It has taken me 52 years to say what I really have wanted to say about this, so I will let the venom slowly seep out. He was smart . January 16, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper. He is the majority owner and CEO of PFF. I just remember they were both in the discussion and I remember how vehement Lindy was for Collinsworth. "This man gets open consistently Will catch underneath, runs routes hard every down.". "The guy had me on the hook for five minutes," Collinsworth says. The following season Collinsworth led the way in one of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA college football history as Florida finished 8-4. I am not sure if the Patriots would prefer Mac Jones or Justin Fields, so I gave them my choice: Justin Fields. Three others finished with the exact same time but the 65 Collinsworth outleaned his competitors at the tape to take the title. Click to reveal "When I got the call, I didn't really trust it when I got it. They don't get it out of the guy for whatever reason.". Paul and Mike Brown, along with Infante and second-year head coach Forrest Gregg, were among the chief architects of that '81 Super Bowl team that is regarded as the best pro football team in Cincinnati history. "You watch the tape of him and think of a boxer who is great with that movement, he's hard to get a hand on, he's hard to jam. Some 30 years before Rutgers wide receiver Mohamed Sanu got pranked by a caller that said the Bengals were picking him in the first round before they really draftedhim in the third, Collinsworth got a phony call that said the New York media was poised to talk to him. He picks apart zone defenses and has a quick release when he pulls the trigger. Nobody hates being predictable more than Jerry Jones, but Surtain is the safe choice for Dallas. 1 WR in the draft. Collinsworth played in 107 games, catching 417 passes for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns. Better runner than our running backs.". Collinsworth played in his second Super Bowl during his final season in 1988. Before NBC, he co-hosted as a studio analyst Inside the NFL on HBO for that network's Sunday night NFL coverage and did color commentary on the NFL Network. The pivotal moment comes when you are already running, make that move on the DB, and THEN burst into the extra gear. Ojularis balance sticks out, too. His was very much a thinking offense that really relied on the receivers being able to basically play quarterback. Sewell is a potential Hall of Fame talent, and the Bengals know who their best player in franchise history is Anthony Muoz. Over the course of his three years playing wide receiver, Collinsworth hauled in 120 passes for a total of 1,937 yards. After a while I figured out what they wanted.". ("But I was only trying to make him feel better," the agent pleaded is how Collinsworth remembers it) and he can't recall who called from the team. He allowed only 12 catches on 34 targets for 93 yards in 2020. He will not beat himself with penalties, either. [26], One of the most well-known trademarks of Collinsworth's work in the broadcasting booth was his performance of the "Collinsworth Slide" before each game. Net Worth: $25 Million. Ohio State put a tight end outside him and just beat him up. Date of Birth: Jan 27, 1959 (64 years old) Place of Birth: Dayton. your life your choice quotes cris collinsworth 40 yard dash time Collinsworth was taken in the second round of the 1981 NFL draft with the 37th overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons. If they want a good test for WRs, they should run 60 yards and ignore the first 20. Sunday night, the longtime NBC NFL analyst gave fans what they wanted prior to kickoff between the Buccaneers and the Chiefs. I guess it just goes to show the draft is potluck to some degree.". [3], Collinsworth was born in Dayton, Ohio,[4] the son of Abraham Lincoln "Abe" Collinsworth (who was born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday) and Donetta Browning Collinsworth. During the NBC broadcasts of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Collinsworth appeared alongside Bob Costas as a commentator on numerous occasions. Gender: "My only memory of how Cris was built is at the weigh-in at Tampa, which is where the combine was then. His running skill was inherited by his daughter Ashley who won the Kentucky High School title in the 100 meters race, and ran for Harvard later where she became a team captain. Upon retiring, Cris Collinsworth quickly dove into his next career as a broadcaster, first taking a job as a sports radio host at WLW in Cincinnati. Mike Brown says. Teams played way off him after that, creating some easy throws underneath for his quarterback. ", Next to "What Do We Need To Know Further For Rating On This Prospect?" They raved about both. 100 Yard Dash: 10.18: 1982 Preliminary 4 . . Collinsworth was moved to wide receiver, where his new position coach was former Gator quarterback Steve Spurrier in his first year as a coach. In 2001, he was inducted into the Verizon Academic All-America Hall of Fame. The only other items he's wearing are a wrist watch and a slight, crooked grin he can't quite hide. Now it wasn't my rookie year. Fans have been ripping Collinsworth for his description of the play. I hope he is there Only (Isaac) Curtis has better catching abilities (on the Bengals). [10][8] Though Florida's offense did not improve enough to save the jobs of Dickey or his coaching staff, Collinsworth flourished in his new role. Tennessee had some success getting linemen on him and attacking downhill, but generally, he is very difficult to block. University of Notre Dame, Football, Roster, University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame, Thursday night games (and one Saturday-night game), List of Florida Gators football All-Americans, List of University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame members, "Cris Collinsworth wins 15th Emmy, gets animated", "Cris Collinsworth liked using Pro Football Focus, so he bought it", "Abraham Lincoln Collinsworth's Obituary on FloridaToday", "Astronaut High's Cris Collinsworth; Winner Of Multiple Emmy Awards, NFL Pro Bowler", Seven to be inducted into UF Hall of Fame, "Super Bowl XVI - San Francisco 49ers vs. Cincinnati Bengals - January 24th, 1982 - Pro-Football-Reference.com", "Collinsworth Finds New Life on Showtime's 'Inside the NFL', "Cris Collinsworth Tapped To Replace Madden", "Why Does Cris Collinsworth Slide in the NFL Booth? 9221 SE Event Center Place Write by: . He can play any position on the defensive line and create problems. In the end, the Falcons draft Kyle Pitts. Jerry Rice supposedly ran a 4.6 40 which put him in the "slow" category. His father, Abe Collinsworth, who played for a national championship basketball team under Adolph Rupp at the University of Kentucky, was his high school principal. "This is a guy who can rush the passer from a lot of different positions," Collinsworth said on a video he tweeted after watching Polite's game film. Pete Brown, the Bengals director of player personnel circled both the first and second round for Collinsworth. The way the story goes, which is now locked somewhere between myth and microfilm, Bengals founder Paul Brown watched offensive coordinator Lindy Infante climb off the table after his impassioned plea to take Collinsworth at No. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida rush end Jachai Polite became one of the most talked about names coming out of the NFL Combine last month. He will run down backs trying to bounce outside, and as quarterbacks get more mobile, defenders will have to match those skills. Collinsworth played his final NFL game in the 1989 Super Bowl, catching three passes for 40 yards as the Bengals fell 20-16 to the San Francisco Giants. Collinsworth earned prep football All-America honors from Parade, Scholastic Coach, Joe Namath Prep and Kickoff magazines. [24] His son, Austin Collinsworth, is a former football player and team captain at the University of Notre Dame. Jaylen Hurts gets an intimidator outside. Welcome to PFF draft week! 1 on the Bengals list, Collinsworth No. I loved watching his creative route running, which features subtle pauses and an ability to bounce off defenders to gain position. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1991. "I'm not here to condemn anyone. He even lent his broadcasting talent to video games. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Atlanta is in cap hell and would love to trade for additional picks to rebuild this team with lower-priced rookies. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that from December on Verser was No. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Draft History. Another former Ohio State quarterback who has been compared to Burrow appreciates the comparison. There is the 6-4 Collinsworth, stripped to gray shorts and gangling at maybe 180 pounds, Mike Brown recalls. Cris Collinsworth hall of fame [5] They moved to nearby Titusville in 1972, where his brother and he attended Astronaut High School, while their father was the principal. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2dac10f868e873 Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. Your email address will not be published. "He has some wayward motion with his arms. This falls under the too good to pass up category for the end of the first round. Relentless effort will always work for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. In his first game, Collinsworth tied a collegiate record with a 99-yard scoring pass to Derrick Gaffney. Toney is the flashiest player in this draft. [24] He also continued his work on Inside the NFL when it debuted on its new home on Showtime.