Michael McCrary
Encyclopedia
Michael Curtis McCrary is a former American Football
defensive end
who played for the Seattle Seahawks
and the Baltimore Ravens
for ten seasons in the NFL
between 1993 and 2002. McCrary was a two time Pro Bowl
er in 1998 and 1999. McCrary was inducted to the Ravens' Ring of Honor in 2004. McCrary is now doing commentary for the Ravens on WBAL-AM and created Mac's Miracle Fund; a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs and creating unique initiatives that foster self-esteem, build character, and promote academic and athletic excellence in children in need.
was heard before the United States Supreme Court and resulted in his admission. As a teen he stated “I hated lifting. I absolutely couldn’t stand it, but my father drove me and pushed me. After a while I saw development on my arms and legs, and after about a year I could lift all the weights he had. I was kind of in shock, because I could see formation. It was starting to make sense as to why I was doing this.” There were many times in that first year at George C. Marshall High School
that Michael wanted to quit, but his parents had always taught him to finish what he started. He begrudgingly lasted through that difficult introduction to a sport that would eventually bring him his fame and fortune. In his senior year of high school football McCrary was being recruited by several top football programs and anticipated he would have a breakout senior season. Instead, in only the second game of the season, Michael McCrary broke his arm in two places after chasing down a ball carrier. The diagnosis - a compound fracture. His goal was to receive a scholarship to play college football from a major program. Because of the injury, McCrary sat out his entire senior year. The only schools that were still interested were James Madison
and Towson State, two division I-AA schools, and Wake Forest. McCrary would later admit that “Even with Wake Forest, I wasn’t one of their top recruits. They told me that the only reason I got in was because a couple other guys ahead of me turned them down, so the scholarship slid to me. But I didn’t care; I had my scholarship and my car, and I knew the rest would take care of itself if I just kept working.”
from 1989 - 1992. Wake Forest has been recording the sack statistic since 1969. McCrary graduated out of Wake Forest in 1992 breaking both the team 's record of sacks in a season (16) and sacks in a career (30) and still holds those records to this day. When being scouted by NFL scouts they found his vertical leap was measured at 36 inches; and at 250 pounds, he came in at 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard sprint.
Michael McCrary was drafted in the 7th round by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1993 NFL Draft
. 7th round picks rarely make the team and McCrary would later state he was often teased for doing so by his teammates. Undersized at that time for being a defensive end, he stamped his legacy with aggression and speed. McCrary would spend the 1993 season with the Seahawks where recorded 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles with scarce playing time. In 1994, his playing time grew but not by much. McCrary also declined in production with 1.5 sacks and 12 tackles. He would then face a major injury in 1995 which left him out for 5 games. Because of roster movements, McCrary would start his first NFL season in 1996 and the virtually unknown McCrary made that opportunity count. He finished his first starting season with 77 total tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 13.5 sacks and 1 FG Block (which turned a probable Houston Oilers last second victory into a Seahawks win as he lateraled the ball to Robert Blackmon
who returned the block for a last second Seahawks Touchdown).
Baltimore Ravens
The Free Agency period began and McCrary's rookie contract expired. He and his agent did the “Round the World” NFL tour - Houston Texans
, Indianapolis Colts
, Philadelphia Eagles
- and nobody was biting on any of the offers. His agent decided to make a call to the Baltimore Ravens
and found that they were very receptive to the idea of talking with Michael. Current Cincinnati Bengals
head coach and then Baltimore
defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis
was building a defense that would eventually be the best statistical defense in the history of the NFL. McCrary would flourish in the Raven defense where his blue-collar tenacity and eternal high-caliber aggression was cherished.
McCrary finished his season as one of three Baltimore Ravens (Peter Boulware
and Rob Burnett
) with over 70 career sacks. Due to his knee injuries, McCraray officially retired previous to the 2003 NFL season.
