James Baron
Encyclopedia
James Baron is an arena football
defensive lineman who is currently a free agent
in the Arena Football League. He was the Arena Football League Players Association's (AFLPA) president as well.
In his career, Baron has played for the Detroit Lions
, the Nashville Kats
, the Chicago Bears
, and the Chicago Rush
. He was one of only two players to play in all 80 games with the original Nashville Kats franchise, including ten postseason contests, quarterback
Andy Kelly
being the other. He also had a streak of 131 consecutive games played (including playoffs), which came to an end when he missed the first two games of the 2005 season
with a foot injury. He also is the Kats' franchise leader in sacks
with 34. He also holds team records for sacks in one season with 7.0.
and football
. As a junior
at Gavit High, he was a 1990 Junior Olympic
champion in Greco-Roman wrestling
. He was also an All-State selection in football his senior
season. He graduated in 1991.
and Triton Junior College
in Illinois
, each for one year, prior to transferring to Virginia Tech
for his junior year. While at Virginia Tech, he was named the most-improved defensive player before his junior season. He played ten games during the 1994 season
, recording 41 tackles
, five for losses and five sacks. He recorded three sacks against Arkansas State in his first game as a Hokie
. He also played in a loss to Tennessee
in the 1994 Gator Bowl
. He also had 30 quarterback pressures, three tackles for loss and two sacks in 1995
. As a senior, he started six games at defensive tackle and recorded 52 tackles, helping lead the Hokies to the Big East
title and a win over Texas
in the 1996 Sugar Bowl
. He recorded a career-high 13 tackles and blocked a field goal
in a win over Cincinnati
. He also returned a fumble
46 yards for a touchdown
in a win over Temple
. He was also a Liberal arts
major.
, however he was signed by the Detroit Lions
, and spent time in their training camp.
After not being able to make a teams roster in 1996, he signed with the Nashville Kats
of the Arena Football League. As a rookie in 1997
, he recorded six sacks and five more tackles for loss, as well as being named First-team All-Arena.
He recorded 23 total tackles, and also recorded five receptions
, all but one for touchdowns. He caught his first-ever touchdown pass and recorded a sack and a tackle for loss on defense in home win over the New York Dragons
. He recorded four tackles and a sack in loss to the Texas Terror
. He recorded two sacks and a five-yard touchdown reception in a win over the Anaheim Piranhas
. He led the Kats with seven tackles, two for losses, and a sack against the Milwaukee Mustangs
. In the playoffs, he recorded a
15-yard touchdown reception and a tackle in a first-round loss to the Tampa Bay Storm
.
After the AFL season was over, Baron signed with the Chicago Bears
in October 1998, where he spent the season
on the practice squad. In 1998
, Baron was selected as a First-team All-Arena selection and the league’s Lineman of the Year, in addition to chosen as the teams' Ironman of the Year. He had 14 tackles, four sacks, numerous quarterback hurries, five batted down passes, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for the season. He recorded five receptions on the season, three of which went for touchdowns, as the team's starting tight end
, totaling 44 yards receiving. He blocked on the offensive line, helping to allow only five sacks all season, the second best total in the league. He caught his first pass of the season on the road against the Dragons, a two-yard touchdown pass from Andy Kelly
. He caused two fumbles and had a sack in a home win over the Florida Bobcats
.
In April 1999, Baron requested his release from the Bears in order to join the Kats for the 1999 season. In 1999
, Baron was chosen as the AFL Defensive Player of the Year after posting 11 tackles, five sacks, five batted down passes, a recovered fumble and a forced fumble. He recorded numerous quarterback hurries and knockdowns while drawing double coverage for most of the season. He was selected as a First team All-Arena lineman and named to the AFL All-Ironman team. He was selected as the Kats' co-Ironman of the Year, sharing the award with Darryl Hammond
. Baron had nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown as a tight end on offense.