[24]. He had quickness, size and he was fast. He is currently ranked 4th in school pass receiving charts and is even tied for NCAA record for longest touchdown pass (99 yards against Rice as a freshman quarterback in 1977). [24] Collinsworth and Costas paired again during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. When he sees something, he fires fast and wants to blow plays up. Apply & Register TODAY for Spring 2023 Classes at Eastern Florida State College, HOT OFF THE PRESS! He spent 8 years in the NFL, all of them with the Cincinnati Bengals. 12 all-time Gator player.[16][17][18]. Ubile wrote. And when I watched the tape, my first question was, what am I suppose to not like about Mac Jones?. He's able to wiggle around into gaps. I could see Cullen drawing up crazy blitz schemes to take advantage of his skill set. Nobody is better with mobile quarterbacks than Urban Meyer, as Tim Tebow and Alex Smith will attest. Fans enjoyed how he broke down plays during the game. How much he can get away with is always a factor in his success. As a sophomore, Collinsworth caught 39 passes for 745 yards and nine touchdowns. His best routes are slants and digs. I considered USC's Alijah Vera-Tucker here due to his guard-tackle versatility, but I ultimately went with the more powerful player in Leatherwood to block for Henry. By the time he was 8, Chris became a regular at the Gators' annual summer football camps. He never shied away from traffic He was a great player.". He did get bulled into the QB at times, though. 170.39.79.101 National Football League, Historical Players. After his retirement in 1988, Collinsworth made the transition to the broadcast booth. He's not nearly as physical as Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw, but Slater is an incredible pass protector. Gregg for his discipline. In 2009, Collinsworth filled the color-commentator role vacated by John Madden on NBC's Sunday Night Football, with Al Michaels. Quote Tweets. Collinsworth retired from professional football in 1989. He was an All-Pro selection from 1981-1983, and played for the 1982 and 1989 Super Bowl teams. His 5.24-second 40-yard dash didn't dazzle, but he has great feet and doesn't separate on blocks. He could play anywhere inside, including defensive end in a 3-4 defense. stars, six of whom had participated in previous Superstars finals. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. some comments that probably would have been best kept to himself, he tweeted after watching Polite's game film. Video game fans around the world can recognize his voice even if they dont know who he is. The best word to describe him is probably slippery. He can look completely blocked at times and still find a way to sneak through for the sack as the quarterback steps up. This was a coinflip for me between Farley and the safer pick of Northwesterns Greg Newsome II. But football certainly wasnt the only sport in which Collinsworth excelled as he also played baseball, was a four-year letterman in basketball, and also won a state championship in track. Cris Collinsworth is a former NFL player and is currently a famous Emmy Award winning sportscaster. He has size and strength. I will always think that Kyle Shanahan traded up to get Mac Jones, but the fan base revolted. His play in the College Football Playoff elevated him to the next level. "It was a fortuitous pick. He played college football at the University of Florida, where he was recognized as an All-American. "You get an idea what those two boys are going to be doing," Paul Brown said, pointing to Gregg and Infante in the doorway of the news conference room. And if not, the Raiders look foolish. His RPO footwork is special, he is a dangerous runner in space and he has a great feel for back-shoulder and high-and-away throws to protect the ball and receivers. One of the things I really like about Waddle is that he tends to hold his speed and create comfort for the defensive back before hitting the jets, and then it is all over. Collinsworth was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round (37th pick overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft,[19] and spent his entire eight-year NFL career with the Bengals. Penn State uses so many zone-coverage drops that it is hard to evaluate his coverage skills, but a prospect with his level of athleticism should be able to do anything. He could catch. So will this one coming up when it starts with