Cory Schlesinger
Encyclopedia
Cory Schlesinger is a former American football
fullback
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions
in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Nebraska
.
at Columbus High School
in Columbus, Nebraska, leading the team in tackles as a junior and senior. He also played fullback as a senior in 1990, rushing for 1,514 yards and 23 touchdown
s (including nine 100-yard games). He was named the Nebraska
Defensive Player of the Year as a prep senior and played with a group of Nebraska football all-stars in the Down Under Bowl in Sydney, Australia following his senior campaign.
He also won the 189-pound wrestling state championship twice during his prep career.
. As a junior, he was the 1993 Husker Co-Lifter-of-the-Year with linebacker Donta Jones. During that season he finished as the team’s fifth-leading rusher with 48 carries for 193 yards and one touchdown.
He earned All-Big Eight Conference
honorable mention honors in 1994 in a coaches poll and a Phillips 66
Academic All-Big Eight pick the same year with a 3.44 grade point average in industrial technology. Schlesinger scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the 1995 Orange Bowl in a 24–17 win over the Miami Hurricanes as a senior to secure Nebraska's first national title under then-head coach Tom Osborne.
in the sixth round (192nd overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft
. He started two of the team’s first three games during his rookie season at fullback blocking for Barry Sanders
, but playing time in backfield diminished soon thereafter when offense began employing three-receiver sets on almost every play from scrimmage. He finished second on the team with 15 special teams tackles.
on November 24—but did not record a carry or reception. Also had a 89 yard touchdown for the season opener record long.
in 1997, Schlesinger saw more action there than in previous years with Lions with the team moving to a predominantly two-back set. He again played role as one of the team’s most valuable special teams members, finishing second on team with 27 tackles. He caught career-long 33-yard pass at the Green Bay Packers
on November 2 on fourth-and-one on a misdirection route, advancing Lions to the Packers’ one-yard line with a touchdown occurring on the next play. He also made several blocks against the Minnesota Vikings
on November 16, helping spring Vardell for three one-yard touchdown runs and a 41-yard run. Schlesinger scored his first career touchdown (one yard) at the Minnesota Vikings on December 14 on play-action pass on goal line.
, he set career highs in rushes (10) and rushing yards (50). His third career touchdown reception (three yards) came on a play-action pass on fourth-and-one against the St. Louis Rams
on November 7. He also finished third on the team with 15 special teams tackles. Schlesinger was named as a member of the 1999 All-Madden team and filmed a sketch for the show in a Lincoln, Nebraska
grocery store where he repeatedly crashed into other shoppers with his cart.
head coach and the team moved away from a power rushing attack to the west coast offense
. The fullback, in addition to rushing and blocking responsibilities, can also be more involved in the passing game. Schlesinger finished the 2001 season with single-season career highs in rushing attempts (47), rushing yards (154), rushing touchdowns (three), receptions (60) and receiving yards (466). He reeled in career highs with five receptions for 37 yards at the Cleveland Browns
on September 23. The first rushing touchdown of his career came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
on November 11, as he also posted then-career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (54). Against the Green Bay Packers
on November 22, he led the team with career-high six receptions (41 yards), along with five rushes for 39 yards, including a career-long 26-yard run off a fake punt. He set career-highs with 11 receptions for 67 yards against the Chicago Bears
on December 30. On the year Schlesinger rushed for 16 first downs—the only season of his career he has accumulated a double-digit total in the category.
For his efforts during the season, he was voted the Chuck Hughes
Most Improved Player by teammates and was also voted onto Howie Long
's Tough Guy team. He was also named to the 2001 All-Pro Team by Sports Illustrated
’s Paul Zimmerman
(‘Dr. Z’) and to the College and Pro Football Newsweekly 2001 All-Pro Second Team squad.
James Stewart
, who ran for a career-high 172 rushing yards against the Chicago Bears on October 20. He finished the year with 139 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns along with 35 receptions for 263 yards. He was an alternate in the 2002 Pro Bowl
to starter Mike Alstott
.
Schlesinger was the Detroit Lions recipient of the 2002 Ed Block Courage Award
.
Offensive MVP Award winner and as the Mike Utley
Spirit Award winner. He was named an alternate to the 2004 Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season. Schlesinger played his best all-around game of the season against the Oakland Raiders
on November 2, highlighted by a 33-yard touchdown reception from Joey Harrington
—the longest touchdown catch of his career. He led the team with four catches for 53 yards, opened lanes for the Lions’ second 100-yard rushing effort of the season and made a key block on Reggie Swinton
’s 61-yard kickoff return. He was an alternate in the 2003 Pro Bowl
to starter Mike Alstott
.
to his first 100-yard game. He cleared the path for Jones to rush for 196 yards against the Arizona Cardinals
on December 5 and 156 yards at the Green Bay Packers on December 12.