, Baron was a Second-team All-Arena selection, recording 13 tackles and 3.5 sacks along with three batted-down passes, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense. He also had five receptions for 35 yards and two for touchdowns, on the season. He was named the Kats' Ironman of the Year. He also blocked one field goal attempt on the season. He recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks and earned Ironman of the Game honors in a win over the Bobcats. Baron had one of the best outings of his career, in an ArenaBowl XIV
loss at Orlando, including a leaping 28-yard touchdown catch and run, two sacks and tackle for loss. He was named the Ironman of the Game and also had an apparent interception return for a touchdown overturned when he was ruled to have Predators' quarterback Connell Maynor in the grasp before the ball was thrown. In 2001
, Baron earned AFL Lineman of the Year honors for the second time after recording 11 tackles and six sacks. Earned First-team All-Arena honors and was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year and Ironman of the Year awards. He blocked a field goal attempt at home against Los Angeles, recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown. Baron's best overall game of the season came on the road against the Los Angeles Avengers
, when he recorded 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a tackle, and a career-high four receptions for 14 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception. He was also the recipient of the Hero Award, which is given by the league to honor a player for his off-the-field contributions to his local community. At the 2001 ArenaBowl
he was named to the AFL's 15th Anniversary All-Time team. After the 2001 season, the Nashville Kats folded and moved to Georgia
and became the Georgia Force
, and Baron left the team and signed with the Chicago Rush
. In 2002
, Baron was named First-team All-Arena after recording 18 tackles and three sacks in his first season with the Rush. The tackle total was his highest total since his rookie season. He was a finalist for the AFL Lineman of the Year award. He recorded his second career interception in his Rush debut on the road against the Indiana Firebirds
. He recorded his first sack with the Rush against the Dragons
, also recording his only touchdown reception of the season, in the game, a two-yard touchdown. Had one of his best games of the season against the Dallas Desperados
, recording 2.5 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
In 2003
, Baron recorded 14 tackles and four sacks in 16 games. He also reecorded three fumble recoveries, which tied for second-best in the league. He had the first blocked field goal attempt in Chicago Rush history in Dallas, the fourth blocked field goal attempt of his career. He recorded his fourth sack of the season on the road against the Carolina Cobras
, also blocking an extra point
that Cornelius Bonner
returned for two points. He caught his only pass of the season for an 11-yard gain against the Arizona Rattlers
. In 2004
, he recorded 15 tackles and three sacks in 16 games. He also forced four fumbles and recovered one. He recorded a season-high 3.5 tackles, including one for loss, in Indiana. He played in his 116th career regular-season game in the season-finale against the Colorado Crush
. On September 27, 2004, Baron became the restart Nashville Kats
' first official player after he was traded from Chicago in exchange for three picks in the 2004 AFL Expansion Draft and a selection in the 2004 AFL Player Dispersal Draft
. In 2005
, he, played in 14 games and totaled 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, a broken up pass, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also had one safety. He missed the first two games of the season with a foot injury, missing his first game after 131 consecutive games played in season opener on the road against the Columbus Destroyers
.
In 2006
, he recorded 16.5 tackles and three sacks in 16 games. He also had three tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In 2007
, he played in 12 games and recorded 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five passes-batted-down, and two blocked field goal attempts. After the season, he re-signed with the Rush after the Kats closed after a disappointing season. In 2008
, he played in 13 games and recorded 13 tackles, five sacks, six passes-batted-down, and one blocked field goal attempt. He was released by the Rush on September 3, 2008.
and Chicago
areas. He works with the YMCA
and Boys and Girls Clubs in middle Tennessee. During the 2001 season, he donated $
10,000 to the YMCA Urban Services program. He was recognized by the AFL for his participation in the YMCA’s Li’l Sisters/Buffalo Soldiers program. He sponsored the Chicago Rush Team Zone at each home game during his three seasons in Chicago, paying for the tickets and bus transportation from Hammond, Indiana for various youth groups. He also serves as a volunteer and fundraiser for the Preston Taylor Center in Nashville, a center for at-risk youth that is co-operated by the YMCA and the Girls and Boys Club.
during the off-season. He is also the president of Everyday Entertainment.
Arena football
Arena football is a variety of gridiron football played by the Arena Football League . It is a proprietary game, the rights to which are owned by Gridiron Enterprises, and is played indoors on a smaller field than American or Canadian outdoor football, resulting in a faster and higher-scoring game....
defensive lineman who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in the Arena Football League. He was the Arena Football League Players Association's (AFLPA) president as well.
In his career, Baron has played for 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...
, the Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
, 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...
, and the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
. He was one of only two players to play in all 80 games with the original Nashville Kats franchise, including ten postseason contests, 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...
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played in the AFL for fifteen seasons. He also played for two seasons for the Rhein Fire of the former World League of American Football....
being the other. He also had a streak of 131 consecutive games played (including playoffs), which came to an end when he missed the first two games of the 2005 season
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
with a foot injury. He also is the Kats' franchise leader in sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
with 34. He also holds team records for sacks in one season with 7.0.
High school and college
Baron attended Gavit High School in Hammond, Indiana where he participated in wrestlingScholastic wrestling
Scholastic wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the high school and middle school levels in the United States. This wrestling style is essentially Collegiate wrestling with some slight modifications. It is currently...
and 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....
