Tag: Mark Carrier

In case you forgot, Bucs WR Mark Carrier was an absolute stud

Relive some of the best highlights from Mark Carrier’s underrated career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Every NFL team has a handful of underrated players who still don’t get the respect they deserve for what they did on the field over the years, and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one of those names is wide receiver Mark Carrier.

One of the most prolific pass-catchers in franchise history, Carrier’s team-record 1,422 receiving yards in 1989 stood for nearly three decades before some guy named Mike Evans arrived in Tampa Bay.

In case you forgot just how good Carrier was back in the day, watch the video below and relive some of his best highlights from his career with the Bucs (courtesy of Bucs Vault):

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USC’s Mark Carrier, Dennis Thurman make 2024 College FB Hall of Fame ballot

Two great #USC defensive stars, both in the secondary, made the latest College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

The new College Football Hall of Fame ballot, which will be used for the selection of members in the Class of 2024, has been released.

Two USC Trojans made the ballot, both from the secondary.

Mark Carrier and Dennis Thurman are two elite players from the Men of Troy’s glorious past. USC has had two Mark Carriers, so we remind you that this Mark Carrier (the one on the Hall of Fame ballot) is the safety, not the wide receiver.

The National Football Foundation offered notes on each player in conjunction with the ballot release.

On Carrier, the NFF gathered these details:

“Two-time First Team All-American (1988-89), earning unanimous honors in 1989…1989 Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back…Two-time First Team All-Conference selection…Led the Pac-10 in interceptions in 1989 with seven.”

This was the entry for Thurman:

“Two-time First Team All-American who led Trojans to four consecutive postseason wins, including the 1974 national championship at the Rose Bowl…Two-time all-conference selection who helped USC to two Pac-8 titles.”

We have written about Carrier and Thurman. Check our archives for more on these and other USC Trojans who made it big in the NFL.

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Remember when Commanders owner Daniel Snyder wanted Jeff George?

What if Dan Snyder had kept Brad Johnson and never signed Jeff George?

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Washington won the NFC East in 1999.

The then-Redskins had finished 10-6 to win the division and defeated the Lions before traveling to Tampa and losing to the Buccaneers in the second round 14-13.

Daniel Snyder had taken over the ownership of the team following the draft. Charley Casserley had already traded for quarterback Brad Johnson after Trent Green had determined to leave via free agency following the 1998 season.

The 1999 team was at times very exciting offensively. Stephen Davis ran hard for 1,405 yards. Michael Westbrook led the team in receiving yards with 1,191 yards. Brad Johnson passed for 4,005 yards, as well as provided veteran leadership at quarterback the team had not enjoyed in several seasons.

Consequently, when it was time for the next offseason, Mr. Snyder determined he would act as general manager, seeing Casserly had “resigned” just prior to training camp of the ’99 season.

Snyder signed aging veterans to outrageous contracts: Jeff George (4 years, $18 million),  Mark Carrier (5 years, $15.9 million), Bruce Smith (5 years, $25 million), Deion Sanders (7 years, $56 million).

Each veteran had already reached and passed his prime, yet there was Mr. Snyder giving them too much money for the year 2000. Apparently, he had no understanding of team chemistry verses bringing in several outside players and paying them more than your own homegrown players.

Even more, why did he mess with the most important position on the team, quarterback? No doubt Snyder immediately alienated Johnson, and why wouldn’t this move have angered Johnson?

Making things worse, the quarterback Snyder wanted and brought to town was Jeff George. They guy who in 2001 would say leadership was overrated. He had already played in Indianapolis, Atlanta, Oakland and Minnesota. One can only imagine how upset head coach Norv Turner was over such a move by Snyder.

Johnson (7-4 in the games he started) was still Turner’s quarterback, but George would be in the lineup, starting five games as Washington went 1-4 in those games. After a 6-2 start, Washington limped down the stretch to 7-6.

Snyder again thought the only answer was for him to make a huge splash. So he fired head coach Norv Turner. The Redskins looked lost and apathetic losing 32-13 to the Cowboys and 24-3 to the Steelers.

Johnson, a free agent, couldn’t wait to get out of town, left for Tampa and led the Buccaneers to 9-7 in 2001 and a Super Bowl title in the 2002 season.