On December 26 against the Chicago Bears, Schlesinger cleared the path for Kevin Jones to record his fourth 100-yard game of the season and become the third rookie in Lions history to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Schlesinger missed three games due to a hamstring injury during the season.
He was a 2004 Pro Bowl
alternate to starter Fred Beasley
.
on August 12. He made his season debut at the Cleveland Browns on October 23, appearing on special teams and recording two receptions for 10 yards. His lone touchdown of the season came at the Pittsburgh Steelers
on January 1, 2006—a one-yard pass from quarterback
Joey Harrington.
for a season-high 65-yard gain at the St. Louis Rams on October 1. He was inactive with a hamstring injury at the New York Jets on October 22 and against the Atlanta Falcons
on November 5. He returned to the lineup against the San Francisco 49ers
on November 12 to play in his 174th career game, which moved him into a tie for seventh with placekicker
Eddie Murray
(1980–1991) on the team’s all-time games played list.
prior to the 2006 season inevitably spelled the end for Schlesinger's tenure in Detroit. With the team adopting Martz's wide open offensive philosophy, the Lions showed little interest in retaining Schlesinger as an unrestricted free agent during the 2007 off-season.
on March 11, 2007 in anticipation he would become the lead blocker for running back Ronnie Brown
. However, he was released at the end of training camp, losing out to rookie sixth-round draft pick Reagan Mauia
.
and drafting
teacher at Allen Park High School in Allen Park, Michigan
.
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...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
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 drafted by 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...
in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft
1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
. 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 Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
.
Early years
Schlesinger was a two-time all-state selection at linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
at Columbus High School
Columbus High School (Nebraska)
Columbus High School is a high school in Columbus, Nebraska . It is a public school that currently has around 1,185 students and is in the Columbus Public School district. Columbus High is a high school that serves students in grades 9–12.-1883–1899:...
in Columbus, Nebraska, leading the team in tackles as a junior and senior. He also played fullback as a senior in 1990, rushing for 1,514 yards and 23 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s (including nine 100-yard games). He was named the Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
Defensive Player of the Year as a prep senior and played with a group of Nebraska football all-stars in the Down Under Bowl in Sydney, Australia following his senior campaign.
He also won the 189-pound wrestling state championship twice during his prep career.
College career
Schlesinger was a two-year starter for the Nebraska CornhuskersNebraska Cornhuskers
The Nebraska Cornhuskers is the name given to several sports teams of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The university is a member of the Big Ten Conference...
. As a junior, he was the 1993 Husker Co-Lifter-of-the-Year with linebacker Donta Jones. During that season he finished as the team’s fifth-leading rusher with 48 carries for 193 yards and one touchdown.
He earned All-Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
honorable mention honors in 1994 in a coaches poll and a Phillips 66
Phillips 66
Phillips 66 is a brand of gasoline and service station in the U.S. It is owned by the ConocoPhillips Company.Phillips 66 will also be the name of the future downstream company created when ConocoPhillips repositions its integrated assets and businesses into two independent, publicly-traded...
Academic All-Big Eight pick the same year with a 3.44 grade point average in industrial technology. Schlesinger scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in the 1995 Orange Bowl in a 24–17 win over the Miami Hurricanes as a senior to secure Nebraska's first national title under then-head coach Tom Osborne.
1995
Schlesinger was drafted by the Detroit LionsDetroit 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...
in the sixth round (192nd overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft
1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
. He started two of the team’s first three games during his rookie season at fullback blocking for Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
, but playing time in backfield diminished soon thereafter when offense began employing three-receiver sets on almost every play from scrimmage. He finished second on the team with 15 special teams tackles.
1996
Schlesinger was primarily used on special teams in 1996, leading club in with 13 special teams stops on the year. He started one game at fullback—at the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 24—but did not record a carry or reception. Also had a 89 yard touchdown for the season opener record long.
1997
Splitting time at fullback with Tommy VardellTommy Vardell
Thomas "Tommy" Arthur Vardell is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League.-College career:Tommy Vardell was a star running back for the Stanford Cardinal...
in 1997, Schlesinger saw more action there than in previous years with Lions with the team moving to a predominantly two-back set. He again played role as one of the team’s most valuable special teams members, finishing second on team with 27 tackles. He caught career-long 33-yard pass at the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on November 2 on fourth-and-one on a misdirection route, advancing Lions to the Packers’ one-yard line with a touchdown occurring on the next play. He also made several blocks against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
on November 16, helping spring Vardell for three one-yard touchdown runs and a 41-yard run. Schlesinger scored his first career touchdown (one yard) at the Minnesota Vikings on December 14 on play-action pass on goal line.
