- Jerome Mathis
Infobox NFLactive
name=Jerome Mathis
width=
caption=
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Wide receiver /Kick returner
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|7|26
birthplace=Petersburg, Virginia
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=184
debutyear=2005
debutteam=Houston Texans
college=Hampton
draftyear=2005
draftround=4
draftpick=114
pastteams=
*Houston Texans (2005-2007)
*Washington Redskins (2008)*:*Not a member of regular season active roster
status=Active
highlights=
* NFL Alumni Kick Returner of the Year (2005)
* First-team APAll-Pro (2005)
*Pro Bowl selection (2005)
nfl=MAT201110Jerome Alvon Mathis (born
July 26 ,1983 inPetersburg, Virginia ) is anAmerican football wide receiver and2005 NFL Draft . He playedcollege football at Hampton.Mathis earned a
Pro Bowl selection and was an All-Pro with the Texans in 2005. He has also been a member of theWashington Redskins .Early years
Mathis attended
Petersburg High School in Petersburg, where he was an all-state, all-district and all-metro wide receiver and kick returner. He left high school as a six time state champion in track, winning the 2001 national indoor200 meter title with a time of 19.98, at the Nike Classic.College career
Mathis holds the NCAA record for career kick return average, breaking the record set by John Taylor of
Delaware State University , with an average of 26.6 yards per return.Fact|date=March 2008 He also holds the NCAA record for career kickoff returns for atouchdown with six.Professional career
Pre-draft
Mathis recorded the second fastest 40 time (4.28 seconds) at the 2005
NFL Combine , just slower thanFabian Washington (4.25 seconds). However several times during his career at Hampton University Mathis ran a 4.10 hand held time in the 40 yard dash.Houston Texans
In his
rookie season with the Texans, he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the AFC to be their starter as a kick returner. He was one of three rookies (Shawn Merriman ,linebacker , of theSan Diego Chargers andLofa Tatupu , linebacker, of theSeattle Seahawks , being the others) selected to be participants in the game.Mathis fractured his left foot in June 2006 and was expected to miss only four months. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2466292 Texans lose Pro Bowl return man Mathis till October] ] Mathis returned to practice in November 2006 after missing the first nine games of the season. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2663575 Texans Pro Bowl returner Mathis returns to practice] ] Mathis was later placed on
Injured Reserve . He then played in only three games in 2007 before once again being place on Injured Reserve.Nine days after being arrested on February 19, 2008, the Texans chose not to tender Mathis a contract as a
restricted free agent .Washington Redskins
On April 4, 2008, Mathis was signed by the
Washington Redskins . He was waived by the team on May 15.Career statistics
Legal troubles
In December 2007, Mathis was issued a misdemeanor citation for loose dogs after his neighbors complained that they were harassed by his escaped
pit bulls . Mathis, allowed the dogs to remain loose and kept unvaccinated animals. Officers captured one dog and three puppies near Mathis' Manvel home. No injuries were reported. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3151141 Texans' Mathis cited for loose pit bulls] ]On
February 19 ,2008 Mathis was arrested and held in the Brazoria County Jail briefly that night on the charge of assault of his pregnant common-law wife, that had occurred the two days prior. [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/5552144.html Texans' receiver Mathis charged with assaulting girlfriend] ] Mathis was released on $3,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000, authorities said. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3253751 Texans receiver Mathis arrested and charged for choking wife] ] On March 20, 2008 the charges against Mathis were dropped. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3306628&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines Ex-Texans WR Mathis has assault charges dropped] ]Personal
Mathis currently resides in
Manvel, Texas .References
External links
* [http://www.houstontexans.com/team/player.asp?player_id=149 Houston Texans bio]
* [http://redskins.com/team/profile.jsp?id=96 Washington Redskins bio]
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