Nealon Greene
Encyclopedia
Nealon Greene is an American
-born Canadian football
quarterback.
After spending his collegiate career with Clemson
, where he became the school's career leader in passing yardage, Greene came to the Canadian Football League
with the Toronto Argonauts
. Greene was traded in 1999 to the Edmonton Eskimos
before he could establish himself on the Argonauts, but played well enough to stay with the team for a few seasons. On July 16, 1999, Greene set a CFL record for rushing yards in a single game by a quarterback with 180 yards. He became the clear Eskimos starter in 2000 while posting a 10-8 record and second place finish. The Eskimos would narrowly lose the west semi final to the BC Lions
by a score of 34-32 after a seemingly easy but missed field goal by kicker Sean Fleming which would have sealed the win. The loss resulted in the firing of head coach Don Matthews
which led to Greene losing the starting quarterback role to Jason Maas
during the 2001 season. Greene was subsequently traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
with Simon Baffoe and a second round pick (offensive lineman Francois Boulianne) in the 2002 CFL Draft
for offensive lineman Dan Comiskey
, running back Darren Davis
, and kicker Mike O'Brien.
Greene immediately became the starter in Saskatchewan starting the 2002 season improving the then woeful Roughriders to an 8-10 record, making the playoffs for the first time since their 1997 Grey Cup final appearance. In 2003 Greene would play 16 games for the Roughriders posting a 10-6 record as a starter, leading Saskatchewan to their first winning season since 1994. They would defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
37-21 in the first round of the postseason before losing to the Edmonton Eskimos in the western final by a score of 30-23.
The successful season of 2003 and further advancements having been made in the playoffs left the Roughriders fans looking positive. However in the first game of the 2004 season against the Toronto Argonauts, Greene would suffer a season-ending broken leg which resulted in a disappointing 9-9 season for Saskatchewan under back-up quarterback Henry Burris
. Greene would recover and return in the 2005 season, where he retained the role of starter after the departure of Burris. The up-and-down season struggles saw the team start strongly with a 3-1 record, but fall to a disappointing 3-6 by the halfway point of the season. Seeing that change was necessary, Greene was benched and lost the starting role to back-up Marcus Crandell
. Crandell would quarterback the Riders to five straight victories during Greene's time on the bench, but would later lose three crucial games in a row near the end of the season dropping the Roughriders to below .500 once again with an 8-9 record. Having nothing to lose, head coach Danny Barrett
then returned to Greene to start in the last regular season game in BC. Greene would lead the Riders to victory in his final CFL start, salvaging another disappointing 9-9 season for the green and white. Although the season resulted in a last place finish in the west, Greene and the Roughriders would cross over divisions and make the eastern playoffs. However, despite the victory against the league-leading BC Lions the previous week under Greene, he was benched again in favor of Crandell and never saw any playing time in the ensuing 30-14 loss to the Montreal Alouettes
in the east semi final.
On April 20, 2006 Greene was traded by Saskatchewan to the Montreal Alouettes where he reunited with head coach Don Matthews and served as a back-up quarterback to Anthony Calvillo
. Despite Calvillo's struggles and poor play later in the season, he remained the starter and Greene was never given a chance to start a game for Montreal. Greene was cut the following season after Matthews resigned as head coach.
Seemingly retired from pro football, Nealon has since returned to Clemson University and is continuing his education.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-born Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
quarterback.
After spending his collegiate career with Clemson
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
, where he became the school's career leader in passing yardage, Greene came to 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....
with 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...
