Limas Sweed
Encyclopedia
Limas Lee Sweed, Jr. is a former American football
wide receiver
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
of the National Football League
. He played collegiately for the Texas Longhorns. On April 26, 2008 Sweed was taken 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
in the 2008 NFL Draft
.
. He was a starting receiver on the Brenham Cubs and took them to the Texas AAAA State Championship, where they were defeated by Denton Ryan High School.
He lettered in basketball and track. In track, he finished 4th at the UIL State Meet in the 110 Hurdles his senior year.
Sweed's junior year would be his best season statistically. Receiving for new quarterback Colt McCoy, Sweed collected 46 receptions for 801 yards and 12 touchdowns. By catching a touchdown pass in seven straight games, Sweed broke former Longhorn Roy Williams' record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception.
In the summer prior to the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
, Sweed injured his wrist but was cleared to play in the season opener for the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team
. In the sixth game of the season, the 2007 Red River Shootout, he left the game early because he re-injured his left wrist. He underwent surgery to tighten the ligaments in the wrist, ending his season. He returned to play in the Senior Bowl
, and was fully healthy for the NFL Scouting Combine.
, and was taken as the 9th receiver in the second round. On July 27, 2008, Sweed agreed to a four-year contract with the Steelers, worth US$3.3 million. Since by NFL rules wide receivers can't wear number 4 (Sweed's collegiate number), the Steelers issued Sweed the next-closest number with 14.
During 2008 training camp Sweed discovered that he had astigmatism
in both eyes; and would have to wear contacts. He started off his career in the 2008 pre-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles
where he led his teams in receptions (3) and yards (23) on the receiving end. His first action in a regular season game came in week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals
due to an injury suffered by backup Dallas Baker
. He caught 1 pass for 11 yards.
Going into the 2009 Training Camp, Sweed faced competition for the 3rd wide receiver position between veteran Shaun McDonald
and rookie Mike Wallace
. Sweed entered the season as the 6th receiver, rarely playing in the first 3 games. He dropped a pass in Week 3 which, had he held on to, would have been a touchdown. Following this drop, Sweed bounced between the 4th and 5th receiver spots until Shaun McDonald was released on November 28, solidifying Sweed as the 4th receiver.
On December 21, 2009, Sweed was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury/Illness List. The nature of the injury has yet to be announced, although he stated that he was dealing with "personal issues."
For the 2010 season, Sweed changed his number to 80.
On May 2, 2010, Sweed injured his left Achilles tendon during the final day of a three-day minicamp. On May 3, 2010, Sweed underwent surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon. He was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve a couple days later.
On August 17, 2011, Steelers released and placed Sweed on the Waived/Injured List
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 Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh 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...
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 played collegiately for the Texas Longhorns. On April 26, 2008 Sweed was taken 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh 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 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
High school
Sweed attended Brenham High School in Brenham, TexasBrenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
. He was a starting receiver on the Brenham Cubs and took them to the Texas AAAA State Championship, where they were defeated by Denton Ryan High School.
He lettered in basketball and track. In track, he finished 4th at the UIL State Meet in the 110 Hurdles his senior year.
College career
Sweed was a redshirt freshmen in the 2004 season. As a sophomore, Sweed recorded 36 receptions for 545 yards and 5 touchdowns. One of these touchdowns was a game winning catch from Vince Young against Ohio State to keep the Longhorns ranked second in the nation. In addition, Sweed recorded eight receptions for 65 yards in the BCS National Championship against USC.Sweed's junior year would be his best season statistically. Receiving for new quarterback Colt McCoy, Sweed collected 46 receptions for 801 yards and 12 touchdowns. By catching a touchdown pass in seven straight games, Sweed broke former Longhorn Roy Williams' record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception.
In the summer prior to the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 30, 2007, progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 7, 2008, where the top...
, Sweed injured his wrist but was cleared to play in the season opener for the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team
2007 Texas Longhorn football team
The 2007 Texas Longhorn football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Mack Brown, who received the 2005 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year award...
. In the sixth game of the season, the 2007 Red River Shootout, he left the game early because he re-injured his left wrist. He underwent surgery to tighten the ligaments in the wrist, ending his season. He returned to play in the Senior Bowl
Senior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
, and was fully healthy for the NFL Scouting Combine.
NFL career
. Originally projected to be taken as the first or second receiver in some mock drafts, his stock fell due to his injury. He was selected 53rd overall 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...
, and was taken as the 9th receiver in the second round. On July 27, 2008, Sweed agreed to a four-year contract with the Steelers, worth US$3.3 million. Since by NFL rules wide receivers can't wear number 4 (Sweed's collegiate number), the Steelers issued Sweed the next-closest number with 14.
During 2008 training camp Sweed discovered that he had astigmatism
Astigmatism
An optical system with astigmatism is one where rays that propagate in two perpendicular planes have different foci. If an optical system with astigmatism is used to form an image of a cross, the vertical and horizontal lines will be in sharp focus at two different distances...
in both eyes; and would have to wear contacts. He started off his career in the 2008 pre-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
where he led his teams in receptions (3) and yards (23) on the receiving end. His first action in a regular season game came in week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
due to an injury suffered by backup Dallas Baker
Dallas Baker
Dallas Leon Baker is an American professional football player who is a wide receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League...
. He caught 1 pass for 11 yards.
Going into the 2009 Training Camp, Sweed faced competition for the 3rd wide receiver position between veteran Shaun McDonald
Shaun McDonald
Shaun Terrance McDonald is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
and rookie Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace (American football)
-Pittsburgh Steelers:Wallace was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft with the 84th overall selection. Wallace was the 11th wide receiver chosen in the draft. On June 18, 2009, Wallace signed a three year contract with the Steelers worth $1.740 million which...
. Sweed entered the season as the 6th receiver, rarely playing in the first 3 games. He dropped a pass in Week 3 which, had he held on to, would have been a touchdown. Following this drop, Sweed bounced between the 4th and 5th receiver spots until Shaun McDonald was released on November 28, solidifying Sweed as the 4th receiver.
On December 21, 2009, Sweed was placed on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury/Illness List. The nature of the injury has yet to be announced, although he stated that he was dealing with "personal issues."
For the 2010 season, Sweed changed his number to 80.
On May 2, 2010, Sweed injured his left Achilles tendon during the final day of a three-day minicamp. On May 3, 2010, Sweed underwent surgery to repair his torn Achilles tendon. He was placed on season-ending Injured Reserve a couple days later.
On August 17, 2011, Steelers released and placed Sweed on the Waived/Injured List