Joey Goodspeed
Encyclopedia
Joseph Allen Goodspeed is an NFL fullback
who last played for the Minnesota Vikings
. In the Vikings' 2006 mini-camp, he tore his ACL
and was on injured reserve
for the 2006 NFL season
. After the 2006 season he was cut by the Vikings and has yet to be signed by any team in the NFL.
, and was a star in football
and track & field
, along with playing basketball. In football, he was a 1995 SCHUTT
All-American High School Football Team selection after being a three-year starter
at both, fullback and linebacker
. As a senior he rushed 120 times for 1,296 yards and 21 TDs from the fullback slot and averaged 18 tackles per game as a linebacker, while helping Oswego to 9-1 mark in 1995. He also averaged 42 yards per punt as a senior. He was named to Super 25 all-area team by Chicago Sun-Times
for his efforts. As a junior he was also an All-Conference pick in 1994 while carrying 123 times for 1,076 yards and 20 TDs. He'd been captain of the team as a junior and senior.
In track & field, he was a state qualifier on both the shot put
and the discus
his junior year.
As a senior he played and started in all eleven games with 22 rushes and he had 12 receptions for 91 yards and making countless key blocks for Jarius Jackson. As a junior he played 12 games in 1998 as a backup to veteran Jamie Spencer at fullback. He ranked fourth in rushing with 202 yards, with his 7.0-yards-per-carry mark tops among Irish running backs and was on all the special teams. He was named ABC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame MVP vs. Arizona State. He was the Irish starter at fullback to begin the 1997 campaign, earning him the first-team assignment in the first three games of 1997. However he separated his right shoulder on a fourth down fake-field goal attempt vs. Michigan State, which caused him to miss the last nine regular-season games as well as the Independence Bowl.
As a freshman he played in nine games as a rookie fullback in 1996, working behind Marc Edwards and Jamie Spencer. He made 85 appearances with the Irish special teams to help become one of six freshmen to earn monograms. He had one pass reception that produced a 22-yard touchdown play vs. Pittsburgh and scored a touchdown on 33-yard return of blocked punt vs. Rutgers. He graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in management.
following the 2000 draft, but was released during training camp in September.He was signed by the Steelers Oct. 17 to the practice squad, spending the final 10 games with the Steelers practice squad.
but did not make the team or practice squad.
, finishing second on the team with 12 special teams tackles. Goodspeed was released by the San Diego Chargers during the preseason in 2003.
on October 28, 2003, where he played in the final eight games of the season, starting for four, but he did not have a rush or reception. Since Goodspeed joined the roster Marshall Faulk
rushed for at least 100 yards in five times in November and December 2003. Goodspeed had his first offensive stat of his career with a 9-yard reception in a playoff game vs. Carolina. The next season in 2004, he played all 16 games with the Rams. He had his first rushing stat of his career rushing three times for 6 yards (including a 2-yard touchdown) and caught 11 passes for 71 yards which were all career-highs. Faulk and Steven Jackson
combined for 5 100-yard games in 2004. Nonetheless, Goodspeed was released by the Rams on September 4, 2004, as part of the final round of cuts before the regular season. He had lost a battle with Madison Hedgecock
for the fullback position with the Rams. He did not sign with anyone during the 2005 season and was out of football.
and was expected to compete with Tony Richardson at fullback. However, he tore his left ACL at Vikings minicamp, which required surgery. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the season.
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
who last played for the 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...
. In the Vikings' 2006 mini-camp, he tore his ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
and was on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
for the 2006 NFL season
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
. After the 2006 season he was cut by the Vikings and has yet to be signed by any team in the NFL.
High School Years
Goodspeed attended Oswego High School in Oswego, IllinoisOswego, Illinois
Oswego is a village in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village population was 30,355. Its population has more than doubled since the 2000 census count of 13,326...
