At 6’4″, 260, Richard Quinn was a 2nd round pick by the Broncos out of North Carolina. A solid in-line blocker, the Broncos passed up some intriguing TE’s to reach for a prospect with only 12 career catches for 124 yards and 2 TDs, during the 2009 draft. Essentially the Broncos thought that he’d make a nice fit in Josh McDaniels’ offensive system as basically an extra tackle who could quietly release off the line of scrimmage and pull down a few receptions in Jumbo sets. “Big Rich” made his first career reception in 2010, with 1 reception for 9 yards, but after a knee injury, he’d be cut with an injury settlement in 2011 from the Broncos. The Redskins signed Quinn later that season and he’d see the turk in the final cutdowns of the 2012 season. He quickly found a home with the Cincinnati Bengals and has been off and on their roster a few times since.
Jacoby Jones was drafted by the Houston Texans out of tiny Lane College (Jackson, Tn) in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL draft.
A track and field beast in college, Jones was a dangerous threat every time he touched the ball.
He was immediately penciled in (replacing Jerome Mathis) as the punt and kick returner and wide receiver project.
In 2008 he took two punts to the house for a TD- including a 73 yarder.
He’d score a career high 6 TD catches in 2009 on just 27 receptions.
In 2010, he had a career high 562 yards and 51 catches.
He’d be cut in mid 2012, after muffing a punt in the playoffs the previous season.
Jones signed with the Ravens in 2012, where he’d find new life as a popular member of the flock, and seemingly being a playmaker at the right place and at the right time.
That season he’d post his best year as a return man with 38 KR for 1167 yards and 2 TDs.
He is most fondly remembered for his Super Bowl heroics, where he caught a 56 yard TD and returned a kickoff 108 yards for a TD in Super Bowl XLVII.
Following the season, he made an appearance on Dancing With the Stars.
After 3 years with the Ravens, he was cut in 2015 and spent time split between the Chargers and Steelers that year.
Then in 2017 he played Arena Football with the Monterrey Steel of the NAL.
Later that year he retired as a Raven.
Jacoby went into coaching from there with his alma mater Lane College from 2018-’19 as a WR coach.
Then it was off to Calvert Hall (’20), Morgan State (’21), and Alabama State (2022-’23) as a positional coach in each of those stops.
He recently was very excited to return to the H-Town area to coach the Beaumont Renegades- an Arena Football team in Texas.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 2012
All-Pro 2012
Longest play in NFL history- 108 yards
Longest play in Super Bowl/ postseason history- 108 yards
First player to return two kick-offs over 105 yards in a single season
NOTES:
Many fun stories surround the young Jones, and fellow wide receiver David Anderson, who called himself Jones’ interpreter while they played together. Jones was fond of bringing in his mom’s cooking into the locker room- where he’d eat chicken legs whole, down to the marrow.
It’s really sad the way he was let go by the Texans. The team perhaps getting their closest to the Super Bowl at that time were playing a hotly contested game against Baltimore in the 2011 Divisional Round. He’d muff a punt that’d lead to the Ravens win.
I’m not sure if the team cut him for a fresh start. I know a lot of people were hard on him. I just wish things had ended better in H-Town.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
203
2733
13.5
14
80t
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
183
4940
17.0
5
108t
PR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
276
2688
9.7
4
79t
EPITAPH:
7/13/24- Jacoby Jones passed away peacefully in his sleep while at his home in New Orleans, La. It was unexpected and no cause of death was given. He was 40 years old.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
Card: Playoff 2008