Julian Thomas Peterson (born July 28, 1978 in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland) is a free agent linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State. Peterson has also played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions.

Early years[link]

Peterson attended Crossland High School in Temple Hills, Maryland. He was the 1996 Chesapeake Classic MVP.

College career[link]

Valley Forge Military Academy[link]

Peterson attended Valley Forge Military Academy and College for two years before attending Michigan State. In two seasons at Valley Forge he recorded 39.5 sacks and was first-team NJCAA All-America and Seaboard Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Michigan State[link]

Peterson played college football at Michigan State University for his junior and senior year. As a junior he was the honorable mention All-Big Ten pick by the media.^[1] As a senior he was an All-American selection by Football News and the Sporting News after recording 15 sacks. In his two years at Michigan State he recorded 140 tackles and 25 sacks in only 23 games.

Professional career[link]

San Francisco 49ers[link]

Peterson was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 16th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft. As a rookie he started seven of 13 games recording 47 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions. In 2002 Peterson was elected to the Pro Bowl for the first time after posting 94 tackles. In six seasons in San Francisco he recorded 394 tackles, 21.5 sacks, and five interceptions in 79 games and was elected to two Pro Bowls.

Seattle Seahawks[link]

Peterson signed with the Seattle Seahawks before the 2006 season. In his first season in Seattle he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the third time after recording 89 tackles and a career-high 10 sacks. In his second season with the Seahawks he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second straight year after posting 74 tackles and 9.5 sacks. During the 2008 NFL Training Camp, Peterson switched jersey numbers from #59 to #98, the number he wore during his previous tenure at San Francisco. In his third season with the team, Peterson made 86 tackles and five sacks, and was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl. In three seasons in Seattle he recorded 249 tackles, 24.5 sacks, and three interceptions in 48 games and was elected to three Pro Bowls.

Detroit Lions[link]

The Seattle Seahawks traded Peterson to the Detroit Lions for defensive tackle Cory Redding and a 2009 fifth-round pick on March 14, 2009.^[2] On January 5, 2011, Peterson was given his release by the Lions.^[3]

Personal life[link]

Peterson is married to wife Aimee and has a son, Jayson. He also has a older son Jadden.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Detroit Lions bio

Frank Gore

Gore at 49ers training camp in August 2010
No. 21     San Francisco 49ers
Running back
Personal information
Date of birth: (1983-05-14) May 14, 1983 (age 29)
Place of birth: Miami, Florida
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) Weight: 217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College: University of Miami
NFL Draft: 2005 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65
Debuted in 2005 for the San Francisco 49ers
Career history
San Francisco 49ers (2005–Present)
Career highlights and awards
3× Pro Bowl (2006, 2009, 2011) Second-team All-Pro (2006) PFWA Most Improved Player of the Year (2006) NFC Rushing champion (2006)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 15, 2011
Rushing yards 7,653 Rushing average 4.6 Rushing TDs 42 Stats at NFL.com

Franklin John Michael Gore^[1] (born May 14, 1983) is an American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the 49ers in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Throughout his 7 year NFL career, Gore has been ranked among the best running backs to be playing the game, having been selected to three Pro Bowls and having had four straight season with 1,000 rushing yards and a total of 5. After failing for most of his career on having a winning season and reaching the playoffs, he and the 49ers finally did in the 2011 season under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, reaching the NFC championship game, despite losing the game for a late fumble in overtime.

Early years[link]

Gore was born in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Coconut Grove, Florida. He attended Coral Gables High School, where he excelled as a running back. He had two notable record-breaking games. Against Miami Northwestern High School, he had a then career high 293 yards and two touchdowns. In the next game, he broke that record with 319 yards and six touchdowns. During his senior year in 2000, Gore broke several Dade County single-season records, including rushing yards (2,953) and touchdowns (34).^[2] Heavily recruited, he was named the No. 3 prospect in Dade County by The Miami Herald, as well as No. 4 in Florida and No. 18 nationally.^[3]

While emerging as a talented football prospect, Gore also focused his attention on improving his academics and assisting his mother, who was battling kidney disease and had started dialysis treatments. To remain close to home, Gore eventually chose to attend the University of Miami.^[4]

College career[link]

As a true freshman for the University of Miami in 2001, Gore totaled 575 yards with 5 touchdowns on 62 carries (a 9.3-yard avg), the third-best season total in school history by a freshman and was named Sporting News' Big East Freshman of the Year.^[3] He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee before spring practice in 2002 and spent the following season recovering from knee surgery.^[5] Before his injury that year, Gore beat out Willis McGahee in the spring of 2002 for the role as the Hurricanes' starting running back.

