Stoney Case
Encyclopedia
Stoney Jarrod Case is a quarterback
in the Arena Football League, and a former National Football League
quarterback
with four teams.
for the Odessa
Permian Panthers
, quarterbacking the team to an undefeated, 16–0 season and the Texas 5A football title in 1989, one year after the events chronicled in the book and movie Friday Night Lights. The Panthers were voted ESPN
's National Champion team as a result. During his Permian career, Case also lettered
in baseball
as an outfielder
, first baseman
and pitcher
. His brother Stormy Case also played quarterback for the Panthers and went on to play for Texas A&M
.
Recruited to play college football
for the University of New Mexico
, Case was a four-year starter
for the Lobos and who, along with Colt McCoy
, are the only players in NCAA Division I-A history to post 8,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. In the course of his college career he threw or ran for 98 touchdowns, ranking fourth in NCAA Division I-A history to Ty Detmer
, Colt Brennan
, Graham Harrell
's 132 touchdowns.
and played quarterback for Arizona Cardinals
from 1995 to 1998, though he spent part of that time with the Barcelona Dragons
in the NFL Europe
. He was signed as a free agent
by both the Indianapolis Colts
and the Baltimore Ravens
in 1999, and went to the Detroit Lions
as an unrestricted free agent in 2000.
Case saw limited action during his NFL career. He played in two games during his rookie
season, but saw no action in either 1996
or 1998
. He played twice in 1997
as a replacement for injured starter Kent Graham
. He played in 10 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 1999
, starting four games and winning two of them. He also played in five other games later in the season, receiving playing time as a back-up quarterback. In all, Case played in a total of 24 career NFL games over six years, 12 as a starter, where he passed for 1,826 yards and 4 touchdowns while rushing for 270 yards and 5 touchdowns.
As an NFL player, Case was criticized by some fans for his uncertainty and lack of ability to throw an effective long pass. His worst career performance came in October 1999 when he appeared for the Ravens against the Kansas City Chiefs
, completing only 15 of 37 passes for 103 yards. "The Chiefs", noted the Baltimore City Paper
, "by comparison, ran back his intercepted passes for 108 yards. Repeat: 103 yards forward, 108 yards backward. Add in those two touchdowns off interceptions and Case did almost precisely as much for Kansas City as did the Chiefs' own quarterback, Elvis Grbac
(112 yards, two TD passes)."
In 2000
, Case signed with the Detroit Lions as the primary backup to quarterback Charlie Batch
. Appearing in five games, Case passed for 503 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions. His best game came on November 30 in a game against the Minnesota Vikings
. Even though the Lions lost 24–17, Case filled in for an injured Batch and put up 230 yards on 23–33 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
During the last game of the season against the Chicago Bears
, Case fumble
d the ball late in the game, which eventually led to a game-winning field goal by the Bears. The Lions ended the season with a 9–7 record. The Detroit media and fans roundly placed blame for the loss on Case. Had the Lions won the game, the team would have earned a playoff berth for the second season in a row, but as a result of the loss, owner William Clay Ford
immediately reshuffled the front office, resulting in the hiring of general manager and president Matt Millen
, the firing of head coach Gary Moeller
, and the departure of players Herman Moore
, Jeff Hartings
, and Case.
, playing in just three games in 2005
and completing 4 of 7 passes for 35 yards and 2 TDs.
In 2006
, Case was the backup to Mark Grieb
with the San Jose SaberCats
in the AFL American Conference, Western Division. On October 31, he returned to Tampa Bay as a free agent. Four games into the 2007 season
, Case took over as the Storm's starting quarterback. However, that was short-lived when he dislocated his shoulder against the Orlando Predators
and had season ending surgery.
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...
in the Arena Football League, and a former 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...
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...
with four teams.
High school and college
Case played high school footballHigh 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....
for the Odessa
Odessa, Texas
Odessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan...
Permian Panthers
Permian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
, quarterbacking the team to an undefeated, 16–0 season and the Texas 5A football title in 1989, one year after the events chronicled in the book and movie Friday Night Lights. The Panthers were voted ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's National Champion team as a result. During his Permian career, Case also lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. His brother Stormy Case also played quarterback for the Panthers and went on to play for Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
.
Recruited to play 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...
for the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
, Case was a four-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...
for the Lobos and who, along with Colt McCoy
Colt McCoy
Daniel "Colt" McCoy is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Browns in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft...
, are the only players in NCAA Division I-A history to post 8,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. In the course of his college career he threw or ran for 98 touchdowns, ranking fourth in NCAA Division I-A history to Ty Detmer
Ty Detmer
Ty Hubert Detmer is a former National Football League and NCAA quarterback. He starred at Brigham Young University, where he set many records and won the Heisman Trophy in 1990...
, Colt Brennan
Colt Brennan
Colton "Colt" James Brennan is an American football quarterback. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
, Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell
Graham Harrell is an American football quarterback. He was signed by the Green Bay Packers and is currently on their scout team. He played college football at Texas Tech.-Early years:...
