Marlon McCree
Encyclopedia
Marlon Tarron McCree is an American football
safety who is currently a free agent
, as well as a mentor and coach. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the Seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Kentucky
.
McCree has also played for the Houston Texans
, Carolina Panthers
, San Diego Chargers
and Denver Broncos
.
, where he was a letterman in football
, basketball
, and track
.
by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though unheralded, McCree immediately made an impact in training camp with Jacksonville, and assumed a starting role early in his rookie season.
(* represents NFL Combine
)
.
and was picked up by the Houston Texans. On December 21, 2003 he scored his first career touchdown, a 95 yard interception return off of the Tennessee Titans
' Steve McNair
.
prior to the 2005 NFL season, where he served as the starting free safety. McCree recorded three interceptions in the regular season, but truly made his mark in the first playoff game of his career.
On January 8, 2006, McCree played smothering defense in Carolina's first round game against the New York Giants
. His second interception of the game of New York's Eli Manning
preserved a 20-0 lead, and effectively put the Panthers ahead for good. Carolina won, 23-0.
"We were always overlooked. We don't know why that is," said McCree after the victory. "We've got the third best defense in the league. Sooner or later, we'll get the respect and recognition that we deserve."
signed McCree to a five-year deal through 2010 with $16 million guaranteed.
McCree's tenure with the Chargers was defined by suffocating defense, aggressive, game-changing hits, and a fierce determination to win.
During a January 14, 2007, playoff game against the New England Patriots
, McCree had a critical fourth quarter interception with the Chargers leading, 21-13. However, while tackling McCree following the interception, Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown
managed to strip the ball away from him. Reche Caldwell
would recover for the Patriots. San Diego's defense was unable to stop New England on the drive that followed, and the Patriots scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion
to tie the game at 21. The Patriots eventually won, 24-21.
“Anytime I get the ball I am going to try and score regardless," said McCree. "Troy Brown stripped it. He made a great play, and I was trying to make a big play. (In) hindsight I don't regret it because I would never try and just go down on the (ground). I want to score.”
The following season, almost a year to the day, McCree would exact a measure of redemption. On January 13, 2008, late in the fourth quarter of a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts
, Peyton Manning
was driving Indy toward what appeared to be a go-ahead score. But on third down and five, McCree delivered a vicious hit on Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne
, knocking Wayne out of the game and forcing the Colts to use their final timeout.
"As an emphatic hush fell over the crowd," wrote Jim McCabe in the Boston Globe, "the reality of the situation sank in, thanks to McCree's superb play. It was now fourth and 5 and Manning was without any timeouts or either of his prized wideouts, Marvin Harrison having left the game with a sore knee and Wayne having been shown the sideline courtesy of McCree's hit...When on the following snap Manning delivered his third straight incompletion, McCree could celebrate along with his teammates. This time, he had performed with textbook precision with a playoff game hinging on his split-second thinking."
McCree and the Chargers would advance to the AFC Championship game, where they would lose a rematch with the New England Patriots
.
On February 28, 2008 the Chargers released McCree to allow more playing time for the younger safety, Eric Weddle
.
on June 3, 2009. He was released by the Jaguars on September 5, 2009.
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...
safety who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
, as well as a mentor and coach. He was drafted by the Jaguars in the Seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. 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 Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
.
McCree has also played for the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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...
, San Diego Chargers
San 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...
and Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
McCree survived a tumultuous childhood in inner-city Orlando during the 1980s and 90s that saw him lose an older brother, Cameron, to leukemia. But with the guidance of family members, teachers and other mentors, McCree was able to excel at Atlantic High School in Port Orange, FloridaPort Orange, Florida
Port Orange is a city in Volusia County, Florida, United States. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 52,793. The city is part of the Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area; the metropolitan area's 2006 population was estimated at...
, where he was a letterman 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....
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and track
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...
.