Gore returned in 2003 and rushed for 100 yards in each of his first three games of the season. He also returned for his senior year in 2004, when his cousin, Kim Gibson, asked him to change his uniform number from #32 to #3 for better luck. He then ran for nearly 1,000 yards during the season.^[6]

In 28 total games with the Hurricanes, Gore rushed 380 times for 1,975 yards (a 5.7 rushing average) and seventeen touchdowns. His 1,975 yards rank seventh on the school's career-record list and his seventeen scores are tied for tenth. He also caught 23 passes for 225 yards (9.8 avg), returned two kickoffs for 48 yards and recorded five tackles on special teams.^[7]

Professional career[link]

2005 NFL Draft[link]

Gore was selected 65th overall in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the 49ers. Gore scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test prior to being drafted.

(* represents NFL Combine)

2005 season[link]

Gore played in 14 games, starting one. He was inactive for two contests with a groin injury. He finished the season seventh among all NFL rookie running backs in rushing average with 4.8 average per run. He led the team in rushing with 608 yards on 127 carries and three rushing touchdowns.^[11] Gore also caught 15 passes for 131 yards. The last time a rookie led the 49ers in rushing was 1990, when Dexter Carter paced the team with 460 yards.^[12] His 608 yards rushing was the highest for a 49ers rookie since Roger Craig had 725 yards rushing in 1983.^[13]

He rushed for 17 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 21 yards in his first game against the St. Louis Rams. He later rushed for 42 yards on seven carries with a 5.4-yard average against the Dallas Cowboys. He led the team with nine carries on 89 yards and recorded a then career-long 72-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter at the Washington Redskins. The touchdown was the longest run from scrimmage by a 49ers player since running back Kevan Barlow took one 78 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The touchdown run was fifth-longest run from scrimmage by a 49ers rookie. He led the team in rushing for the third straight week with 5 yards on 15 carries (.7 avg.) at the Chicago Bears, with a 19-yard long. He made his first NFL start against the Jacksonville Jaguars, amassing over 100 combined yards with 79 yards rushing on 19 attempts for a 4.2 yard average with three receptions for 57 yards. Gore had his first two-touchdown game against the St. Louis Rams, with a 10-yard scoring run in the second quarter and a 30-yard score in the fourth quarter. In a game against the Houston Texans, he registered his first 100-yard game with 108 yards on 25 carries. Following the season, he had major surgery on both shoulders.

2006 season[link]

Gore was elevated to the top of the San Francisco 49ers' depth chart following the August 19, 2006 trade that shipped incumbent starter Kevan Barlow to the New York Jets in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.^[14]

He emerged as one of the top running backs in the NFL in his first full season as the starter. Gore carried the ball 312 times for a franchise record 1,695 yards, eclipsing Garrison Hearst’s 1998 record of 1,570 yards.^[15] He became the first member of the 49ers to lead the NFC in rushing yards. He also set a franchise record with 2,180 combined yards (1,695 yards rushing and 485 yards receiving), breaking Hearst’s single season record of 2,105 total yards (1,570 rushing and 535 receiving) set in 1998. His total placed him second in the NFC to Steven Jackson (1,528 rushing and 806 receiving, 2,334 total) and fourth overall in the entire NFL. In the 49ers’ first meeting against the Seattle Seahawks, Gore set the 49ers’ single-game rushing record by totaling 212 yards on 24 carries, besting the 201 yards by Charlie Garner on September 24, 2000 against the Cowboys. Gore had nine 100-yard rushing games in 2006, giving him ten for his career. His nine 100-yard games in 2006 shattered the franchise record for most 100-yard games in a season. Garrison Hearst (1998) and Roger Craig (1988) each had six 100-yard games in a season. Gore was the first 49ers running back to have three-straight 100 yard games since Garrison Hearst had a 49ers-record four straight 100-yard games during a stretch in 1998. In those three weeks, Gore set the team record for most rushing yards in a three-game span.