's 132 touchdowns.
NFL
Case was a third round pick in the 1995 NFL Draft1995 NFL Draft
The 1995 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 22–23, 1995 at the Paramount Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City...
and played quarterback for Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1995 to 1998, though he spent part of that time with the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
in the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
. He was signed as 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....
by both 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 ....
and the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in 1999, and went to the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
as an unrestricted free agent in 2000.
Case saw limited action during his NFL career. He played in two games during his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, but saw no action in either 1996
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
or 1998
1998 Arizona Cardinals season
The 1998 Arizona Cardinals season was the Cardinals 11th season in Arizona. The club appeared in the postseason for the first time since the 1982 season and won its first postseason game since 1947....
. He played twice in 1997
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
as a replacement for injured starter Kent Graham
Kent Graham
Kent Douglas Graham is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. Graham played quarterback at the University of Notre Dame before transferring to Ohio State University...
. He played in 10 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
, starting four games and winning two of them. He also played in five other games later in the season, receiving playing time as a back-up quarterback. In all, Case played in a total of 24 career NFL games over six years, 12 as a starter, where he passed for 1,826 yards and 4 touchdowns while rushing for 270 yards and 5 touchdowns.
As an NFL player, Case was criticized by some fans for his uncertainty and lack of ability to throw an effective long pass. His worst career performance came in October 1999 when he appeared for the Ravens against the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, completing only 15 of 37 passes for 103 yards. "The Chiefs", noted the Baltimore City Paper
Baltimore City Paper
Baltimore City Paper is a free alternative weekly newspaper published in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 1977 by Russ Smith and Alan Hirsch. Current owner Times-Shamrock Communications purchased the paper in 1987...
, "by comparison, ran back his intercepted passes for 108 yards. Repeat: 103 yards forward, 108 yards backward. Add in those two touchdowns off interceptions and Case did almost precisely as much for Kansas City as did the Chiefs' own quarterback, Elvis Grbac
Elvis Grbac
Elvis M. Grbac is a retired American football quarterback who played in the NFL. During his career he was a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, the Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens...
(112 yards, two TD passes)."
In 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
, Case signed with the Detroit Lions as the primary backup to quarterback Charlie Batch
Charlie Batch
Charles "Charlie" Batch is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
. Appearing in five games, Case passed for 503 yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions. His best game came on November 30 in a game against 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...
. Even though the Lions lost 24–17, Case filled in for an injured Batch and put up 230 yards on 23–33 passing with a touchdown and an interception.
During the last game of the season against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Case fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
d the ball late in the game, which eventually led to a game-winning field goal by the Bears. The Lions ended the season with a 9–7 record. The Detroit media and fans roundly placed blame for the loss on Case. Had the Lions won the game, the team would have earned a playoff berth for the second season in a row, but as a result of the loss, owner William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford may refer to:*William Clay Ford, Sr., grandson of Henry Ford, son of Edsel Ford and owner of the Detroit Lions*William Clay Ford, Jr., great-grandson of Henry Ford, son of William Clay Ford, Sr., chairman of Ford Motor Company...
immediately reshuffled the front office, resulting in the hiring of general manager and president Matt Millen
Matt Millen
Matthew George "Matt" Millen is an American former National Football League linebacker and a former executive. Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams...
, the firing of head coach Gary Moeller
Gary Moeller
Gary O. Moeller is an American football coach best known for being head coach at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1994. During his five seasons at Michigan, he won 44 games, lost 13 and tied 3 for a winning percentage of .758...
, and the departure of players Herman Moore
Herman Moore
Herman Joseph Moore is a former American National Football League wide receiver. At George Washington High School in Danville he played mostly as a kicker and also as a tight end. He went to the University of Virginia, where he was a 2-sport athlete...
, Jeff Hartings
Jeff Hartings
Jeffrey Alan Hartings is a former professional American football center who is best known for his six-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers.-High School Years:...
, and Case.
Arena League
After major shoulder surgery at the end of his contract with Detroit and seemingly out of the NFL, Case subsequently moved to the Arena Football League. In 2004, he was signed by Tampa Bay StormTampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
, playing in just three games in 2005
2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
and completing 4 of 7 passes for 35 yards and 2 TDs.
In 2006
2006 Arena Football League season
The 2006 Arena Football League season was the 20th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Chicago Rush, who defeated the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX....
, Case was the backup to Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb
Mark Grieb is an Arena football quarterback for the San Jose SaberCats . He was originally signed by the Anaheim Piranhas...
with the San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
in the AFL American Conference, Western Division. On October 31, he returned to Tampa Bay as a free agent. Four games into the 2007 season
2007 Tampa Bay Storm season
The 2007 Tampa Bay Storm season was the 21st season for the team in the Arena Football League and 17th in Tampa. They tried to improve upon their 7-9 record from 2006 in the Southern Division, and looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The apparent cause of their...
, Case took over as the Storm's starting quarterback. However, that was short-lived when he dislocated his shoulder against the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
and had season ending surgery.