Rich Seubert

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=New York Giants
currentnumber=69
currentpositionplain=Offensive guard
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|3|30
birthplace=Stratford, Wisconsin
heightft=6
heightin=3
weight=310
debutyear=2001
debutteam=New York Giants
highlights=
* Super Bowl champion (XLII)
college=Western Illinois
draftyear=
draftround=
draftpick=
pastteams=
* New York Giants (2001-present)
nfl=SEU065571

Rich Seubert (pronEng|SY-bert) (born March 30, 1979 in Stratford, Wisconsin) is an American football offensive guard in the NFL for the New York Giants. He was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Western Illinois University. Lives in Wayne, New Jersey.Fact|date=December 2007

High school career

Seubert attended Columbus High School in Marshfield, Wisconsin, and was a standout in football, basketball, and baseball. He helped lead his football and basketball teams to two state championships each.

College years

Seubert attended Western Illinois University and played tight end as a freshman. In his sophomore year he moved to tackle and was a first team All-Gateway honoree as a senior.

Professional

Seubert walked onto the Giants as an undrafted Free Agent in 2001. He was the major upset of the proceeding Giants Camp, coming out clean and as the starting left guard. Playing at a Pro-Bowl caliber he became the anchor on a tough Offensive Line. During a game against Philadelphia in 2003 Rich was blocking down and N.D Kalu stepped on the back of his right leg, leading to the leg exploding through the front of Richie's skin. After months in the hospital and 5 surgeries, Rich stood tall and started working on his comeback. With a titanium rod for a leg, Rich has won back his starting spot and is once again able to play at that Pro-Bowl caliber. He brings stability, courage, and down right meanness to the Giants O-Line. Ernie Accorsi dedicated all of Chapter 20 to Rich in the book "The GM".

Seubert has been increasing in popularity with the fans. When entering the game from the sidelines before a play, he must register with the referee as an eligible receiver when playing the position of OL (due to his normal position as being an extra lineman, and thus eligible to receive a pass). The refs in turn announce "...number 69 reporting as eligible..." over the speaker system. His continuous solid play, versatility (he has played every position on the offensive line except LT in 2006), and his jersey number of 69 has made him a fan favorite.

During the Eagles game on December 24 2006, Rich suffered a shin/leg injury while filling in as the starting center for an also injured Shaun O'Hara. Seubert missed the following week's game vs the Redskins, the final game of the 2006 regular season.

Seubert was at the center of an officiating controversy in the 2002 NFC playoffs, where the Giants faced the San Francisco 49ers. The Giants, who had led by a score of 38-14, were trailing 39-38 when Matt Bryant had a chance to kick a game winning field goal. When Trey Junkin botched the snap, Seubert, an eligible receiver on the play, went out to try to catch holder Matt Allen's pass. Allen underthrew Seubert, who was grabbed and pulled down by Chike Okeafor, apparently drawing a pass interference penalty. Instead, an illegal man downfield penalty was called on Seubert's teammate Tam Hopkins, ending the game (Seubert's interference call would have offset the penalties and forced a replaying of the down, as replays showed that Hopkins was in fact illegally downfield). The NFL drew a fair amount of criticism for the non-call on Seubert's play. [http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/6107457 The NFL later issued an official apology to the Giants in the offseason.] on March 24, 2008 he signed a 3-year extension through 2012