Thursday's first round, 40 years to the day the morning newspapers hit the street bannering the news that the Bengals' antiquated offense had taken two receivers in the first two rounds. "(Infante) was a Florida guy Some people you just connect with. When drafting at the end of the first round, you can pick physical freaks and hope to coach them in ways they may have missed during the coronavirus-impacted season. He was a high school quarterback whose 58 total touchdowns still rank third all-time in North Carolina state history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLKlQ8wMpgg. Even when he does (get jammed), he doesn't fall down. His mother left the room in tears, still recalling what the agent had said about the Bengals not being a fit. Ginger Kane Andrew Livingston And while he is one of the least impressive catchers of the ball in this class, it appeared his confidence grew as the season went along. He would provide instant offense for Ryan Fitzpatrick in Washington. Check Out Some Great Areas to Explore On and Off Road on a Can-Am Maverick from Route 1 Motorsports, HOT OFF THE PRESS! He will get hit more this year than he has in his career to date, so I just hope he can survive at just 212 pounds. He will often see pulling guards and beat them to the hole. Born in Ohio in 1959, Cris Collinsworth moved with his family to Florida at the age of four and later attended Astronaut High School in Titusville, where his father was the basketball coach and later the principal. The Eagles get lucky here. He then became a reporter for HBO's (now Showtime's) Inside the NFL in 1989. His wiggly moves will remind you a little of Jason Pierre-Paul in his early years. 7. Despite his reputation of having a limited route tree, I think he will prove that it had nothing to do with him. Slater's footwork might not yet be on the same level as David Bakhtiaris, but his ability to stay in front of elite pass-rushers will keep him in the league for a long time. Jones also dealt with plenty of pressure from SEC defenses, as Alabamas protection wasnt always perfect. The team will take him out of that four-point stance and work on his explosion off the ball. 2021 NFL Draft Big Board | 2021 NFL Draft Guide | 2021 NFL Draft Stats Export | NFL Mock Drafts | NFL Mock Draft Simulator. Geoff Hobson. But Verser was a hell of a player. Cris Collinsworth's 40 time was 4.38 seconds. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. The talented edge rusher expressed some regret for how he handled things up in Indianapolis at his Pro Day -- be sure to check out this piece as Polite was quite frank about his missteps -- but he still failed to turn in better numbers running and looked a bit stiff in positional drills. He's 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds and ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. The draft has always been an Ouija board interspersed with 40-yard dashes to the unknown and vertical leaps into uncertainty. Please join us over on PFFs YouTube channel before, during and after the draft for a complete analysis of every pick. The 6 foot 5 Chris was an outstanding football receiver with 417 receptions in 107 games played in the NFL, he was a very skilled player. [24], Collinsworth is on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service. He is a hammer on the edge and can play in a 4-3 or 3-4. His confidence continued to grow throughout the 2020 season, and he was simply fantastic in the biggest moments. It is also possible that Pittsburgh could draft injured Alabama center Landon Dickerson and wait for him to recover. I think he could easily be the best lineman out of this draft. Performance & security by Cloudflare. He has a great feel for loops and stunts and is the best player available at a position of desperate need for Pittsburgh. You will see him flip out on scrambles like a Russell Wilson, and he is just as mobile. He will be a favorite of the post-game highlight shows. Toney's weakness comes in traditional route running. He finished his eight-season NFL career with 417 receptions for 6,698 yards and 36 touchdowns in 107 games. No one projected that in their reports. Much like Kwity Paye, he doesnt take advantage of his speed getting off the ball. Rousseau did get cut blocked a few too many times, but when you consider he may put on another 20 pounds, you cant help but think about what he might become. Bill Belichick, Cris Collinsworth and Rich Eisen introduce former San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Lance Alworth to the NFL 100 All-Time Team. His accuracy, touch, poise, anticipation, ability to quickly read defenses and distribute the ball are all unmatched in the class. He has flashy speed and is almost impossible