, and was a star in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and track & field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, along with playing basketball. In football, he was a 1995 SCHUTT
Schutt
Schutte may refer to:* Schütte-Lanz, a type of rigid airship* Schutte's Creek, see Stout Creek- People :* Arminda Schutte, Cuban classical pianist* Dan Schutte, American composer* Friedhelm Schütte, German footballer* Gert Schutte, Dutch politician...
All-American High School Football Team selection after being a three-year starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
at both, fullback and linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. As a senior he rushed 120 times for 1,296 yards and 21 TDs from the fullback slot and averaged 18 tackles per game as a linebacker, while helping Oswego to 9-1 mark in 1995. He also averaged 42 yards per punt as a senior. He was named to Super 25 all-area team by Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
for his efforts. As a junior he was also an All-Conference pick in 1994 while carrying 123 times for 1,076 yards and 20 TDs. He'd been captain of the team as a junior and senior.
In track & field, he was a state qualifier on both the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and the discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
his junior year.
College career
Goodspeed was a four-year starter at Notre Dame where he rushed for 399 yards and scored two touchdowns – one on a 22-yard reception and another on a 33-yard blocked punt return.As a senior he played and started in all eleven games with 22 rushes and he had 12 receptions for 91 yards and making countless key blocks for Jarius Jackson. As a junior he played 12 games in 1998 as a backup to veteran Jamie Spencer at fullback. He ranked fourth in rushing with 202 yards, with his 7.0-yards-per-carry mark tops among Irish running backs and was on all the special teams. He was named ABC Sports/Chevrolet Notre Dame MVP vs. Arizona State. He was the Irish starter at fullback to begin the 1997 campaign, earning him the first-team assignment in the first three games of 1997. However he separated his right shoulder on a fourth down fake-field goal attempt vs. Michigan State, which caused him to miss the last nine regular-season games as well as the Independence Bowl.
As a freshman he played in nine games as a rookie fullback in 1996, working behind Marc Edwards and Jamie Spencer. He made 85 appearances with the Irish special teams to help become one of six freshmen to earn monograms. He had one pass reception that produced a 22-yard touchdown play vs. Pittsburgh and scored a touchdown on 33-yard return of blocked punt vs. Rutgers. He graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in management.
Pre-draft
Goodspeed measured 5-11⅝ and 253 pounds and ran a 4.82 second forty-yard dash at the Notre Dame pro day.Pittsburgh Steelers
Goodspeed was signed by 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...
following the 2000 draft, but was released during training camp in September.He was signed by the Steelers Oct. 17 to the practice squad, spending the final 10 games with the Steelers practice squad.
New Orleans Saints
In 2001 he spent training camp with the New Orleans SaintsNew 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 ....
but did not make the team or practice squad.
San Diego Chargers
In 2002 he played 12 games with the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, finishing second on the team with 12 special teams tackles. Goodspeed was released by the San Diego Chargers during the preseason in 2003.
St.Louis Rams
Goodspeed signed with the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
on October 28, 2003, where he played in the final eight games of the season, starting for four, but he did not have a rush or reception. Since Goodspeed joined the roster Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk
Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access, Thursday Night Football, and NFL GameDay Morning on the NFL Network...
rushed for at least 100 yards in five times in November and December 2003. Goodspeed had his first offensive stat of his career with a 9-yard reception in a playoff game vs. Carolina. The next season in 2004, he played all 16 games with the Rams. He had his first rushing stat of his career rushing three times for 6 yards (including a 2-yard touchdown) and caught 11 passes for 71 yards which were all career-highs. Faulk and Steven Jackson
Steven Jackson
Steven Rashad Jackson is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Oregon State University....
combined for 5 100-yard games in 2004. Nonetheless, Goodspeed was released by the Rams on September 4, 2004, as part of the final round of cuts before the regular season. He had lost a battle with Madison Hedgecock
Madison Hedgecock
Madison Smith Hedgecock is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina....
for the fullback position with the Rams. He did not sign with anyone during the 2005 season and was out of football.
Minnesota Vikings
On 2006 he signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota 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...
and was expected to compete with Tony Richardson at fullback. However, he tore his left ACL at Vikings minicamp, which required surgery. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the season.