His breakaway ability helped him finish the season with 5.4 yards per carry, placing him third in the entire NFL, behind only Michael Vick (8.4 YPC on 123 carries) and Maurice Jones-Drew (5.7 YPC on 166 carries). The 5.4 yards per carry are tied for the second best in 49ers history. Among players with over 300 carries, however, Gore’s season puts him in elite company. Very few times has a player averaged as many yards per carry as Gore did, while carrying the ball over 300 times. The players ahead of him are all Hall of Famers and feature three, 2,000-yard rushing seasons.

He finished with eight rushing touchdowns, tied for the third most in a season by a 49er. Gore finished the season with 61 receptions, which led the team. Only two other teams had a running back as their leading receiver: New Orleans (Reggie Bush) and Philadelphia (Brian Westbrook). Of those, only Gore and Westbrook also led their team in rushing. He also caught his first receiving touchdown of his career at Seattle, when Alex Smith avoided a sack and found Gore along the left sideline for a 20-yard score. He led the NFL with 16 rushes for 20 or more yards. Gore earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors twice during the 2006 season. He grabbed the honor in Week 5 after rushing for 134 yards on 27 carries, and catching 3 passes for 38 yards, against the Oakland Raiders. He also won in Week 11 after his franchise record 212 rushing yards, and 26 yards on 4 receptions, against Seattle. After Gore’s tremendous season, he was named the starting running back to the NFC Pro Bowl team.^[16] It was Gore’s first selection to the Pro Bowl.

Gore had benefited that season from the tutelage of then-offensive coordinator Norv Turner, whose offensive scheme places a heavy emphasis on running the football.

Though Gore had fumbling problems at the beginning of the season, losing the ball once in each of the first four games, he improved his carrying and only fumbled three more times the rest of the year.^[15]

2007 season[link]

Gore in action against the St. Louis Rams in 2007.

Gore signed a contract extension through 2011 estimated to be worth $28 million over four years on March 28, 2007. He also stated that it is his goal to surpass Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record in 2007. He said that he would gain 2,200 yards.

Gore broke a bone in his hand in the non-contact Training Camp drill on July 30 and missed the entire preseason.^[17] On September 13, Gore's mother died, due to a kidney disease. He missed a practice, but returned to the team and scored two touchdowns the following Sunday in a 17-16 win over the St. Louis Rams.^[18] Gore's best game came against the Arizona Cardinals where he came up with 116 rushing yards and 98 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He finished the season with 1,102 rushing yards and 436 receiving yards.

2008 season[link]

Gore began the 2008 season against the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals, where he rushed for 96 yards on only 14 carries. Despite his impressive performance, which also included a 41 yard touchdown run, the 49ers lost, 23-13.^[19]

In Week 3, he dominated the Detroit Lions, rushing for over 120 yards with a touchdown in a 31-13 victory.^[20] The following week against the New Orleans Saints, Gore outrushed Reggie Bush, although the 49ers were defeated, 31-17.^[21] In Week 6, Gore had his second 100 yard game of the season, as he rushed for 101 yards on 19 carries in a 40-26 defeat against the Philadelphia Eagles.^[22]

In a Week 17 match-up against the visiting Washington Redskins, Gore became the first running back in 49ers history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in three straight seasons.^[23]

2009 season[link]

Gore waiting for the start of the 2009 season opener against the Arizona Cardinals

Gore entered the 2009 season under the guidance of new running back coach Tom Rathman. He was also complemented by a new second-string back, 49ers' third-round draft pick Glen Coffee.

After being nearly shut down in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals, Gore had a career day the following week in the home opener versus the Seattle Seahawks. Gore rushed for 206 yards for a 12.8-yard average, including a 79- and an 80-yard touchdown run, becoming the second player in NFL history to rush for two touchdowns for 75 yards or more in a single game, with the other being hall-of-fame running back Barry Sanders.^[24] Maurice Jones-Drew would become the third running back to also rush for two touchdowns for 75 yards in a single game.