for backs and tight ends to block when he sets his sights on the quarterback. The start is not relevant. Horn allowed a completion rate of only 33% on throws into his coverage in 2020. . He's an easy pick for No. One of the biggest decisions that Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni faced in Super Bowl LVII came on a fourth-and-six from the Chiefs' 15-yard-line with the Eagles up 24-21 late in the third quarter. He's the kind of player that, at least at the college level, opposing offensive coordinators had to gameplan around. His daughter Katie was a Manager of Marketing and Education Projects at GolfNow. While all this back and forth was going on in Cincinnati in the months leading up to the draft, Collinsworth didn't know he was a prospect until the Hula Bowl invited him in the preseason for the post-season all-star game. Fields has so much talent as both a passer and a runner that I think he will become a star. He fights hard to get to the edge against guards, using his hands well, and then is just too much to keep from turning the corner. He shoots gaps quickly and seems to always be a step ahead on his reads. INDIANAPOLIS _ Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin says he only compares Joe Burrow, his quarterback, to Joe Burrow, a Pro Bowler and two-time winner of the AFC North. In 1985, Collinsworth signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the United States Football League (USFL), but the contract was voided when he failed the physical due to a bad ankle. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. [24], In 2006, Collinsworth could be seen on three networks during football season. But dont let his thin frame fool you: He will show some pop against linemen trying to pull and kick him out. He made a lot of money betting on him. And Lindy was right. The Bears would love to sizzle in this draft, but only solid picks remain. [24] Collinsworth was also the host of the television show Guinness World Records Primetime during his stay at Fox. January 30, 2023 Space Coast Daily News Brevard Countys Best Newspaper, College Cant Wait! His son, Austin, played football at the University of Notre Dame. "Back then, nobody knew anything.". Collinsworth has been both a studio host and color commentator for NBC, Fox and the NFL Network. "It worked out," said the kid who was all arms, legs and brains, "just fine and dandy.". He had four 1,000-yard seasons, played in . Except he was fast. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Polite pulled up hurt after running a 4.84-second 40-yard dash, a slow time given his penchant for harassing opposing quarterbacks in college as an electric pass-rusher. Running Infante's choice routes where the receivers reacted to the defender and could do it because of the deep trust in Anderson's precision, Collinsworth became the Bengals' first 1,000-yard receiver in the first of four such seasons. "I'm going to guess that Lindy Infante made it up," Collinsworth says of the tale. Smith's lack of size will create doubt until you watch him play. More of PFF's 2021 NFL Draft tools here: He may have benefited from a lot of open receivers in college, but his tight-window throws stood out. He is currently a television sportscaster for NBC, Showtime, and the NFL Network, and winner of 17 Sports Emmy Awards. Abe, known as "Lincoln" in high school, was one of the top scorers in Kentucky high-school basketball history, and played for the Kentucky Wildcats "Fiddling Five" who won the 1958 national championship. He retired from the NFL following the 1988 season. Can he play the same when he isnt perfectly protected like at BYU? Austin was also a football player and team captain for Notre Dame. James Lofton, Cris Collinsworth, Nolan Cromwell, Joe Cribbs, Jimmie Giles 3 that no trade seemed fair. At No. Not the scouts. This is where the action really begins. The fumble would be immediately followed by a 92-yard 49ers touchdown drive, and San Francisco won 2621. Infante told the press the Verser pick was a consensus choice and that's what the notes from that 1981 draft reveal among the scouts. Initially, he was a guest host for Bob Trumpy (also a Bengals alumnus), but took over the show full-time as Trumpy accepted more television assignments. SUPER BOWL,. Like his father, Joe Horn, he will battle all day. At 6-foot-5 and 257 pounds, Oweh ran a remarkable 4.3-second 40-yard dash. I agree 100%. ", On 22 Jan 81, von Mann said Verser "is my choice of the receivers I've seen Rare and exceptional ability, he should be an outstanding performer in his first year. