Adrian McPherson
Encyclopedia
Adrian Jamal McPherson is a quarterback
for the Montreal Alouettes
of the Canadian Football League
. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints
in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Florida State
.
McPherson has been a member of the Indiana Firebirds
, Utah Blaze
, Austin Wranglers
and Grand Rapids Rampage
.
Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football (the first athlete to have both honors in Florida history) as a student at Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida, McPherson began his career at Florida St. playing quarterback on the football team and point guard on the basketball team.Attended Southeast High School in Bradenton, Fla.
Gatorade Florida Football Player of the season.
Passed for 31,728 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 1,065 yards and eight scores as a senior at southwest.
Played third base for his American Legion baseball team that won a state championship in the summer of 2002.
Played two seasons (2001-02)at Florida State University.
As a sophomore in 2002, started four games, completing 80 of 156 passes for 1,017 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. Also rushed for 180 yards on 48 carries.
A true freshman, appeared in nine games with the Seminoles in 2001, completing 23 of 37 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
McPherson was also tried on allegations that he bet on professional and college football games in the spring of 2003. McPherson was represented at trial by Grady C. Irvin, who earned fame representing former National Baptist Convention
President Henry Lyons
on embezzlement charges in the late 1990s, and Charles "Chuck" Hobbs, who later garnered national attention while representing several Florida A&M University
students in the "Kappa Hazing" trial televised on CourtTV in 2006. During the trial, Irvin attacked the university by suggesting a cover up and legendary head coach Bobby Bowden
for an alleged role in the same.
but when it became clear the NCAA
would not allow him to play collegiate sports, he chose to turn pro and sign with the Indiana Firebirds
of the Arena Football League, where he threw 61 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions, and ran for 19 touchdowns. Because of his exceptional play, he was named the 2004 AFL Rookie of the Year. He could have opted for the 2004 NFL Draft
or a Supplemental Draft but chose to pay his dues in the AFL and prove to the NFL that he had matured.
.
On August 12, 2006, McPherson was hit by a golf cart driven by the Tennessee Titans
mascot
during half-time. On December 8, 2006, he sued the Titans because of the accident that occurred during the pre-season game at LP Field
. The suit sought $15 million in punitive damages and $5 million in compensatory damages.
of the AFL in their 2005 expansion draft. The move was widely considered to be a gamble, considering what his unknown status before the NFL's 2005 Draft. Following the draft, McPherson was placed on the "other-league exempt list" until further notice.
in exchange for future considerations.
in 2007 as a back-up quarterback for Chad Salsbury. That season for the Rampage, he completed 76 of 129 passes for 819 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions.
In 2008, McPherson went 27-for-50 for 368 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He was released by the team in April.
of the Canadian Football League
. He debuted with the Alouettes in a CFL pre-season game, on June 12, 2008, against the Toronto Argonauts
. He completed four of eight passes for 105 yards, and one touchdown pass. The Alouettes and Argonauts played to a 34-34 tie in Montreal
. McPherson currently backs up Alouettes Anthony Calvillo
at 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...
for the Montreal Alouettes
Montreal 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...
of 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....
. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 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 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Florida State
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
McPherson has been a member of 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...
, Utah Blaze
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
, Austin Wranglers
Austin Wranglers
The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008...
and Grand Rapids Rampage
Grand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
.
Early years
A former FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football (the first athlete to have both honors in Florida history) as a student at Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida, McPherson began his career at Florida St. playing quarterback on the football team and point guard on the basketball team.Attended Southeast High School in Bradenton, Fla.
Gatorade Florida Football Player of the season.
Passed for 31,728 yards and 21 touchdowns while rushing for 1,065 yards and eight scores as a senior at southwest.
Played third base for his American Legion baseball team that won a state championship in the summer of 2002.
2003
In 2003Played two seasons (2001-02)at Florida State University.
As a sophomore in 2002, started four games, completing 80 of 156 passes for 1,017 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception. Also rushed for 180 yards on 48 carries.