1998
Schlesinger was the backup fullback to Tommy Vardell at most times during 1998, but saw significant action in the backfield. He served as one of squad’s most productive special teams players for fourth consecutive season, with his 18 tackles ranking fifth on the Lions. On offense, he was part of team’s “jumbo” package at goal-line and in short-yardage with he and Vardell sharing the backfield.His daughter Natalie Rae Schlesinger was born.1999
In 1999, Schlesinger became the Lions' full-time starting fullback. In the season opener at the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, he set career highs in rushes (10) and rushing yards (50). His third career touchdown reception (three yards) came on a play-action pass on fourth-and-one against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on November 7. He also finished third on the team with 15 special teams tackles. Schlesinger was named as a member of the 1999 All-Madden team and filmed a sketch for the show in a Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
grocery store where he repeatedly crashed into other shoppers with his cart.
2000
Schlesinger played in all 16 games for fifth time in six NFL seasons and second year as Lions’ starting fullback. His 15 special teams tackles tied for fifth on squad as well.His daughter Leah Kate Schlesinger was born.2001
In 2001, the Lions named Marty MornhinwegMarty Mornhinweg
Marty Mornhinweg is the offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, having joined the Eagles in 2003 as the assistant head coach. He was named offensive coordinator on January 6, 2006, after the Eagles previous offensive coordinator Brad Childress was hired as the head coach of the...
head coach and the team moved away from a power rushing attack to the west coast offense
West Coast offense
In American football, "West Coast Offense" refers to two similar but distinct offensive-strategic-systems of play: the "Air Coryell" system; or more commonly the pass play system popularized by Bill Walsh...
. The fullback, in addition to rushing and blocking responsibilities, can also be more involved in the passing game. Schlesinger finished the 2001 season with single-season career highs in rushing attempts (47), rushing yards (154), rushing touchdowns (three), receptions (60) and receiving yards (466). He reeled in career highs with five receptions for 37 yards at the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 23. The first rushing touchdown of his career came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
on November 11, as he also posted then-career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (54). Against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
on November 22, he led the team with career-high six receptions (41 yards), along with five rushes for 39 yards, including a career-long 26-yard run off a fake punt. He set career-highs with 11 receptions for 67 yards against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 30. On the year Schlesinger rushed for 16 first downs—the only season of his career he has accumulated a double-digit total in the category.
For his efforts during the season, he was voted the Chuck Hughes
Chuck Hughes
Charles Frederick "Chuck" Hughes was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League from 1967 to 1971. He is, to date, the only NFL player to die on the field during a game.-Early years:...
Most Improved Player by teammates and was also voted onto Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
's Tough Guy team. He was also named to the 2001 All-Pro Team by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
’s Paul Zimmerman
Paul Zimmerman
Paul Lionel Zimmerman is the son of Charles S. Zimmerman and Rose Zimmerman. Zimmerman, also known to readers as "Dr. Z", is an American football sportswriter who wrote for the weekly magazine Sports Illustrated, as well as the magazine's website, SI.com. He is sometimes confused with Paul D...
(‘Dr. Z’) and to the College and Pro Football Newsweekly 2001 All-Pro Second Team squad.
2002
In 2002 Schlesinger helped pave the way for running backRunning 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...
James Stewart
James Stewart (football player)
James Ottis Stewart known as "Little Man," was a running back at his high school of Morristown West High School. Then went to college and, is a former professional American football running back who was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1st round of the 1995 NFL Draft. A 6'1",...
, who ran for a career-high 172 rushing yards against the Chicago Bears on October 20. He finished the year with 139 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns along with 35 receptions for 263 yards. He was an alternate in the 2002 Pro Bowl
2002 Pro Bowl
The 2002 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 9, 2002 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 38, NFC 30. Rich Gannon of the Oakland Raiders was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
to starter Mike Alstott
Mike Alstott
Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
.
Schlesinger was the Detroit Lions recipient of the 2002 Ed Block Courage Award
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
.
2003
In 2003, Schlesinger was voted by his teammates as the Bobby LayneBobby Layne
Robert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
Offensive MVP Award winner and as the Mike Utley
Mike Utley
Michael Utley is a former American football player. He is known for being paralyzed during an NFL game.-NFL career:...
Spirit Award winner. He was named an alternate to the 2004 Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season. Schlesinger played his best all-around game of the season against 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...
on November 2, highlighted by a 33-yard touchdown reception from Joey Harrington
Joey Harrington
John Joseph "Joey" Harrington, Jr. is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions third overall in the 2002 NFL Draft, where he played for most of his professional career. He ranks third all-time in Detroit history in pass completions, with 986...
—the longest touchdown catch of his career. He led the team with four catches for 53 yards, opened lanes for the Lions’ second 100-yard rushing effort of the season and made a key block on Reggie Swinton
Reggie Swinton
Reginald Terrell Swinton is an American football punt and kick return specialist who is currently a free agent.-High school and college careers:...
