Eric Weems
Encyclopedia
Eric Weems is an American football
wide receiver
for the Atlanta Falcons
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
at Bethune-Cookman.
in Daytona Beach, Florida
and was a letterman in football and basketball. In football, as a senior, he was named the team M.V.P. and was an All-Area selection and an All-State selection. In basketball, he was an All-Area selection.
. He played under fellow Bethune-Cookman alumnus and former head coach, Alvin Wyatt
from 2003-2007. Weems left with his name in the records numerous receiving categories throughout his four-year career at Bethune-Cookman. In his senior year, he added special teams to his portfolio, serving as the kickoff and punt return specialist for the Wildcats.
. He did not post any stats.
. Later in the same game, Weems provided a key block for a 7-yard Harry Douglas
touchdown run. His first career fumble recovery came on a Minnesota Vikings
muffed punt in week 16 of the 2008 season.
was placed on the injured reserved list with a season ending knee injury. Weems ended up returning both punts and kicks as the season progressed.
Weems scored his first career touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys
in week 7 of the 2009 season, he caught a 30 yard touchdown pass from QB Matt Ryan
. Weems scored his second career touchdown against the New York Giants in week 11 of the 2009 season, he had a 4-yard touchdown reception.
On the night of November 16, 2009, Weems was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia
for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Shortly afterward, Weems released a statement saying “Unfortunately, I was involved in an incident on November 17, 2009. I am embarrassed about the situation and I sincerely apologize to the entire Atlanta Falcons organization and our great fans.” No specific action was taken by the Atlanta Falcons or the NFL.
Weems finished the 2009 season with 6 catches for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed 8 times for 53 yards, Weems returned 48 kicks for 1214 yards and 27 punts for 270 yards, Weems fumbled 3 times losing 2 of them, he also recorded 10 tackles.
in the first week of the 2010 season. He had his first career start as a wide receiver against the Arizona Cardinals
in week 2. Weems returned his first career kickoff return for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
on week 13 of the season. The 102 yards was a franchise record for the Atlanta Falcons
. He also returned his first career punt return for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers
on week 17 of the season. The 55 yards was a career high. Weems was selected to the 2011 Pro Bowl
as a special teams member. Weems Finished the 2010 season with 6 catches for 61 yards. He returned 40 kickoffs for a 1100 yards with one touchdown. Weems returned 18 punts for 230 yards with one touchdown. Weems also recorded 16 tackles on special teams. He was the only player in the NFC to return a kick and a punt for a TD.
in the 2010-2011 NFC divisional championship game against the Green Bay Packers
. Early in the second quarter, Weems fielded a kickoff two yards deep in his team's own end zone and ran virtually untouched for 102 yard TD kickoff return. The 102 yard return was the longest play in NFL postseason history.
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
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...
. He was signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. 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 Bethune-Cookman.
Early years
Weems attended Seabreeze High SchoolSeabreeze High School
Seabreeze High School is a high school located in Daytona Beach, Florida. The school has been named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.- Notable alumni :...
in Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
and was a letterman in football and basketball. In football, as a senior, he was named the team M.V.P. and was an All-Area selection and an All-State selection. In basketball, he was an All-Area selection.
Bethune-Cookman University
Weems was a stand-out wide receiver/A-back at Bethune-Cookman University, located in his hometown of Daytona Beach, FloridaDaytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
. He played under fellow Bethune-Cookman alumnus and former head coach, Alvin Wyatt
Alvin Wyatt
Alvin B. Wyatt is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League and former college head coach....
from 2003-2007. Weems left with his name in the records numerous receiving categories throughout his four-year career at Bethune-Cookman. In his senior year, he added special teams to his portfolio, serving as the kickoff and punt return specialist for the Wildcats.
2007 season
Weems saw action in the NFL for the first time in the season finale against the Seattle SeahawksSeattle 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...
. He did not post any stats.
2008 season
Weems' first career reception came with a 4-yard catch in the first quarter of the Falcons' week 12 match-up against the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. Later in the same game, Weems provided a key block for a 7-yard Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas
Harry Douglas, IV is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville....
touchdown run. His first career fumble recovery came on a Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
muffed punt in week 16 of the 2008 season.
2009 season
Weems won a job with the Atlanta Falcons as a punt returner in 2009 when wide receiver Harry DouglasHarry Douglas
Harry Douglas, IV is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Falcons in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville....
was placed on the injured reserved list with a season ending knee injury. Weems ended up returning both punts and kicks as the season progressed.
Weems scored his first career touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in week 7 of the 2009 season, he caught a 30 yard touchdown pass from QB Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Villacher SV of the Austrian Hockey League .-Playing career:...
. Weems scored his second career touchdown against the New York Giants in week 11 of the 2009 season, he had a 4-yard touchdown reception.
On the night of November 16, 2009, Weems was arrested in DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. Shortly afterward, Weems released a statement saying “Unfortunately, I was involved in an incident on November 17, 2009. I am embarrassed about the situation and I sincerely apologize to the entire Atlanta Falcons organization and our great fans.” No specific action was taken by the Atlanta Falcons or the NFL.
Weems finished the 2009 season with 6 catches for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also rushed 8 times for 53 yards, Weems returned 48 kicks for 1214 yards and 27 punts for 270 yards, Weems fumbled 3 times losing 2 of them, he also recorded 10 tackles.
2010 season
Weems caught a career high of 4 catches against the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the first week of the 2010 season. He had his first career start as a wide receiver against the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 2. Weems returned his first career kickoff return for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
on week 13 of the season. The 102 yards was a franchise record for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also returned his first career punt return for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on week 17 of the season. The 55 yards was a career high. Weems was selected to the 2011 Pro Bowl
2011 Pro Bowl
The 2011 AFC–NFC Pro Bowl was the NFL's all-star game for the 2010 season. It took place at 7:00 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 30, 2011 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii...
as a special teams member. Weems Finished the 2010 season with 6 catches for 61 yards. He returned 40 kickoffs for a 1100 yards with one touchdown. Weems returned 18 punts for 230 yards with one touchdown. Weems also recorded 16 tackles on special teams. He was the only player in the NFC to return a kick and a punt for a TD.
2010 post-season
Weems had a notable contribution for the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2010-2011 NFC divisional championship game against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. Early in the second quarter, Weems fielded a kickoff two yards deep in his team's own end zone and ran virtually untouched for 102 yard TD kickoff return. The 102 yard return was the longest play in NFL postseason history.