A true freshman, appeared in nine games with the Seminoles in 2001, completing 23 of 37 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
2003 arrest
In 2003, McPherson was arrested and charged with stealing and forging a signature on a blank check from a Tallahassee shop, R&R Truck Accessories. The check ended up in the possession of McPherson's high school friend and teammate Melvin Capers, and was cashed for $3,500. Capers later told police that he gave most of the money to McPherson.McPherson was also tried on allegations that he bet on professional and college football games in the spring of 2003. McPherson was represented at trial by Grady C. Irvin, who earned fame representing former National Baptist Convention
National Baptist Convention
National Baptist Convention may refer to:One of several historically African-American Christian denominations:*National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the oldest and largest denomination using this name, formed in the late 19th century...
President Henry Lyons
Henry Lyons
Reverend Henry J. Lyons is a former President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc..-Early life:Henry was raised by his grandfather, a Deacon named Booker T. Lyons. His own father, who was only 16 when Henry was born, played a minimal role in his childhood. He attended Gibbs Junior College...
on embezzlement charges in the late 1990s, and Charles "Chuck" Hobbs, who later garnered national attention while representing several Florida A&M University
Florida A&M University
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M or FAMU, is a historically black university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States, the state capital, and is one of eleven member institutions of the State University System of Florida...
students in the "Kappa Hazing" trial televised on CourtTV in 2006. During the trial, Irvin attacked the university by suggesting a cover up and legendary head coach Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
for an alleged role in the same.
Indiana Firebirds
After a jury found McPherson not guilty, he tried to enroll at Tennessee StateTennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
but when it became clear the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
would not allow him to play collegiate sports, he chose to turn pro and sign with 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...
of the Arena Football League, where he threw 61 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions, and ran for 19 touchdowns. Because of his exceptional play, he was named the 2004 AFL Rookie of the Year. He could have opted for the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 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 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
or a Supplemental Draft but chose to pay his dues in the AFL and prove to the NFL that he had matured.
New Orleans Saints
Later that spring McPherson was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 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 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
.
On August 12, 2006, McPherson was hit by a golf cart driven by the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
mascot
T-Rac
T-Rac is the official mascot of the NFL's Tennessee Titans. He is a raccoon, the state animal of Tennessee.-Collision with Adrian McPherson:During a preseason game with the New Orleans Saints in 2006, a golf cart driven by T-Rac hit Saints quarterback Adrian McPherson. On September 2, McPherson was...
during half-time. On December 8, 2006, he sued the Titans because of the accident that occurred during the pre-season game at LP Field
LP Field
LP Field is a football stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, owned by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County....
. The suit sought $15 million in punitive damages and $5 million in compensatory damages.
Utah Blaze
Before McPherson signed with the Saints following the 2005 NFL Draft, he was acquired by the Utah BlazeUtah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
of the AFL in their 2005 expansion draft. The move was widely considered to be a gamble, considering what his unknown status before the NFL's 2005 Draft. Following the draft, McPherson was placed on the "other-league exempt list" until further notice.
Austin Wranglers
Finally on November 9, 2006, McPherson was activated to the league and a week later traded to the Austin WranglersAustin Wranglers
The Austin Wranglers were an arena football team based in Austin, Texas. They played four seasons in the Arena Football League from 2004 to 2007 and spent one season in AF2, the AFL's developmental league, in 2008. They made playoff appearances in the AFL in 2006 and in AF2 in 2008...
in exchange for future considerations.
Grand Rapids Rampage
McPherson was signed by the Grand Rapids RampageGrand Rapids Rampage
The Grand Rapids Rampage was an Arena Football League team that began playing as a 1998 expansion team. They were coached by Steve Thonn.-History:...
in 2007 as a back-up quarterback for Chad Salsbury. That season for the Rampage, he completed 76 of 129 passes for 819 yards and nine touchdowns with four interceptions.
In 2008, McPherson went 27-for-50 for 368 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. He was released by the team in April.
Montreal Alouettes
In May 2008, McPherson was signed by 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...
of 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....
. He debuted with the Alouettes in a CFL pre-season game, on June 12, 2008, against the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto 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...
. He completed four of eight passes for 105 yards, and one touchdown pass. The Alouettes and Argonauts played to a 34-34 tie in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. McPherson currently backs up Alouettes Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo
Anthony Calvillo is a Canadian Football League quarterback, currently playing for the Montreal Alouettes. He is the all-time professional football passing yards leader and first in all-time CFL passing yards...
at quarterback.