Mr. Snyder’s quarterback Jeff George, in 2001 started 0-2; the team played so horribly, new coach Marty Schottenheimer determined he was better off without George and cut him.

What on earth had Daniel Snyder been thinking that he thought it would be best to shake up a division winner replacing Brad Johnson with Jeff George?

For Washington fans, we had no idea, it was only the beginning…

Remember when Daniel Snyder fired Norv Turner?

Revisiting that miserable 2000 offseason that eventually led to Snyder firing Norv Turner.

Remember when Redskins owner Daniel Snyder fired Washington head coach Norv Turner?

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2000, Washington lost an agonizing home game to the New York Giants 9-7.  What made matters even more frustrating for fans was that it was the second consecutive home loss and both against divisional opponents.

Former Washington Football Team head coach Norv Turner watches rookie minicamp at Inova Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Washington had gone on the road and defeated defending Super Bowl champion St Louis 33-20, pushing their record to 7-4. However, a 23-20 loss to the Eagles and then the 9-7 loss to the Giants were more than Snyder could take, firing Turner.

It was typical Snyder at the time. Insistent on pushing buttons and making personnel moves, Snyder had signed aging veterans for much too-large of contracts in the 2000 offseason: Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Mark Carrier and Jeff George. He had traded up in the draft ensuring Washington would draft No. 2  (LaVar Arrington) and No. 3 (Chris Samuels) in the 2000 draft.

Now Snyder was trying his hand at changing the head coach at the crucial time of three regular-season games remaining. Snyder was thinking when he pushed buttons the team would be motivated. So Turner was suddenly gone. Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes had five years of NFL head coaching experience. Yet Snyder named offensive assistant Terry Robiskie the interim coach.

Of course, the move backfired miserably. The team played like they were very unmotivated. The Redskins not only lost, but they were also embarrassed in their next two games at Dallas (32-13) and at Pittsburgh (24-3).

Despite the fact Brad Johnson had passed for 4,000 yards, led the team to 10 wins, the NFC East title and a playoff win in 199, Snyder and his player personnel right-hand man Vinny Cerrato had been signing aging veterans to large contracts rather than Washington veterans. Jeff George who was known to be a poor leader was brought to quarterback despite the fact Brad Johnson had passed for 4,000 yards, led the team to 10 wins, the NFC East title and a playoff win in 1999.

What in the world was Snyder thinking?

I recall fans being excited. I recall the media being excited. It was one of the first times in my life I saw trouble out front. How on earth could he have thought Jeff George brought in was good for the team?

Brad Johnson? He got out of town as soon as he could following the 2000 season, signed a free agent contract with Tampa Bay and they won the Super Bowl with Johnson as their offensive leader in 2002.

The 2000 offseason was one where Snyder insisted on making his HUGE splashes. Yet in the end, the season was a mess, and Dan Snyder had no one to blame but himself. He tried to save the season by blaming Turner and firing him. That didn’t work out well either.

A disturbing pattern by Snyder was now beginning to be noticed.

Herman Moore headlines several former Lions nominated for College Football Hall of Fame

Moore is joined by Reggie Bush, Mark Carrier and others on a list that also includes a current Lions coach and another in the front office

The nominees for the College Football Hall of Fame class of 2023 are now finalized. Several players who spent at least part of their NFL careers with the Detroit Lions made the cut for the upcoming class.

Most prominent on the list is wide receiver Herman Moore, who dominated at Virginia en route to becoming the 10th overall pick in the 1991 NFL draft by the Lions. He is the only player who will be best-known for his NFL career in Detroit and not with other teams.

The remainder of the nominees with Lions blood in their NFL veins:

  • RB Reggie Bush
  • DB Mark Carrier
  • EDGE Dwight Freeney
  • CB Todd Lyght
  • QB Kellen Moore
  • DT Haloti Ngata
  • LB Matt Russell

In addition to those players, two current Lions administrators are also among the nominees. Wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El is nominated for his playing days at Indiana, while front office special assistant John Dorsey earned a berth for his playing days at UConn.

As a disclaimer, I am a voter for the Hall and will include Moore, Bush and Carrier on my ballot.