Boomer Grigsby

Infobox NFLactive
name=Boomer Grigsby
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Fullback


birthdate=birth date and age|1981|11|15
birthplace=Canton, Illinois
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=250
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Kansas City Chiefs
college=Illinois State
draftyear=2005
draftround=5
draftpick=138
pastteams=
* Kansas City Chiefs (2005-2007)
* Miami Dolphins (2008)
status=
highlights=
* 3x All-Gateway (2002-2004)
* 3x Gateway Player of the Year (2002-2004)
* 3x Division I-AA All-American (2002-2004)
* 3x Buck Buchanan Award finalist (2002-2004)
nfl=GRI644143

James Harvey "Boomer" Grigsby (born 1981-11-15 in city-state|Canton|Illinois) is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois State.

Grigsby has also played for the Miami Dolphins.

Early years

Grigsby attended and played high school football at Canton High School where he was an all-area linebacker during his senior season.cite web | title = TEAM: Roster Boomer Grigsby Profile | work = MiamiDolphins.com | url = http://www.miamidolphins.com/newsite/team/roster/playerBio.asp?docid=33142 | accessdate = 9 July | accessyear = 2008 ] He was not recruited to play college football until an Illinois State coach saw him lifting weights in his high school's weight room.

College career

Grigsby was a four-year letterman at Illinois State University. As a sophomore, he set a school record with 179 tackles and also recorded what would remain a career-high four sacks.

The following season, Grigsby tied his own school record with 179 tackles. He came in second behind only future Kansas City Chiefs teammate Jared Allen in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given annually to the top defensive player in Division I-AA.

In 44 games (40 starts), at Illinois State, Grigsby record a school record 580 tackles to go along with 41.5 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, six fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and seven passes defensed. He was Gateway Football Conference Player of the Year, a Division I-AA All-American and Buchanan award finalist each of his final three seasons.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

Grigsby was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft. On July 15, he signed a three-year, $1.067 million contract with the team.cite web | title = KFFL - Boomer Grigsby, FB | work = KFFL.com | url = http://www.kffl.com/player/12062/nfl/news | accessdate = 9 July | accessyear = 2008 ] It included a signing bonus of $142,000 and base salaries of $230,000 (2005), $310,000 (2006) and $385,000 (2007).

In his rookie season with the Chiefs, Grigsby chose to wear No. 51. He played in all 16 regular season games that year in a reserve role and finished third on the team with 19 special teams tackles.

Quote box
quote = "Boomer Grigsby has as much presence at the position as anybody I've been around at the start of his career."
source = Gunther Cunningham,
Chiefs defensive coordinator
width = 200px
align =left

Appearing in 15 games in 2006, Grigsby again ranked third on the Chiefs in special teams tackles with 18. He missed one game that season with foot injury.

Prior to the 2007 regular season, Grigsby was converted from linebacker to fullback. The transition was chronicled on the HBO reality series "".

Despite the position change and an injury to his ribs during the preseason, Grigsby made the team. He went on to appear in 13 games for the Chiefs that season including one start. His first NFL reception came on a nine-yard pass from quarterback Brodie Croyle against the Denver Broncos on December 9, and he finished the season with two receptions for 14 yards. He finished third on the team in special teams tackles (12) for the third straight season.

A restricted free agent in the 2008 offseason, Grigsby was not tendered a contract by the Chiefs and became an unrestricted free agent.cite web | title = Free Agency Wire -- 3/1/08 | work = Scout.com | url = http://sea.scout.com/2/733726.html | accessdate = 9 July | accessyear = 2008 ]

Miami Dolphins

On March 4, 2008, Grigsby agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. The signing reunited him with current Dolphins running backs coach James Saxon, who was Grigsby's position coach with the Chiefs in 2007.

Grigsby won the team's starting fullback job in 2008 after incumbent Reagan Mauia was released during final cuts. However, after starting the Dolphins' season opener against the New York Jets on September 7, Grigsby was released by the team two days later in favor of free agent Casey Cramer.

References