Brian Billick on Michael McCrary:
"Reading Michael’s book reminded me of the absolutely fearless, pure warrior that I was lucky enough to have on our team and, fortunately, only had to coach against once. No player in Ravens history surpassed the effort Mike gave on every single play. He was as tough as any Raven. Mike served as an example to his teammates in terms of preparation, including in-season and off-season conditioning and strengthening. Mike McCrary was a player that, as a coach, you knew you didn’t have to concern yourself with. By that I mean Mike was going to give you his best, and was going to make a play that impacted the game, every time he set foot on the field." ~ Brian Billick
Sportscaster Keith Mills said, “I have never seen anything like this. I have covered a hundred of these, including Cal Ripken’s, and I have never seen so much love and emotion for a retiring player.”
City, concerning a hurricane-derailed New Orleans real estate venture at the New Orleans landmark (Crescent City Towers
) Plaza Tower site. The trial court defaulted all parties McCrary named in the litigation. New Orleans author and French Quarter
Bourbon Street
resident TJ Fisher
was among the multiple individuals and entities defaulted for $33.3 million dollars. In May 2009 the Maryland Court of Special Appeals
reversed the judgment. On May 2 of 2007, The Sun (Baltimore) daily newspaper ran a profile on Michael McCrary's "wrecked knees" and admitted drug dependence on a blizzard of strong medications — Percocet
, Percodan
, OxyContin, oxycodone
, three psychiatric medications, fentanyl patch and methadone
— for chronic pain and depression.
In a 2010 protective order request related to divorce proceedings, McCrary’s wife accused McCrary of being violent, volatile and carrying a gun, which McCrary denied. She later withdrew her petition for a protective order against her husband.
McCrary was present during the Baltimore Ravens
' Super Bowl XXXV
reunion in 2010.
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...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who played for the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle 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...
and 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...
for ten seasons in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
between 1993 and 2002. McCrary was a two time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er in 1998 and 1999. McCrary was inducted to the Ravens' Ring of Honor in 2004. McCrary is now doing commentary for the Ravens on WBAL-AM and created Mac's Miracle Fund; a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs and creating unique initiatives that foster self-esteem, build character, and promote academic and athletic excellence in children in need.
Early years
McCrary often cited his parents as the reason he took the path he did. When McCrary was a young boy his mother wanted to place him in a day care which was located across the street from his home. However, it wasn't racially integrated and she sued the day care to allow Michael's admittance. The case Runyon v. McCraryRunyon v. McCrary
Runyon v. McCrary, 427 U.S. 160 , was a case heard before the United States Supreme Court which held that federal law prohibited private schools from discriminating on the basis of race...
was heard before the United States Supreme Court and resulted in his admission. As a teen he stated “I hated lifting. I absolutely couldn’t stand it, but my father drove me and pushed me. After a while I saw development on my arms and legs, and after about a year I could lift all the weights he had. I was kind of in shock, because I could see formation. It was starting to make sense as to why I was doing this.” There were many times in that first year at George C. Marshall High School
George C. Marshall High School
George C. Marshall High School is a public school in Idylwood, unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, and part of Fairfax County Public Schools . Newsweek ranked Marshall 159th on its 2009 list of the top U.S. high schools.-Name:...
that Michael wanted to quit, but his parents had always taught him to finish what he started. He begrudgingly lasted through that difficult introduction to a sport that would eventually bring him his fame and fortune. In his senior year of high school football McCrary was being recruited by several top football programs and anticipated he would have a breakout senior season. Instead, in only the second game of the season, Michael McCrary broke his arm in two places after chasing down a ball carrier. The diagnosis - a compound fracture. His goal was to receive a scholarship to play college football from a major program. Because of the injury, McCrary sat out his entire senior year. The only schools that were still interested were James Madison
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
and Towson State, two division I-AA schools, and Wake Forest. McCrary would later admit that “Even with Wake Forest, I wasn’t one of their top recruits. They told me that the only reason I got in was because a couple other guys ahead of me turned them down, so the scholarship slid to me. But I didn’t care; I had my scholarship and my car, and I knew the rest would take care of itself if I just kept working.”