’s 61-yard kickoff return. He was an alternate in the 2003 Pro Bowl
2003 Pro Bowl
The 2003 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 2003 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 45, NFC 20. Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
to starter Mike Alstott
Mike Alstott
Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
.
2004
Schlesinger was named as an alternate to the 2005 Pro Bowl for the third-straight season. He finished the season with a career-high three receiving touchdowns. He had a key 30-yard reception on the Lions winning touchdown drive against the Chicago Bears on September 12 which put the Lions on the Bears’ 4-yard line. During Schlesinger's 150th NFL game at the Minnesota Vikings on November 21, he helped running back Kevin JonesKevin Jones (American football)
Kevin S. Jones is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions 30th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
to his first 100-yard game. He cleared the path for Jones to rush for 196 yards against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 5 and 156 yards at the Green Bay Packers on December 12.
On December 26 against the Chicago Bears, Schlesinger cleared the path for Kevin Jones to record his fourth 100-yard game of the season and become the third rookie in Lions history to surpass the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Schlesinger missed three games due to a hamstring injury during the season.
He was a 2004 Pro Bowl
2004 Pro Bowl
The 2004 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 8, 2004 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was NFC 55, AFC 52, the most points scored in a Pro Bowl game. Marc Bulger of the St. Louis Rams was the game's MVP.-Game summary:...
alternate to starter Fred Beasley
Fred Beasley
Frederick Jerome Beasley is a former American football fullback in the NFL. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the 6th round in 1998 NFL Draft.-High school years:...
.
2005
Schlesinger missed the first portion of the 2005 season after suffering a fractured fibula to left leg in preseason opener at New York JetsNew 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 August 12. He made his season debut at the Cleveland Browns on October 23, appearing on special teams and recording two receptions for 10 yards. His lone touchdown of the season came at the 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...
on January 1, 2006—a one-yard pass from 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...
Joey Harrington.
2006
In 2006, Schlesinger played in 14 games with four starts to record eight catches for 36 yards (4.5 avg). He made key blocks on special teams, including one to break open kick returner Eddie DrummondEddie Drummond
Edward Matthew Drummond is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently with the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League. He was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
for a season-high 65-yard gain at the St. Louis Rams on October 1. He was inactive with a hamstring injury at the New York Jets on October 22 and against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on November 5. He returned to the lineup against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
on November 12 to play in his 174th career game, which moved him into a tie for seventh with placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Eddie Murray
Eddie Murray (football)
Edward Peter Murray is a former National Football League kicker.Murray played college football at Tulane University and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions...
(1980–1991) on the team’s all-time games played list.
2007
The arrival of offensive coordinator Mike MartzMike Martz
Michael Martz is a former NFL head coach and currently the offensive coordinator for the National Football League's Chicago Bears....
prior to the 2006 season inevitably spelled the end for Schlesinger's tenure in Detroit. With the team adopting Martz's wide open offensive philosophy, the Lions showed little interest in retaining Schlesinger as an unrestricted free agent during the 2007 off-season.
Miami Dolphins
Schlesinger signed with the Miami DolphinsMiami 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 March 11, 2007 in anticipation he would become the lead blocker for running back Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
. However, he was released at the end of training camp, losing out to rookie sixth-round draft pick Reagan Mauia
Reagan Mauia
Reagan Maui'a is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
.
Personal
He and his wife, Karen, have two daughters. Schlesinger is currently a computer-aided designComputer-aided design
Computer-aided design , also known as computer-aided design and drafting , is the use of computer technology for the process of design and design-documentation. Computer Aided Drafting describes the process of drafting with a computer...
and drafting
Technical drawing
Technical drawing, also known as drafting or draughting, is the act and discipline of composing plans that visually communicate how something functions or has to be constructed.Drafting is the language of industry....
teacher at Allen Park High School in Allen Park, Michigan
Allen Park, Michigan
Allen Park is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,210. The suburb of Detroit was recognized in Money Magazine's list of America's Best Small Cities. Allen Park is part of the collection of communities known as DownriverFord Motor...
.
- Spent parts of the 1995–1997 off-seasons as a student teacher at Park Middle SchoolPark Middle School (Lincoln, Nebraska)Park Middle School is one of the eleven public middle schools in the Lincoln Public Schools school district. It is located at 855 S 8th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. There are currently approximately 700 students enrolled....
in Lincoln, Nebraska and taught at his alma mater during the 1998–1999 off-seasons. - Drove in demolition derbiesDemolition derbyDemolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
for three years during high school. - He has recently toured with the Sons Of Thunder strength team performing various feats of strength i.e. brick and board breaking, bar bending.