Rich Seubert
Encyclopedia
Rich Seubert (ˈsɔɪbərt; born March 30, 1979 in Stratford, Wisconsin
) is an American football
guard
who is currently a free agent
. He was signed as an undrafted free agent
by the New York Giants
out of Western Illinois University
in 2001. Seubert lives in Wayne, New Jersey
.
in Marshfield, Wisconsin
, and was a standout in football, basketball, and baseball. He helped lead his football and basketball
teams to two state championships each.
as an undrafted Free Agent in 2001. He made an impression on the Giants, and in his second season, he started at left guard for every game.
Seubert was at the center of an officiating controversy in the 2002 NFC playoffs, where the Giants faced the San Francisco 49ers
. The Giants, who had led by a score of 38-14, were trailing 39-38 when Matt Bryant
had a chance to kick a game winning field goal. When Trey Junkin
botched the snap, Seubert, an eligible receiver on the play, went out to try to catch holder Matt Allen
's pass. Allen underthrew Seubert, who was grabbed and pulled down by Chike Okeafor
, apparently drawing a pass interference penalty. Instead, an illegal man downfield penalty was called on Seubert, ending the game. The next day the NFL revealed that Seubert had checked in prior to the play, but one of his downfield teammates, Tam Hopkins, had not. Okeafor's interference call and the Hopkins call would have offset the penalties and forced a replaying of the down. The NFL drew a fair amount of criticism for the non-call on Seubert's play. The NFL later issued an official apology to the Giants in the offseason.
During a game against Philadelphia in October 2003, Seubert was blocking when his opponent N. D. Kalu
stepped on the back of his right leg, breaking Seubert's tibia
, fibula, and ankle. After 5 surgeries, he returned to play in 2005, mainly on special teams, or filling in for injured players, as Chris Snee had taken over as the starter. In December, he made his first start since the injury, helping Tiki Barber
rush for a team-record 220 yards. His starting job was given back to him in the 2007 season.
The Giants began to use Seubert as a tight end
in 2006, but due to his jersey number (69), he must be announced over the public address system by the referees as an eligible receiver
when he plays in that position. He is announced in this way roughly 20 times per game.
On March 24, 2008, he signed a 3-year extension through 2012.
Seubert started 16 games for the Giants in 2010, playing both guard and center. Seubert received praise for his solid performance from GM Jerry Reese, who remarked he was the MVP of the team.
On July 28, 2011, the Giants announced they released Seubert.
Stratford, Wisconsin
Stratford is a village in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,523 at the 2000 census.-History:...
) is an American football
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...
guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
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....
. He was signed as an undrafted 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....
by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The 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...
out of Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
in 2001. Seubert lives in Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
.
High school career
Seubert attended Columbus High SchoolColumbus Catholic High School (Marshfield, Wisconsin)
Columbus Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Marshfield, Wisconsin. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of La Crosse.-Background:Columbus Catholic High School is one of two Catholic high schools in Wood County....
in Marshfield, Wisconsin
Marshfield, Wisconsin
Marshfield is a city in Marathon and Wood counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. It is the largest city in Wood County. The small portion of the city that extends into Marathon County is part of the Wausau Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 18,800 at the 2000 census. Marshfield is...
, and was a standout in football, basketball, and baseball. He helped lead his football and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
teams to two state championships each.
College career
Seubert attended Western Illinois University and played tight end as a freshman. In his sophomore year he moved to tackle and was a first team All-Gateway honoree as a senior.Professional career
Seubert joined the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The 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...
as an undrafted Free Agent in 2001. He made an impression on the Giants, and in his second season, he started at left guard for every game.
Seubert was at the center of an officiating controversy in the 2002 NFC playoffs, where the Giants faced 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...
. The Giants, who had led by a score of 38-14, were trailing 39-38 when Matt Bryant
Matt Bryant
Steven Matt Bryant is an American football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Frankfurt Galaxy as a street free agent in 2002...
had a chance to kick a game winning field goal. When Trey Junkin
Trey Junkin
Abner Kirk "Trey" Junkin III is a former American football linebacker, tight end, and long snapper in the National Football League...
botched the snap, Seubert, an eligible receiver on the play, went out to try to catch holder Matt Allen
Matt Allen
Matt Allen is a former American football punter in the NFL who played for the New York Giants. He played college football at Troy State.- NFL career :...
's pass. Allen underthrew Seubert, who was grabbed and pulled down by Chike Okeafor
Chike Okeafor
Chikezie Russell Okeafor is a professional American football player. During his National Football League career from 1999 to 2009, he played defensive end and linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Arizona Cardinals....
, apparently drawing a pass interference penalty. Instead, an illegal man downfield penalty was called on Seubert, ending the game. The next day the NFL revealed that Seubert had checked in prior to the play, but one of his downfield teammates, Tam Hopkins, had not. Okeafor's interference call and the Hopkins call would have offset the penalties and forced a replaying of the down. The NFL drew a fair amount of criticism for the non-call on Seubert's play. The NFL later issued an official apology to the Giants in the offseason.
During a game against Philadelphia in October 2003, Seubert was blocking when his opponent N. D. Kalu
N. D. Kalu
Ndukwe Dike "N. D." Kalu is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 1997 NFL Draft...
stepped on the back of his right leg, breaking Seubert's tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
, fibula, and ankle. After 5 surgeries, he returned to play in 2005, mainly on special teams, or filling in for injured players, as Chris Snee had taken over as the starter. In December, he made his first start since the injury, helping Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
rush for a team-record 220 yards. His starting job was given back to him in the 2007 season.
The Giants began to use Seubert as a 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...
in 2006, but due to his jersey number (69), he must be announced over the public address system by the referees as an eligible receiver
Eligible receiver
In American football and Canadian football, not all players on offense are entitled to receive a forward pass. Only an eligible pass receiver may legally catch a forward pass, and only an eligible receiver may advance beyond the neutral zone if a forward pass which crosses the neutral zone is thrown...
when he plays in that position. He is announced in this way roughly 20 times per game.
On March 24, 2008, he signed a 3-year extension through 2012.
Seubert started 16 games for the Giants in 2010, playing both guard and center. Seubert received praise for his solid performance from GM Jerry Reese, who remarked he was the MVP of the team.
On July 28, 2011, the Giants announced they released Seubert.