College career
McCrary played college football in Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
from 1989 - 1992. Wake Forest has been recording the sack statistic since 1969. McCrary graduated out of Wake Forest in 1992 breaking both the team 's record of sacks in a season (16) and sacks in a career (30) and still holds those records to this day. When being scouted by NFL scouts they found his vertical leap was measured at 36 inches; and at 250 pounds, he came in at 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard sprint.
Professional career
Seattle SeahawksMichael McCrary was drafted in the 7th round by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1993 NFL Draft
1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 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 25-26, 1993...
. 7th round picks rarely make the team and McCrary would later state he was often teased for doing so by his teammates. Undersized at that time for being a defensive end, he stamped his legacy with aggression and speed. McCrary would spend the 1993 season with the Seahawks where recorded 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles with scarce playing time. In 1994, his playing time grew but not by much. McCrary also declined in production with 1.5 sacks and 12 tackles. He would then face a major injury in 1995 which left him out for 5 games. Because of roster movements, McCrary would start his first NFL season in 1996 and the virtually unknown McCrary made that opportunity count. He finished his first starting season with 77 total tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 13.5 sacks and 1 FG Block (which turned a probable Houston Oilers last second victory into a Seahawks win as he lateraled the ball to Robert Blackmon
Robert Blackmon
Robert Blackmon is a former American football safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He played college football at Baylor....
who returned the block for a last second Seahawks Touchdown).
Baltimore Ravens
The Free Agency period began and McCrary's rookie contract expired. He and his agent did the “Round the World” NFL tour - Houston Texans
Houston 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...
, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
- and nobody was biting on any of the offers. His agent decided to make a call to 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...
and found that they were very receptive to the idea of talking with Michael. Current Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
head coach and then Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis
Marvin Lewis
Marvin Ronald Lewis is the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League, a position he has held since January 14, 2003...
was building a defense that would eventually be the best statistical defense in the history of the NFL. McCrary would flourish in the Raven defense where his blue-collar tenacity and eternal high-caliber aggression was cherished.
- In 1997, McCrary's first season in Baltimore, he recorded 69 tackles, 2 pass deflections and 9.5 sacks.
- In 1998, he recorded a 14.5 sack season, his career high. He also had 68 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 2 pass deflections.
- In 1999, under new head coach Brian BillickBrian BillickBrian Harold Billick is a National Football League game analyst for Fox, and is also an analyst for the network's Bowl Championship Series coverage. He was previously an NFL coach, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens from January 19, 1999 to December 31, 2007...
, McCrary finished the season with 59 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 11.5 sacks. - In Super BowlSuper BowlThe 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...
championship 2000 season (Super Bowl XXXVSuper Bowl XXXVSuper Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
), McCrary recorded 44 Tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 3 pass deflections. He had a single sack in the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXVSuper Bowl XXXVSuper Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
victory over the New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
after crawling to New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
QB Kerry CollinsKerry CollinsKerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
. - In 2001 McCrary played in only 10 games due to injury, recording 7.5 sacks, 51 tackles, 1 pass deflection and 1 interception which.
- In 2002, in just 5 games in, McCrary recorded 2 sacks, 5 tackles and defended 1 pass.
McCrary finished his season as one of three Baltimore Ravens (Peter Boulware
Peter Boulware
Peter Nicholas Boulware , is a former American football linebacker who played his whole NFL career for the Baltimore Ravens. He was a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 9. His younger brother, Michael Boulware, a strong safety is currently a free agent.-Early...
and Rob Burnett
Rob Burnett
Robert Barry Burnett is a former defensive end who played in the NFL for 14 seasons.-High school and college:Burnett attended Newfield High School located in Long Island, New York...
