Michael Jenkins (CFL player)
Encyclopedia
Michael Jenkins is a former running back
in the Canadian Football League
.
Jenkins attended the University of Wyoming
in 1997, and the University of Arkansas
from 1998-1999.
as a free agent. In his rookie
year, he played all 18 games and gained 1,050 rushing
yards on 183 carries with two rushing touchdowns complemented with 400 yards receiving
. Upon the season's completion, he was voted the team's rookie of the year. With his small size and his large rushing numbers, comparisons between Jenkins and his head coach
Pinball Clemons
(who was a star running back during his playing days) naturally emerged.
During the 2001 season, Jenkins set an Argonauts team record for most rushing yards in a season with 1484 rushing yards on 271 carries and 8 touchdowns as well as 361 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Earlier in the season, there was great concern by the fans over whether Jenkins' running abilities would have been stifled because of the "pass-happy" philosophy of offensive co-ordinator John Jenkins
. However, head coach Clemons put his coaching authority to use and called for a more balanced offensive attack combining the pass and running games to better utilise Michael Jenkins' game. His outstanding season had him voted the team's Most Outstanding Player.
of the NFL. , he spent the entire season in Houston.
injury
in the pre-season, and recurring ankle
injuries factored into his decreased productivity. Despite those shortcomings throughout the season, Jenkins rushed for 195 yards in a game vs. the Edmonton Eskimos on August 17, 2003 and earned the CFL offensive player of the week award for the achievement. By season's end, Jenkins rushed for only 814 yards on 156 carries with 6 rushing touchdowns, along with 316 yards receiving. Shortly thereafter, he had surgery
on his injured ankles that hampered him during the season.
. Months later, Jenkins' agent
, Danny Benjamin, alleged that his client would miss the entire 2004 CFL season because of the injured ankles and that the injury would not have been that serious had Jenkins not have gotten "bad advice from Toronto's female trainer
(Erin Brooks). I have a problem with female trainers because they're female and they don't understand the male body. Their bodies are different." Brooks laughed off the allegations by saying, "Injuries are injuries. Tissues are the same (in males and females)."
, but much of his time was split between the practice roster and the injured list. He was subsequently released by the Alouettes in July. On August 22, 2005, Jenkins signed with the Edmonton Eskimos
, and only played in one game on September 9, 2005 vs. the Calgary Stampeders
. In that game, he rushed for 30 yards on 8 carries, combined with 1 reception for 11 yards. Jenkins went on to win a Grey Cup
championship with the Eskimos that year.
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...
in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Jenkins attended the University of Wyoming
University of Wyoming
The University of Wyoming is a land-grant university located in Laramie, Wyoming, situated on Wyoming's high Laramie Plains, at an elevation of 7,200 feet , between the Laramie and Snowy Range mountains. It is known as UW to people close to the university...
in 1997, and the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
from 1998-1999.
Toronto Argonauts
In 2000, Jenkins joined the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
as a free agent. In his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
year, he played all 18 games and gained 1,050 rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
yards on 183 carries with two rushing touchdowns complemented with 400 yards receiving
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...
. Upon the season's completion, he was voted the team's rookie of the year. With his small size and his large rushing numbers, comparisons between Jenkins and his head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Pinball Clemons
Pinball Clemons
Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons, O.Ont is the current Vice-Chair for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Clemons also played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach. His No. 31 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the Argos...
(who was a star running back during his playing days) naturally emerged.
During the 2001 season, Jenkins set an Argonauts team record for most rushing yards in a season with 1484 rushing yards on 271 carries and 8 touchdowns as well as 361 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. Earlier in the season, there was great concern by the fans over whether Jenkins' running abilities would have been stifled because of the "pass-happy" philosophy of offensive co-ordinator John Jenkins
John Jenkins (football coach)
-External links:*...
. However, head coach Clemons put his coaching authority to use and called for a more balanced offensive attack combining the pass and running games to better utilise Michael Jenkins' game. His outstanding season had him voted the team's Most Outstanding Player.
Houston Texans
Jenkins left the Argonauts in 2002 to sign with the Houston TexansHouston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL. , he spent the entire season in Houston.
Back to the Argonauts
Jenkins returned to the Argonauts in 2003. Unfortunately, he was not able to regain the form that he had when he first joined the team. After coming back from the NFL, Jenkins' weight increased. That, combined with an abductor/groinGroin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury
Injury
-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
in the pre-season, and recurring ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injuries factored into his decreased productivity. Despite those shortcomings throughout the season, Jenkins rushed for 195 yards in a game vs. the Edmonton Eskimos on August 17, 2003 and earned the CFL offensive player of the week award for the achievement. By season's end, Jenkins rushed for only 814 yards on 156 carries with 6 rushing touchdowns, along with 316 yards receiving. Shortly thereafter, he had surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
on his injured ankles that hampered him during the season.
Injury and Return to Football
On May 17, 2004, Jenkins was released by the Argonauts, less than a month after the team signed free agent running back John AveryJohn Avery (football player)
John Edward Avery, Jr. is a former professional Canadian football and American football player. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, but also played with the National Football League's and the XFL John Edward Avery, Jr. (born January 11, 1976 in...
. Months later, Jenkins' agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
, Danny Benjamin, alleged that his client would miss the entire 2004 CFL season because of the injured ankles and that the injury would not have been that serious had Jenkins not have gotten "bad advice from Toronto's female trainer
Athletic trainer
An athletic trainer is a certified, health care professional who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association as an allied health care profession since 1990....
(Erin Brooks). I have a problem with female trainers because they're female and they don't understand the male body. Their bodies are different." Brooks laughed off the allegations by saying, "Injuries are injuries. Tissues are the same (in males and females)."
Montreal Alouettes/Edmonton Eskimos
On February 18, 2005, Jenkins signed with the Montreal AlouettesMontreal Alouettes
The Montreal Alouettes are a Canadian Football League team based in Montreal, Quebec.The current franchise named the Alouettes moved to Montreal from Baltimore, Maryland, in 1996 where they had been known as the Baltimore Stallions...
, but much of his time was split between the practice roster and the injured list. He was subsequently released by the Alouettes in July. On August 22, 2005, Jenkins signed with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
, and only played in one game on September 9, 2005 vs. the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
. In that game, he rushed for 30 yards on 8 carries, combined with 1 reception for 11 yards. Jenkins went on to win a Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championship with the Eskimos that year.