. Greene was traded in 1999 to the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
before he could establish himself on the Argonauts, but played well enough to stay with the team for a few seasons. On July 16, 1999, Greene set a CFL record for rushing yards in a single game by a quarterback with 180 yards. He became the clear Eskimos starter in 2000 while posting a 10-8 record and second place finish. The Eskimos would narrowly lose the west semi final to the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
by a score of 34-32 after a seemingly easy but missed field goal by kicker Sean Fleming which would have sealed the win. The loss resulted in the firing of head coach Don Matthews
Don Matthews
Don Matthews, a.k.a. "The Don", is a former head coach of several teams in the Canadian Football League and is the second winningest head coach in CFL history with 231 wins...
which led to Greene losing the starting quarterback role to Jason Maas
Jason Maas
Jason Maas is a former Canadian football quarterback. He is best known for his career in the Canadian Football League, which was largely spent with the Edmonton Eskimos...
during the 2001 season. Greene was subsequently traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
with Simon Baffoe and a second round pick (offensive lineman Francois Boulianne) in the 2002 CFL Draft
2002 CFL Draft
The 2002 CFL Draft took place on April 25, 2002. From a list of 442 eligible CIS football players from Canadian universities and Canadian players in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, 54 players were chosen, up from the previous 48 since the 2002 CFL season marked the addition of the...
for offensive lineman Dan Comiskey
Dan Comiskey
Dan Comiskey is a retired Canadian football offensive lineman who played 13 seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1997 CFL Draft by the Roughriders...
, running back Darren Davis
Darren Davis
Darren Davis was a running back in the Canadian Football League. Davis played college football at Iowa State University and was the first player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards three times in a career.- College career :...
, and kicker Mike O'Brien.
Greene immediately became the starter in Saskatchewan starting the 2002 season improving the then woeful Roughriders to an 8-10 record, making the playoffs for the first time since their 1997 Grey Cup final appearance. In 2003 Greene would play 16 games for the Roughriders posting a 10-6 record as a starter, leading Saskatchewan to their first winning season since 1994. They would defeat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League . They play their home games at Canad Inns Stadium, and plan to move to a new stadium for the 2012 season.The Blue Bombers were founded...
37-21 in the first round of the postseason before losing to the Edmonton Eskimos in the western final by a score of 30-23.
The successful season of 2003 and further advancements having been made in the playoffs left the Roughriders fans looking positive. However in the first game of the 2004 season against the Toronto Argonauts, Greene would suffer a season-ending broken leg which resulted in a disappointing 9-9 season for Saskatchewan under back-up quarterback Henry Burris
Henry Burris
Henry Burris, Jr. is a professional Canadian and former American football player. Burris plays the quarterback position with the Canadian Football League Calgary Stampeders. Burris spent one year as a reserve quarterback for the National Football League's Chicago Bears...
. Greene would recover and return in the 2005 season, where he retained the role of starter after the departure of Burris. The up-and-down season struggles saw the team start strongly with a 3-1 record, but fall to a disappointing 3-6 by the halfway point of the season. Seeing that change was necessary, Greene was benched and lost the starting role to back-up Marcus Crandell
Marcus Crandell
Marcus Crandell is a Canadian football coach and former quarterback who is the current Offensive Coordinator of the Edmonton Eskimos....
. Crandell would quarterback the Riders to five straight victories during Greene's time on the bench, but would later lose three crucial games in a row near the end of the season dropping the Roughriders to below .500 once again with an 8-9 record. Having nothing to lose, head coach Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett
Danny Barrett is a former Canadian Football League quarterback and former quarterbacks coach at the University at Buffalo. He was previously the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders....
then returned to Greene to start in the last regular season game in BC. Greene would lead the Riders to victory in his final CFL start, salvaging another disappointing 9-9 season for the green and white. Although the season resulted in a last place finish in the west, Greene and the Roughriders would cross over divisions and make the eastern playoffs. However, despite the victory against the league-leading BC Lions the previous week under Greene, he was benched again in favor of Crandell and never saw any playing time in the ensuing 30-14 loss to 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...
in the east semi final.
On April 20, 2006 Greene was traded by Saskatchewan to the Montreal Alouettes where he reunited with head coach Don Matthews and served as a back-up quarterback to 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...
. Despite Calvillo's struggles and poor play later in the season, he remained the starter and Greene was never given a chance to start a game for Montreal. Greene was cut the following season after Matthews resigned as head coach.
Seemingly retired from pro football, Nealon has since returned to Clemson University and is continuing his education.