Mark Schlereth

Mark Schlereth

Mark Schlereth
Position(s) Guard Jersey #(s) 69
Born	January 25, 1966 (1966-01-25) (age 45) Anchorage, Alaska
Career information
Year(s)	1989–2000
NFL Draft	1989 / Round: 10 / Pick: 263
College	Idaho
Professional teams
Washington Redskins (1989-1994) Denver Broncos (1995-2000)
Career stats
Games played	156
Games started	140
Fumble recoveries	3
Stats at NFL.com
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl selection (1991, 1998) 3× Super Bowl champion (XXVI, XXXII, XXXIII)

Mark Frederick Schlereth (pronounced /ˈʃlɛrɨθ/; born January 25, 1966 in Anchorage, Alaska) is a former professional football player and current television sportscaster. Schlereth played guard in the NFL for 12 seasons (1989-2000) with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. He is currently a football analyst for ESPN on NFL Live, Sportscenter, and other programs. He is a frequent guest and occasional fill-in host on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning. He has recently begun a career in acting, and appeared on the soap opera Guiding Light in June 2007.

Early life and college

Mark Schlereth grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and struggled with dyslexia as a youth — he did not learn to read until he was seven.^[1] He graduated from Robert Service High School in 1984. Growing up in Alaska, Schlereth did not receive much attention as a college football prospect; the only current FBS schools that offered him a scholarship were Idaho (I-AA at the time) and Hawaii. He accepted the scholarship offer from the University of Idaho from head coach Dennis Erickson. Erickson departed following the 1985 season, and Schlereth started at left guard on the Vandals' offensive line for new head coach Keith Gilbertson, blocking for quarterbacks Scott Linehan and John Friesz.

Professional career

Schlereth was selected in the tenth round (#263 overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played twelve NFL seasons; six with Washington (1989–1994), and six with the Denver Broncos (1995–2000). He was a member of three Super Bowl championship teams (one with the Redskins and two with the Broncos) and was selected to the Pro Bowl for his performances in the 1991 and 1998 seasons.

Before ending his playing career, Schlereth endured 29 surgeries, 20 on his knees (15 left, 5 right). After the 13th procedure on his left knee on July 24, 2000, Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan stated, "He has a great pain threshold. I think the doctors said that it was the worst knee that they've ever seen." Schlereth would have two more procedures on his left knee during the 2000 season, his last in the NFL. His injuries are documented on Athlete 360, the new sports medicine television show hosted by Schlereth's former Redskins teammate, Dr. Mark Adickes.

On April 18, 2001, Schlereth announced his retirement. "The reason I came out here today was to announce that I have just signed a six-year, $42 million contract to extend my career with the Denver Broncos. The truth of the matter is, after going through my 15th operation on my left knee last November, it became painfully obvious that I couldn't sign a six-year contract for $42 worth of Tupperware. I started to realize in the last three months of free agency that there is not a lot of market for a 6'3", 245-pound guard that is 35 years old and beat to a pulp." He landed a job with ESPN soon after.

Television career

After retirement, Schlereth hosted an afternoon sports talk radio show on Denver AM radio 760 The Zone with fellow former Broncos lineman David "Doc" Diaz-Infante. The show was frequently referred to as the "Stink and Doc" show. Schlereth was a part time analyst with ESPN for a time, commuting from Denver to Connecticut, before leaving 760 to go full time with ESPN in 2004. Besides regularly hosting NFL Live, Schlereth is a frequent guest and fill-in host for Mike Golic on Mike and Mike in the Morning, as well as an analyst on NFL Live and Sportscenter. He has also filled in for Jim Rome on Jim Rome is Burning.

Schlereth revealed on the Mike and Mike in the Morning show that he was considering a career in acting, mainly on soap operas, under the name Roc Hoover.^[2] Schlereth originally chose the name Rock Hoover, however after cybersquatters took several domain names pertaining to that name he dropped the k from Rock and became Roc Hoover.^[2] He announced on May 4, 2007, that he was cast as Detective Roc Hoover, a recurring role, on the soap opera, Guiding Light.^[3]

Schlereth is also a featured athlete on Athlete 360, a new sports medicine television show. Schlereth is still on the radio in Denver on 104.3FM the Fan. The show features former Broncos teammate Alfred Williams.

Personal life

Mark's daughter, Alexandria, is an actress featured on the MyNetworkTV series Desire.

Mark's son Daniel was selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball's first year player draft. A relief pitcher at the University of Arizona, Daniel was drafted in the first round by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 26th overall selection and currently plays for the Detroit Tigers.

References

1. ^ Mike and Mike in the Morning, ESPN, air date January 11, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b} Mike and Mike in the Morning, ESPN, air date May 15, 2007.
3. ^ Mike and Mike in the Morning, ESPN, air date May 4, 2007.

External links

• Pro football stats - Mark Schlereth
• NFL.com - 1989 NFL Draft - Mark Schlereth - # 263
• Internet Movie Database - imdb.com - Mark Schlereth
• Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame - Mark Schlereth
• Mark Schlereth.com - official site
• Mark Schlereth's ESPN Bio

Persondata
Name	Schlereth, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	January 25, 1966
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death