as a safety and kick returner.
in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. Carr's main contribution to the Raiders is as a kickoff
and punt
returner on special teams. He played in all 16 games in the 2005 NFL season
for the Raiders, and had seven tackles, two assists and two pass deflections. As a kick returner
, he ran 73 times for 1752 yards (an average of 24 per carry) with a long of 62 yards. As a punt returner
, he ran 32 times for 186 yards (an average of 5.5) with a long of 34. He only gave up 2 fumbles.
His first touchdown came while playing as a cornerback, when he intercepted a pass by Pittsburgh Steelers
quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger
and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown on October 29, 2006 at McAfee Coliseum
. It was the second longest interception for a touchdown in Raiders history and helped seal an upset win over the defending Super Bowl
champions.
In 2006, #23 became the Raiders all-time leader in kickoff returns with a total of 142 for 3,514 yards.
in the 2008 offseason. On March 29, the Titans signed Carr to a two-year, $2 million offer sheet. On April 5, the Raiders declined to match the offer after seven days and Carr became a member of the Titans.
and Ladarius Webb
made him a more prominent part of the defense. He finished the year strongly in his new role, recording career highs with 44 tackles and 2 interceptions. The year was capped off with an interception of Tom Brady
in the playoffs when facing the New England Patriots
.
At the start of training camp the following year, Dominique Foxworth suffered a tear to his ACL. With Washington and Webb still recovering from ACL tears of their own, Carr was upgraded to a starter in drills and the preseason alongside former Seattle Seahawk
Josh Wilson
. He began the season as a starter opposite the returning Washington. Through the first 12 games of the season, Carr has been used much less as a returner and much more on defense, having his best defensive year of his career. So far, In 2010, Carr set a career-high in tackles (67) and tied a previous career high set in 2009 with two INTs.
On July 30, 2011 the Baltimore Ravens re-signed Carr (4-year deal) as an unrestricted free agent, after losing Wilson to the Washington Redskins
.
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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
, and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
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...
. He was signed by the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played 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...
at Boise State.
Carr has also played for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.
Early years
Born in Reno, NevadaReno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, he played both 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 basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at Robert McQueen High School
Robert McQueen High School
Robert McQueen High School is a public secondary school in Reno, Nevada, USA. It is part of the Washoe County School District.-History:The school was named for Dr. Robert McQueen, emeritus professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. During his tenure from 1955–1991, Dr...
in Reno. He also played for the Reno Steelers Pop Warner team. He played defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
and was an All-State 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...
as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was also named Northern Nevada Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year his senior year, where he rushed for 1,944 yards on 206 carries and 34 touchdowns.
College career
He played his college ballCollege 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...
at Boise State University
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
all four years, played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2001 and posted 32 tackles. Carr was the Pat Fuller Memorial Award winner for Academic Achievement. As a senior, in 2004, he finished the season as the NCAA active career leader in average yardage per punt return, with 19.8 (22 punt returns for 432 yards). Even though he missed the last six games of regular season, as a senior, he was named honorable mention All-WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
as a safety and kick returner.
Oakland Raiders
He was signed by the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2005 as an undrafted free agent. Carr's main contribution to the Raiders is as a kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
and punt
Punt (football)
In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....
returner on special teams. He played in all 16 games in the 2005 NFL season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
for the Raiders, and had seven tackles, two assists and two pass deflections. As a kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
, he ran 73 times for 1752 yards (an average of 24 per carry) with a long of 62 yards. As a punt returner
Punt returner
Punt returner is a position on special teams in American football.-Description:The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while...
, he ran 32 times for 186 yards (an average of 5.5) with a long of 34. He only gave up 2 fumbles.
His first touchdown came while playing as a cornerback, when he intercepted a pass by Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown on October 29, 2006 at McAfee Coliseum
McAfee Coliseum
O.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
. It was the second longest interception for a touchdown in Raiders history and helped seal an upset win over the defending Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
champions.
In 2006, #23 became the Raiders all-time leader in kickoff returns with a total of 142 for 3,514 yards.
Tennessee Titans
Carr became a restricted free agentRestricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
in the 2008 offseason. On March 29, the Titans signed Carr to a two-year, $2 million offer sheet. On April 5, the Raiders declined to match the offer after seven days and Carr became a member of the Titans.
Baltimore Ravens
Carr signed a two-year, $5 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens on March 18, 2009. In the 2009 season, Carr started off as primarily a returner, but injuries to Fabian WashingtonFabian Washington
-Oakland Raiders:During his rookie year he played all 16 games with 11 starts and recorded 40 tackles. In his second season with the Raiders, Washington started in all 14 games he played in and had 43 tackles and four interceptions . During his third season with the Raiders in 2007 he played in 15...
and Ladarius Webb
Ladarius Webb
Lardarius "Lard" Webb is an American football cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He is the only player in NCAA Division I history to receive the conference awards of Offensive Player of the Week, Defensive Player of the Week, and Special Teams Player of the Week...
made him a more prominent part of the defense. He finished the year strongly in his new role, recording career highs with 44 tackles and 2 interceptions. The year was capped off with an interception of Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
in the playoffs when facing 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...
.
At the start of training camp the following year, Dominique Foxworth suffered a tear to his ACL. With Washington and Webb still recovering from ACL tears of their own, Carr was upgraded to a starter in drills and the preseason alongside former Seattle Seahawk
2009 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2009 Seattle Seahawks season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League. The Seahawks improved in Jim Mora's first season as their head coach, after a disappointing 4–12 record and a 3rd place finish in what was Mike Holmgren's final season coaching the team...
Josh Wilson
Josh Wilson (American football)
Joshua Wilson is a professional American football cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2nd round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
. He began the season as a starter opposite the returning Washington. Through the first 12 games of the season, Carr has been used much less as a returner and much more on defense, having his best defensive year of his career. So far, In 2010, Carr set a career-high in tackles (67) and tied a previous career high set in 2009 with two INTs.
On July 30, 2011 the Baltimore Ravens re-signed Carr (4-year deal) as an unrestricted free agent, after losing Wilson to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.