. As a junior
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...
at Gavit High, he was a 1990 Junior Olympic
AAU Junior Olympic Games
The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the pinnacle competition held annually by the US Amateur Athletic Union.-Sports currently held:The following is a list of sports that currently take place at the Junior Olympic Games.* Aquatics - Diving and Swimming...
champion in Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
. He was also an All-State selection in football his senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
season. He graduated in 1991.
College career
Baron attended Iowa Central Community CollegeIowa Central Community College
Iowa Central Community College is a community college located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, United States, with satellite campuses in Webster City and Storm Lake. It was created in 1966 by the merger of Fort Dodge Community College with two other nearby schools....
and Triton Junior College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, each for one year, prior to transferring to Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech Hokies football
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team is a college football program that competes in NCAA Division I-FBS, in the Coastal Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have more wins in team history than any other program in the ACC. Their home games are played at Lane Stadium which seats over...
for his junior year. While at Virginia Tech, he was named the most-improved defensive player before his junior season. He played ten games during the 1994 season
1994 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1994 NCAA Division I-A football season saw yet another controversial finish as both Nebraska and Penn State finished undefeated, and yet Penn State finished a distant second in the final AP and UPI polls. The controversial finish, however, could have been an even worse morass if not for some...
, recording 41 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, five for losses and five sacks. He recorded three sacks against Arkansas State in his first game as a Hokie
Virginia Tech Hokies
The Virginia Tech Hokies are the athletic teams officially representing Virginia Tech in college sports. The Hokies participate in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic Coast Conference in 19 varsity sports. Virginia Tech's men's sports are football, basketball, baseball, cross country, golf, soccer,...
. He also played in a loss to Tennessee
Tennessee Volunteers football
The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference ....
in the 1994 Gator Bowl
1994 Gator Bowl
The 1994 Gator Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the and the Tennessee Volunteers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida on December 30, 1994...
. He also had 30 quarterback pressures, three tackles for loss and two sacks in 1995
1995 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Alliance and was a relatively calm year compared to the early 1990s.Tom Osborne led Nebraska to its second straight national title with a victory over Florida in the Fiesta Bowl....
. As a senior, he started six games at defensive tackle and recorded 52 tackles, helping lead the Hokies to the Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
title and a win over Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
in the 1996 Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
. He recorded a career-high 13 tackles and blocked a field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
in a win over Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats football
The Cincinnati Bearcats football program represents the University of Cincinnati in a college football. They compete at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level as members of the Big East Conference. The Bearcat football program is one of the nation's oldest, having fielded a team as...
. He also returned a fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
46 yards for a 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:...
in a win over Temple
Temple Owls football
The Temple Owls football team participates in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the East Division of the Mid-American Conference...
. He was also a Liberal arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
major.
1990s
Baron went unselected in the 1996 NFL Draft1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 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 20–21, 1996...
, however he was signed 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...
, and spent time in their training camp.
After not being able to make a teams roster in 1996, he signed with the Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
of the Arena Football League. As a rookie in 1997
1997 Arena Football League season
The 1997 Arena Football League season was the 11th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Arizona Rattlers, who defeated the Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl XI.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, he recorded six sacks and five more tackles for loss, as well as being named First-team All-Arena.
He recorded 23 total tackles, and also recorded five receptions
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
, all but one for touchdowns. He caught his first-ever touchdown pass and recorded a sack and a tackle for loss on defense in home win over the New York Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
. He recorded four tackles and a sack in loss to the Texas Terror
Texas Terror
Texas Terror may refer to:*Texas Terror - a 1935 western film starring John Wayne*Texas Terror - A franchise in the Arena Football League in the late 1990s....
. He recorded two sacks and a five-yard touchdown reception in a win over the Anaheim Piranhas
Anaheim Piranhas
The Anaheim Piranhas were a professional arena football team that played in the Arena Football League from 1994 - 1997. They played their home games at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The team was originally known as the Las Vegas Sting, prior to moving to Anaheim in 1996. The team was owned...
. He led the Kats with seven tackles, two for losses, and a sack against the Milwaukee Mustangs
Milwaukee Mustangs
The Milwaukee Mustangs were an Arena Football League team. They played from 1994 to 2001 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Bradley Center.-History:The team was founded in 1994 amidst rumors that the Green Bay Packers would soon stop playing games in Milwaukee, something they'd been doing since 1936...
. In the playoffs, he recorded a
15-yard touchdown reception and a tackle in a first-round loss to the Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
.
