Sammy Morris
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sammy" Morris III (born March 23, 1977 in Oxford, England
) is an American football
running back
who is a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Texas Tech
.
He has also played for the Miami Dolphins
.
in San Antonio, Texas
, where he played both quarterback
and running back. He was named San Antonio Offensive Player of the Year and was a district MVP in his senior season.
, redshirting
his freshman season in 1995. In 1996, he rushed for 226 yards in eight games. He did not play again until his senior season in 1999, sitting out his junior year due to NCAA eligibility rules. He was a team captain his senior season, finishing with 562 rushing yards in nine games.
in the 2000 NFL Draft
. During his stint with the Bills, Morris was a backup to starters Antowain Smith
and Travis Henry
. He played in 12 games in his rookie season in 2000, recording 11 special teams tackles while finishing fourth in the team in rushing and third in receiving. In 2001, Morris played in 16 games, starting one, and led the Bills' special teams as a captain with 31 tackles. Morris was inactive for seven games in 2003, but returned six kickoffs during the season and picked up nine special teams tackles.
Morris signed a free agent
contract with the Miami Dolphins
on March 12, 2004, and though he was expected to be a fullback
he ended up being the team's leading rusher following the abrupt retirement of Ricky Williams
. He started eight of the 13 games he played in, finishing with 523 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He backed up rookie running back
Ronnie Brown
in 2005 and led the Dolphins with 16 special teams tackles. Morris was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 regular season after violating the league's substance abuse policy, stemming from him taking a banned substance, pseudoephedrine
, in the over-the-counter medicine Sudafed
. Upon his return, Morris rushed for 400 yards and was tied for third on the team with eight special teams tackles.
signed Morris to a four-year contract. He started two of the first six games of the season, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. On October 14, 2007 Morris suffered a chest injury while playing against the Dallas Cowboys
. On November 2, 2007, after missing two games, Morris was placed on injured reserve
with a chest injury, ending his season.
After starting running back Laurence Maroney
was placed on injured reserve
in October 2008 due to a shoulder injury Morris received considerably more playing time than in previous years. Morris played in 13 games in 2008, averaging 55.9 yards per game, which totaled 727 yards for the season. His previous high in rushing yards in a season was 523 in 2004. Morris also set his own personal record with touchdowns in a season with seven.
Morris started three of the first six games for the Patriots in 2009
before suffering a knee injury on his first touch of a Week 6 game against Tennessee Titans
. He returned in Week 12 but would not start until the final two games of the season, finishing with 319 yards on 73 attempts and two touchdowns.
In 2010
, Morris saw a significantly reduced workload behind new starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis
. He finished the season playing in 16 games, all as a reserve, and carrying 20 times for 56 yards as well as making 7 catches for 77 yards. During an AFC Divisional playoff
game against the New York Jets
, Morris took a direct snap and ran for a two-point conversion at the end of the third quarter to pull the Patriots within three points of the Jets.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an American football
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. 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 Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
.
He has also played for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Morris attended John Jay High SchoolJohn Jay High School (San Antonio, Texas)
John Jay High School is a high school in the Northside Independent School District of San Antonio, Texaswhich serves a portion of the city of San Antonio. All high schools in the Northside Independent School District are named for US Supreme Court Chief Justices; the first Supreme Court Chief...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, where he played both quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and running back. He was named San Antonio Offensive Player of the Year and was a district MVP in his senior season.
College career
After graduating from high school, Morris attended Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
, redshirting
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
his freshman season in 1995. In 1996, he rushed for 226 yards in eight games. He did not play again until his senior season in 1999, sitting out his junior year due to NCAA eligibility rules. He was a team captain his senior season, finishing with 562 rushing yards in nine games.
Buffalo Bills
Morris was drafted in the fifth-round (156th overall) by the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2000 NFL Draft
2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
. During his stint with the Bills, Morris was a backup to starters Antowain Smith
Antowain Smith
Antowain Drurell Smith is a former American Football running back in the National Football League who played nine NFL seasons, most notably with the New England Patriots. At 6'2", , Smith's powerful running style made him an effective runner between the tackles...
and Travis Henry
Travis Henry
Travis Deion Henry is a former American football running back for the Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bills in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
. He played in 12 games in his rookie season in 2000, recording 11 special teams tackles while finishing fourth in the team in rushing and third in receiving. In 2001, Morris played in 16 games, starting one, and led the Bills' special teams as a captain with 31 tackles. Morris was inactive for seven games in 2003, but returned six kickoffs during the season and picked up nine special teams tackles.
Miami Dolphins
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....
contract with the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on March 12, 2004, and though he was expected to be a fullback
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...
he ended up being the team's leading rusher following the abrupt retirement of Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams
Errick Lynne "Ricky" Williams, Jr. is an American football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints fifth overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
. He started eight of the 13 games he played in, finishing with 523 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He backed up rookie running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie Brown
Ronnie G. Brown, Jr. is an American football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League . After graduating from Cartersville High School in Georgia, Brown attended Auburn University to play college football for the Auburn Tigers...
in 2005 and led the Dolphins with 16 special teams tackles. Morris was suspended for the first four games of the 2006 regular season after violating the league's substance abuse policy, stemming from him taking a banned substance, pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine
Pseudoephedrine is a sympathomimetic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine chemical classes. It is used as a nasal/sinus decongestant and stimulant, or as a wakefulness-promoting agent....
, in the over-the-counter medicine Sudafed
Sudafed
Sudafed is a brand name and registered trademark for over the counter decongestants manufactured by McNeil Laboratories for sale in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
. Upon his return, Morris rushed for 400 yards and was tied for third on the team with eight special teams tackles.
New England Patriots
On March 3, 2007 the New England PatriotsNew 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...
signed Morris to a four-year contract. He started two of the first six games of the season, averaging 4.5 yards a carry. On October 14, 2007 Morris suffered a chest injury while playing 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...
. On November 2, 2007, after missing two games, Morris was placed 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...
with a chest injury, ending his season.
After starting running back Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney
Laurence Maroney is an American football running back who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 21st overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Minnesota.-Early years:Maroney attended Normandy Senior High School in St...
was placed 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...
in October 2008 due to a shoulder injury Morris received considerably more playing time than in previous years. Morris played in 13 games in 2008, averaging 55.9 yards per game, which totaled 727 yards for the season. His previous high in rushing yards in a season was 523 in 2004. Morris also set his own personal record with touchdowns in a season with seven.
Morris started three of the first six games for the Patriots in 2009
2009 New England Patriots season
The 2009 New England Patriots season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League and 50th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and a division title before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs....
before suffering a knee injury on his first touch of a Week 6 game against 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...
. He returned in Week 12 but would not start until the final two games of the season, finishing with 319 yards on 73 attempts and two touchdowns.
In 2010
2010 New England Patriots season
The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets...
, Morris saw a significantly reduced workload behind new starter BenJarvus Green-Ellis
BenJarvus Green-Ellis
BenJarvus Jeremy Green-Ellis is an American football running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2008. After playing college football his freshman and sophomore seasons at Indiana University, Green-Ellis...
. He finished the season playing in 16 games, all as a reserve, and carrying 20 times for 56 yards as well as making 7 catches for 77 yards. During an AFC Divisional playoff
2010–11 NFL playoffs
The National Football League playoffs for the 2010 season began on January 8, 2011 and led up to Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas....
game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Morris took a direct snap and ran for a two-point conversion at the end of the third quarter to pull the Patriots within three points of the Jets.