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. "I don't know where that one came from," Brown says of the photo story. Marshall is an uninterested blocker, but he has the size to do it at the next level, where there will be added motivation. Hes won a total of 16 Emmy Awards. He was a quick runner, at a 4.4 second 40 yard dash speed, he was a true threat to opponents. [5], His family, including Cris and his younger brother Greg, moved from Ohio to Melbourne, Florida, in 1963, when Cris was four years old. Good running ability after catch. During the Muoz era of the '80s, Cincinnati had two MVP QBs and went to the Super Bowl twice. 8 years later he joined FOX's team. [5][6] Cris was successful in multiple sports for the Astronaut War Eagles, and during his senior year in 1976, he won the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) Class 3A 100-yard-dash state championship and was named a high-school All-American quarterback. Collinsworth played quarterback in his prep years and was named an All-American as both a junior and senior. Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary went with the next pick. Anthony Cris Collinsworth[1] (born January 27, 1959) is an American sports broadcaster and former professional football player. Enjoy watching a lot of his highlights this year. The competition was first rate across the board, as records were scored in several events. He joined NBC for the first time in 1990, calling both NFL and college football games, before moving to Fox in the late 1990s after NBC lost their NFL broadcast rights to CBS. Batemans 4.39-second 40-yard dash time surprised me. Scout Frank Ubile compared Collinsworth favorably to a current Bengal ("A Pat McInally with speed") and some of the draft's top receivers, such as Mississippi State's Mardye McDole and UNLV's Sam Greene:"More speed than Verser, much more than McDole more consistentthan Verser and Greene. "He's a very smart individual," the papers quoted Infante as he explained how he was attracted to Collinsworth by his height and productivity in Florida's pro-style offense. In 1998, Collinsworth joined the NFL on Fox team after NBC lost their broadcast rights to CBS. 2,579. "Cris Collinsworth gushed over Mahomes throwing a ball into the dirt, and yet criticized Lawrence for overthrowing a. [14] He graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1981 and was inducted into the University of Florida Student Hall of Fame the same year. He also has a 39.5-inch vertical and an 85.0 PFF grade in 2020 to his name but no sacks this past year. . That is my only doubt. He was incredibly fast, which not only helped him succeed on the football field but as a track and field star as well. When Collinsworth started to attend the same church (United Trinity Methodist), Chris realized his destiny. As much as I would love to see the Bengals trade back, it just never seems to happen in Cincinnati. Playing quarterback for the War Eagles outstanding coach Jay Donnelly, he was also named to the all-state team in basketball during his senior year, and won the 100-yard dash in the Class 3A State Track and Field Championships as a junior. A very intelligent person. One scouting report from December with an indecipherable signature concluded Verser is "the No. ", Infante compared Verser's fluid running style to future Steelers Hall of Famer Lynn Swann: "We were looking for someone who can beat the bump-and-run coverage, a guy who's quick enough and strong enough to outmaneuver individuals in the defensive secondary.". Collinsworth book-ended his career in the Super Bowl with his 107 yards leading all receivers in Super Bowl XVI and his last career catch converting a third-and-eight on the drive the Bengals. Billions of hours of game play were played with his voice in the background calling plays while gamers controlled their virtual teams. Cris not only had the speed and touch on the football field, he also had the brains. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. He said he was a winner. He began his career with the Gators as a run-first quarterback but transitioned to wide receiver as a sophomore and was a First-Team All-SEC selection for three consecutive seasons, also earning All-American honors in 1980 as a senior. 10 and then chose Verser when he took one last look at Collinsworth in his shorts. 3 years later he worked on the Super Bowl. "Memories have been made to conform with what you wish you had done or said," Brown says. Because they were short. Farley has the size, too, measuring in at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, so he would be a steal at Pick 17 if healthy. Cris Collinsworth when he was honored as one of the First 50 Bengals. I played with Charlie when he was a Cincinnati Bengal Phil. And while he has the weakest arm of these top five quarterbacks, it is plenty strong enough to win a Super Bowl.