After the AFL season was over, Baron signed with 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...
in October 1998, where he spent the season
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
on the practice squad. In 1998
1998 Arena Football League season
The 1998 Arena Football League season was the 12th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Orlando Predators, who defeated the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl XII.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Baron was selected as a First-team All-Arena selection and the league’s Lineman of the Year, in addition to chosen as the teams' Ironman of the Year. He had 14 tackles, four sacks, numerous quarterback hurries, five batted down passes, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery for the season. He recorded five receptions on the season, three of which went for touchdowns, as the team's starting tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
, totaling 44 yards receiving. He blocked on the offensive line, helping to allow only five sacks all season, the second best total in the league. He caught his first pass of the season on the road against the Dragons, a two-yard touchdown pass from Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly
Andy Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the Arena Football League. He played in the AFL for fifteen seasons. He also played for two seasons for the Rhein Fire of the former World League of American Football....
. He caused two fumbles and had a sack in a home win over the Florida Bobcats
Florida Bobcats
The Florida Bobcats are a defunct Arena Football League team. They had been previously known as the Sacramento Attack and the Miami Hooters.-Sacramento Attack :...
.
In April 1999, Baron requested his release from the Bears in order to join the Kats for the 1999 season. In 1999
1999 Arena Football League season
The 1999 Arena Football League season was the 13th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Albany Firebirds, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XIII.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Baron was chosen as the AFL Defensive Player of the Year after posting 11 tackles, five sacks, five batted down passes, a recovered fumble and a forced fumble. He recorded numerous quarterback hurries and knockdowns while drawing double coverage for most of the season. He was selected as a First team All-Arena lineman and named to the AFL All-Ironman team. He was selected as the Kats' co-Ironman of the Year, sharing the award with Darryl Hammond
Darryl Hammond
Darryl Hammond is a retired arena football Wide receiver / Defensive back in the Arena Football League....
. Baron had nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown as a tight end on offense.
2000s
In 20002000 Arena Football League season
The 2000 Arena Football League season was the 14th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Orlando Predators, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XIV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Baron was a Second-team All-Arena selection, recording 13 tackles and 3.5 sacks along with three batted-down passes, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense. He also had five receptions for 35 yards and two for touchdowns, on the season. He was named the Kats' Ironman of the Year. He also blocked one field goal attempt on the season. He recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks and earned Ironman of the Game honors in a win over the Bobcats. Baron had one of the best outings of his career, in an ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV
ArenaBowl XIV is widely hailed as one of the most exciting games in ArenaBowl history, ranking alongside classics such as ArenaBowl XVIII and ArenaBowl XIX. Featuring two teams from the Arena Football League's Southern Division, the game went as a Southern Division game might be expected to: a...
loss at Orlando, including a leaping 28-yard touchdown catch and run, two sacks and tackle for loss. He was named the Ironman of the Game and also had an apparent interception return for a touchdown overturned when he was ruled to have Predators' quarterback Connell Maynor in the grasp before the ball was thrown. In 2001
2001 Arena Football League season
The 2001 Arena Football League season was the 15th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Grand Rapids Rampage, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
, Baron earned AFL Lineman of the Year honors for the second time after recording 11 tackles and six sacks. Earned First-team All-Arena honors and was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year and Ironman of the Year awards. He blocked a field goal attempt at home against Los Angeles, recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown. Baron's best overall game of the season came on the road against the Los Angeles Avengers
Los Angeles Avengers
The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
, when he recorded 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a tackle, and a career-high four receptions for 14 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception. He was also the recipient of the Hero Award, which is given by the league to honor a player for his off-the-field contributions to his local community. At the 2001 ArenaBowl
ArenaBowl XV
- Game summary :The Grand Rapids Rampage scored an ArenaBowl-record 64 points as they sent a sellout crowd home from Van Andel Arena happy with a 64-42 victory over the Nashville Kats to claim their first ArenaBowl title in team history....
he was named to the AFL's 15th Anniversary All-Time team. After the 2001 season, the Nashville Kats folded and moved to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and became the Georgia Force
Georgia Force
The Georgia Force are an Arena Football League team based in Gwinnett County, Georgia, United States that plays in the South Division of the American Conference. The team is owned by Doug MacGregor and Donn Jennings...
, and Baron left the team and signed with the Chicago Rush
Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
. In 2002
2002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...
, Baron was named First-team All-Arena after recording 18 tackles and three sacks in his first season with the Rush. The tackle total was his highest total since his rookie season. He was a finalist for the AFL Lineman of the Year award. He recorded his second career interception in his Rush debut on the road against the Indiana Firebirds
Indiana Firebirds
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League.The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball...