After missing his next two games against the St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons due to an ankle injury, Gore returned in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.^[25] While he had a successful game against the Chicago Bears in Week 10, gaining 104 yards with a touchdown,^[26] he was used less in the 49ers' offensive game plan in the following three weeks, after the team adopted more of a spread offense.^[27] In the 49ers' second game against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, however, Gore had one of his most successful games of the season, rushing for 167 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown.^[28] In the 49ers' game against the Philadelphia Eagles in week 16 of the season, Gore had 16 carries for 107 yards against an Eagles team that had not given up a 100-yard game in 22 consecutive games. Gore was named a first alternate for the 2009 Pro Bowl.^[15] On January 20, 2010, Steven Jackson announced he would not be playing in the Pro Bowl because of injury, so Gore was named to the 2010 Pro Bowl in his spot, the second of his career.

2010 season[link]

Gore fractured his right hip in a Week 12 win over the Arizona Cardinals, ending his season^[29] after the 49ers put him on IR.^[30]

2011 season[link]

Gore agreed to a three-year extension on August 30, 2011. Worth $25.9 million, the extension will keep Gore with the San Francisco 49ers through the 2014 season.^[31]

During the offseason, the 49ers hired Jim Harbaugh to be their new head coach, applying itself a combination of a great running game, a supplemental passing game and a power house defense. This combination proved to be affective for Gore and the 49ers, leading them to a 13-3 record in the regular season and a playoff spot for the 49ers, their first since 2002 along with a first round bye.

In the first three games of the season, Gore did not perform well, rushing for 148 yards on 59 carries for only 1 touchdown. However, after week 3, this change. In week 4, the 49ers where down 23-3 at the end of the first half when quarterback Alex Smith and Gore both lead thrives to make the end score 24-23 and a 49ers win. Gore rushed for 127 yards and rushed for the game winning touchdown when four minuter where left in the game. Against the Buccaneers, Gore rushed for 125 yards and one touchdown in the 48-3 win for the 49ers. However, his performance in that game was eclipsed by his performanced against the Detroit Lions, where he rushed a season high of 141 yards in 15 carries and a touchdown in a 25-19 win for the 49ers, ruining the Lions 5-0 start.

The next few games where pretty well for Gore, rushing for 134 yards and a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns and 107 yards agains the Redskins, becoming the 49ers record holder of most consecutive games with a 100 yards (5). However, against the Giants, Gore had a unmemorable performance, rushing for 0 yards and leaving in the second half with a knee injury. This was Gore's first game with 0 rushing yards. He would return the next game, where he would redeem himself against the Arizona Cardinals, where he rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown. Next week, however, he rushed for only 39 yards against the Ravens powerlful defense in 49ers 6-16 loss. The next game, however, proved to be a 49ers win against the St. Louis Rams, where Gore became the 49ers' all time leading rusher, surpassing Joe Perry; he rushed for 73 yards on the game. The next week, Gore performed well, rushing for 78 yards and the 49ers only touchdown, despite losing the game 19-21.

He manage to finished the season on a high note, with a three game winning streak, including one against the Steelers, where he rushed 65 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 1,211 yards, having had five season with at least 1,000 rushing yards.

During the playoffs, Gore performed exceedingly well, helping the 49ers set up a touchdown by rushing for 42 yards in the divisional round vs. the Saints; he had a total of 89 yards in the game. During the NFC Championship, Gore rushed for 74 yards against the New York Giants.