2001 NFL Draft
McCree played four years at the University of Kentucky and was drafted in the 7th round 233rd overall of the 2001 NFL Draft2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Though unheralded, McCree immediately made an impact in training camp with Jacksonville, and assumed a starting role early in his rookie season.
| Pre-draft measureables | ||||||
| Wt | 40 yd 40 yard dash The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football... |
20 ss 20 yard shuttle The 20-yard shuttle, also simply called the short shuttle, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the quickness and change-of-direction ability of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
3-cone 3 cone drill The 3 cone drill, or three cone drill, is a test performed by American football athletes at the NFL combine. It is primarily run to evaluate the agility, quickness and fluidity of movement of players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting... |
Vert Vertical jump A vertical jump or vertical leap is the act of raising one's center of gravity higher in the vertical plane solely with the use of one's own muscles; it is a measure of how high an individual or athlete can elevate off the ground from a standstill.-Types of vertical jump:The vertical jump is... |
BP Bench press The bench press is an exercise of the upper body. For bodybuilding purposes, it is used to stimulate the pectorals, deltoids, and triceps. While on his or her back, the person performing the bench press lowers a weight to the level of the chest, then pushes it back up until the arm is straight... |
Wonderlic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 197 lb* | 4.62s* | 4.14s* | 7.36s* | 38"* | 10* | 16* |
NFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
)
Jacksonville Jaguars
McCree received significant playing time during his first two seasons, playing in all but three games, and making six interceptions in 20022002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
.
Houston Texans
McCree was waived by the Jaguars in 20032003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
and was picked up by the Houston Texans. On December 21, 2003 he scored his first career touchdown, a 95 yard interception return off of 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...
' Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
.
Carolina Panthers
McCree was claimed off waivers by 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...
prior to the 2005 NFL season, where he served as the starting free safety. McCree recorded three interceptions in the regular season, but truly made his mark in the first playoff game of his career.
On January 8, 2006, McCree played smothering defense in Carolina's first round game against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. His second interception of the game of New York's Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
preserved a 20-0 lead, and effectively put the Panthers ahead for good. Carolina won, 23-0.
"We were always overlooked. We don't know why that is," said McCree after the victory. "We've got the third best defense in the league. Sooner or later, we'll get the respect and recognition that we deserve."
San Diego Chargers
On March 11, 2006, 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...
signed McCree to a five-year deal through 2010 with $16 million guaranteed.
McCree's tenure with the Chargers was defined by suffocating defense, aggressive, game-changing hits, and a fierce determination to win.
During a January 14, 2007, playoff game against the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, McCree had a critical fourth quarter interception with the Chargers leading, 21-13. However, while tackling McCree following the interception, Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown
Troy Brown
Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former NFL wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall...
managed to strip the ball away from him. Reche Caldwell
Reche Caldwell
Donald Reche Caldwell, Jr. is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for six seasons in the early 2000s...
would recover for the Patriots. San Diego's defense was unable to stop New England on the drive that followed, and the Patriots scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
to tie the game at 21. The Patriots eventually won, 24-21.
“Anytime I get the ball I am going to try and score regardless," said McCree. "Troy Brown stripped it. He made a great play, and I was trying to make a big play. (In) hindsight I don't regret it because I would never try and just go down on the (ground). I want to score.”
The following season, almost a year to the day, McCree would exact a measure of redemption. On January 13, 2008, late in the fourth quarter of a playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
was driving Indy toward what appeared to be a go-ahead score. But on third down and five, McCree delivered a vicious hit on Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne
Reggie Wayne
Reginald "Reggie" Wayne is a professional American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Wayne was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Colts...
, knocking Wayne out of the game and forcing the Colts to use their final timeout.
"As an emphatic hush fell over the crowd," wrote Jim McCabe in the Boston Globe, "the reality of the situation sank in, thanks to McCree's superb play. It was now fourth and 5 and Manning was without any timeouts or either of his prized wideouts, Marvin Harrison having left the game with a sore knee and Wayne having been shown the sideline courtesy of McCree's hit...When on the following snap Manning delivered his third straight incompletion, McCree could celebrate along with his teammates. This time, he had performed with textbook precision with a playoff game hinging on his split-second thinking."
McCree and the Chargers would advance to the AFC Championship game, where they would lose a rematch with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
On February 28, 2008 the Chargers released McCree to allow more playing time for the younger safety, Eric Weddle
Eric Weddle
Eric Steven Weddle is an American football safety for the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League.-Early years:...
.
Second Stint with Jaguars
McCree re-signed with the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on June 3, 2009. He was released by the Jaguars on September 5, 2009.