) with over 70 career sacks. Due to his knee injuries, McCraray officially retired previous to the 2003 NFL season.
Brian Billick on Michael McCrary:
"Reading Michael’s book reminded me of the absolutely fearless, pure warrior that I was lucky enough to have on our team and, fortunately, only had to coach against once. No player in Ravens history surpassed the effort Mike gave on every single play. He was as tough as any Raven. Mike served as an example to his teammates in terms of preparation, including in-season and off-season conditioning and strengthening. Mike McCrary was a player that, as a coach, you knew you didn’t have to concern yourself with. By that I mean Mike was going to give you his best, and was going to make a play that impacted the game, every time he set foot on the field." ~ Brian Billick
Retirement
On August 21, 2003, at the Ravens facility in Owings Mills, Maryland Michael McCrary announced his retirement In attendance were Michael’s mother and father, his wife Mary, and his daughter Kohanna. Representing the Ravens were majority owner Art Modell, Coach Billick, General Manager Ozzie Newsome, and about twenty players who asked special permission to attend. It was a media frenzy with cameras everywhere.Sportscaster Keith Mills said, “I have never seen anything like this. I have covered a hundred of these, including Cal Ripken’s, and I have never seen so much love and emotion for a retiring player.”
After Football
In 2007 Michael McCrary filed a $60-million-dollar civil lawsuit in the Circuit Court for BaltimoreBaltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
City, concerning a hurricane-derailed New Orleans real estate venture at the New Orleans landmark (Crescent City Towers
Crescent City Towers
Plaza Tower is a 45-story, -tall skyscraper in New Orleans, Louisiana, designed in the modern style by Leonard R Spangenberg, Jr. & Associates...
) Plaza Tower site. The trial court defaulted all parties McCrary named in the litigation. New Orleans author and French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a famous and historic street that spans the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. When founded in 1718, the city was originally centered around the French Quarter...
resident TJ Fisher
TJ Fisher
TJ Fisher is a Southern author, documentarist and social critic who lives in New Orleans, Louisiana and Palm Beach, Florida.- Career :Prior to being an author, Fisher had taken jobs as a journalist, gossip columnist, documentary filmmaker and ad agency/PR executive.- Post-Katrina :After Hurricane...
was among the multiple individuals and entities defaulted for $33.3 million dollars. In May 2009 the Maryland Court of Special Appeals
Maryland Court of Special Appeals
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the U.S. state of Maryland. The Court of Special Appeals was created in 1966 in response to the rapidly growing caseload in the Maryland Court of Appeals. Like the state's highest court, the tribunal meets in the Robert C...
reversed the judgment. On May 2 of 2007, The Sun (Baltimore) daily newspaper ran a profile on Michael McCrary's "wrecked knees" and admitted drug dependence on a blizzard of strong medications — Percocet
Percocet
The combination oxycodone/paracetamol is a narcotic pain reliever used to treat moderate to severe acute pain, marketed by Endo Pharmaceuticals.-History:The U.S...
, Percodan
Percodan
Percodan is a drug marketed by Endo Pharmaceuticals. It is a tablet containing a mixture of 325 mg of aspirin and 4.8355 mg of oxycodone HCl . It is used to treat moderate to severe pain...
, OxyContin, oxycodone
Oxycodone
Oxycodone is an opioid analgesic medication synthesized from opium-derived thebaine. It was developed in 1916 in Germany, as one of several new semi-synthetic opioids in an attempt to improve on the existing opioids: morphine, diacetylmorphine , and codeine.Oxycodone oral medications are generally...
, three psychiatric medications, fentanyl patch and methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
— for chronic pain and depression.
In a 2010 protective order request related to divorce proceedings, McCrary’s wife accused McCrary of being violent, volatile and carrying a gun, which McCrary denied. She later withdrew her petition for a protective order against her husband.
McCrary was present during 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...
' Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
reunion in 2010.