. He recorded his first sack with the Rush against the Dragons
New York Dragons
The New York Dragons were an Arena Football League team based in the New York metropolitan area. The team was founded in as the original incarnation of the Iowa Barnstormers, and relocated to New York in . They played in New York until 2008, when the league folded...
, also recording his only touchdown reception of the season, in the game, a two-yard touchdown. Had one of his best games of the season against the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
, recording 2.5 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
In 2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
, Baron recorded 14 tackles and four sacks in 16 games. He also reecorded three fumble recoveries, which tied for second-best in the league. He had the first blocked field goal attempt in Chicago Rush history in Dallas, the fourth blocked field goal attempt of his career. He recorded his fourth sack of the season on the road against the Carolina Cobras
Carolina Cobras
Not to be confused with the Los Angeles Cobras, who played in the 1988 AFL season.The Carolina Cobras were an expansion franchise in the Arena Football League...
, also blocking an extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
that Cornelius Bonner
Cornelius Bonner
Cornelius Bonner is an American football wide receiver playing for the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. The 6 feet tall and 190 pounds receiver played college football for the University of Cincinnati....
returned for two points. He caught his only pass of the season for an 11-yard gain against the Arizona Rattlers
Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers are a professional arena football team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Conference in the Arena Football League . The Rattlers were founded in 1992 as an expansion team. They play their home games at US Airways Center...
. In 2004
2004 Arena Football League season
The 2004 Arena Football League season was the 18th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVIII...
, he recorded 15 tackles and three sacks in 16 games. He also forced four fumbles and recovered one. He recorded a season-high 3.5 tackles, including one for loss, in Indiana. He played in his 116th career regular-season game in the season-finale against the Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
. On September 27, 2004, Baron became the restart Nashville Kats
Nashville Kats
The Nashville Kats were an Arena Football League team, located in Nashville, Tennessee. They were last coached by Pat Sperduto, who coached the team's original incarnation to two ArenaBowl appearances prior to the original franchise's move to Atlanta in 2002...
' first official player after he was traded from Chicago in exchange for three picks in the 2004 AFL Expansion Draft and a selection in the 2004 AFL Player Dispersal Draft
Dispersal draft
A dispersal draft is a process in professional sports for assigning players to a new team when their current team goes out of business, consolidates with another team, or for some other reason ceases to exist. Since most sports drafts are held in North America, this is where most dispersal drafts...
. In 2005
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
, he, played in 14 games and totaled 11 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, a broken up pass, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also had one safety. He missed the first two games of the season with a foot injury, missing his first game after 131 consecutive games played in season opener on the road against the Columbus Destroyers
Columbus Destroyers
The Columbus Destroyers were an Arena Football League team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team was founded in as the Buffalo Destroyers, based in Buffalo, New York, and relocated to Columbus in . They folded along with the original incarnation of the AFL following the 2008 season, after a total of...
.
In 2006
2006 Arena Football League season
The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX....
, he recorded 16.5 tackles and three sacks in 16 games. He also had three tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In 2007
2007 Arena Football League season
The 2007 Arena Football League season was the 21st season of the Arena Football League. The regular season began play on March 1, 2007 and concluded on June 25...
, he played in 12 games and recorded 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five passes-batted-down, and two blocked field goal attempts. After the season, he re-signed with the Rush after the Kats closed after a disappointing season. In 2008
2008 Arena Football League season
The 2008 Arena Football League season was the 22nd season of the Arena Football League and final season before the 2009 cancellation. The regular season began play on February 29, 2008 and concluded on June 22...
, he played in 13 games and recorded 13 tackles, five sacks, six passes-batted-down, and one blocked field goal attempt. He was released by the Rush on September 3, 2008.
Outside of football
Outside of the AFL, Baron is very active in the community, working with many organizations in the NashvilleNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
areas. He works with the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and Boys and Girls Clubs in middle Tennessee. During the 2001 season, he donated $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
10,000 to the YMCA Urban Services program. He was recognized by the AFL for his participation in the YMCA’s Li’l Sisters/Buffalo Soldiers program. He sponsored the Chicago Rush Team Zone at each home game during his three seasons in Chicago, paying for the tickets and bus transportation from Hammond, Indiana for various youth groups. He also serves as a volunteer and fundraiser for the Preston Taylor Center in Nashville, a center for at-risk youth that is co-operated by the YMCA and the Girls and Boys Club.
Personal
Baron currently resides in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
during the off-season. He is also the president of Everyday Entertainment.