Statistics[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Frank Gore

• San Francisco 49ers bio
• Miami Hurricanes bio

Brendon Ayanbadejo

Ayanbadejo at the 2007 Pro Bowl
No. 51     Baltimore Ravens
Linebacker / Special teamer
Personal information
Date of birth: (1976-09-06) September 6, 1976 (age 35)
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Weight: 228 lb (103 kg)
Career information
College: UCLA
Undrafted in 1999
Debuted in 2003 for the Miami Dolphins
Career history
Atlanta Falcons (1999)* Chicago Bears (2000)* Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2000) Toronto Argonauts (2000) Baltimore Ravens (2001)* Amsterdam Admirals (2001) BC Lions (2002)* Miami Dolphins (2003–2004) Chicago Bears (2005–2007) Baltimore Ravens (2008–present) *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Pac-10 (1998) CFL All-Star selection (2002) 3× Pro Bowl selection (2006, 2007, 2008) 3× All-Pro selection (2006, 2007, 2008) NFC Champion (2006)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011
Tackles 208 Sacks 3.5 INTs 2 Forced Fumbles 5 Stats at NFL.com

Oladele Brendon Ayanbadejo ( /ˈbrɛndən ˌaɪ.ənbəˈdeɪʒoʊ/; born September 6, 1976) is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1999. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins.

Ayanbadejo has been selected to the Pro Bowl three times as a special teams player. He also was named to the All-Pro team two times as special teams player by Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers Association. He has also been a member of the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins in the NFL, the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He is the younger brother of fullback and former teammate Obafemi Ayanbadejo.

Early years[link]

Ayanbadejo was born in Chicago to a Nigerian father and an American mother of Irish descent. He has one older brother, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, also a professional football player. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Nigeria, but after his parents separated he returned to the United States with his mother, settling in Chicago and then Santa Cruz, California.^[1] He attended Santa Cruz High School.

College career[link]

For college Ayanbadejo enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played college football for the UCLA Bruins. He was first-team all-Pac-10 his senior season with four sacks against arch-rival USC's Carson Palmer. He majored in history.^[2]

Professional career[link]

Ayanbadejo was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League as an undrafted free agent on April 23, 1999. He served on the practice squad of the Falcons and the Chicago Bears before being picked up by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 2000, and spent time with them and the Toronto Argonauts. In played the 2001 season with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, and played for the BC Lions of the CFL in 2002.

In 2000 he played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and in 2002 he played for the BC Lions, also of the Canadian Football League.

Ayanbadejo with the Dolphins in 2003

In 2003 he returned to the NFL as a member of the Miami Dolphins. In 2004, Ayanbadejo made a play that led to one of the biggest upset comebacks in Monday Night Football history. While getting sacked, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw the ball up for grabs. Ayanbadejo caught for the interception. The Dolphins went on to win the game by one point.

Ayanbadejo (#94) as a Bears captain in 2007.

During the 2005 offseason, Ayanbadejo was traded to the Chicago Bears. On March 6, 2008, Ayanbadejo signed a four-year, $4.9 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens. The contract included a $1.9 million signing bonus. Ayanbadejo was selected to consecutive Pro Bowls as a special teamer in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Ayanbadejo talking with a sailor at the 2008 Pro Bowl.

In 2009, Ayanbadejo became more of a player on the Baltimore Ravens defense. In week three against the Cleveland Browns, Ayanbadejo recorded six tackles, one of which was for a loss, a sack, and an interception. For his effort, he was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3).^[3] In week 4 against the Patriots, Brendon tore a quadriceps muscle. He said after the game he could miss the rest of the year, and was placed on the Injured Reserve list two days later.

On October 24, 2011 in a game of Monday night football, Ayanbadejo was ejected from the game for striking Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive lineman Guy Whimper in the face.

Personal[link]

He is the younger brother of free agent fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo. The two were teammates on the Miami Dolphins in 2003. They were on the same team again in 2007, this time the Chicago Bears. Obafemi Ayanbadejo was cut by the Chicago Bears on October 1, 2007, after the fullback finished serving his four-game suspension for violating the NFL Policy on Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances.

Ayanbadejo wrote for the Santa Cruz Sentinel his first couple of years in the NFL. He has advocated for the passage of the FIT Kids Act, federal legislation that would require school districts to report on students' physical activity and to give youngsters health and nutritional information.^[4] In 2009, Ayanbedejo advocated legalizing same-sex marriage.^[5] He has a daughter, Anaya Lee Ayanbadejo, born in August 2006 and a son, Amadeus Prime Ayanbadejo, born in April 2011.

References[link]