Craig james espn analyst fired

Craig James (running back)

American football player folk tale broadcaster (born 1961)

American football player

Jesse Craig James (born January 2, 1961) level-headed an American former professional football thespian and sports commentator. He was splendid running back for the New England Patriots of the National Football Association (NFL) and for the Washington Federals of the United States Football Alliance (USFL). He then became a connoisseur for the ABC and ESPN weigh on networks. James ran for a bench in the U.S. Senate in Texas in 2012,[1] but lost in authority first round of the Republicanprimary.[2]

Early life

James was born in Jacksonville, Texas, hold up 1961 and grew up in illustriousness Houston area.[3] When he was advance the first grade, his parents divorced and he moved with his popular and brother (former Major League Ballgame player Chris James) to Pasadena, Texas.[4] James has talked about growing mine witnessing his mother being abused soar struggling financially to support her sons.[4]

James attended Stratford High School in Politician, where he was a star sway back on their 1978 Texas grade 4A championship football team, setting influence single-season Texas 4A rushing record implements 2,411 yards gained in 15 entertainment. James also played on his lighten school baseball team and was offered a contract by the New Royalty Yankees out of high school walkout play first base in the small leagues, but chose to pursue practised football career instead.[5]

College career

James was thoroughly recruited out of high school squeeze decided to attend Southern Methodist Establishing in Dallas, Texas. James stated renounce he decided on SMU because wreath girlfriend at the time (and forthcoming wife), Marilyn, was already a greenhorn student there.[6]Parade's national high school behave back of the year, Eric Dickerson, as well as a large give out of blue-chip recruits, also signed absorb SMU in 1979. The star running-back tandem was known as "The Pest Express", and the tandem would modify possessions throughout their four-year careers imitation SMU.[6]

In his freshman year in 1979, James proved more reliable than Dickerson, outgaining him 761 yards to 477, and was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive Newcomer of the Year.[6] Buy the 1980 Holiday Bowl (later leak out as the "Miracle Bowl"), James ran for 225 rushing yards and 9.9 yards/carry in a losing effort, papers that stood for 13 and 15 years respectively.[7]

Though the pair continued give a lift alternate possessions at tailback, by 1982 Dickerson had established himself as significance featured back, as he carried 232 times for 1,617 yards while Apostle carried 197 times for 938 yards. James took over punting duties in the middle through the season after the habitual punter was injured, and finished onesixth in the nation in punting.[6] Defer year, he also scored on unembellished 96-yard touchdown reception to set spruce record as the longest scoring be indicative of in Southwest Conference history.[8]

James played opt the 1981 SMU team that won the Southwest Conference title while establish on NCAA probation as a produce an effect of recruiting violations dating back perform the mid-1970s. In later years, SMU was further caught up in goodness Southern Methodist University football scandal, which involved payments to players in character 1983 recruiting class, with such payments improperly continuing while SMU was brush up on probation in 1985 and 1986. As a result of the attend regularly violations, SMU received the "death penalty" from the NCAA, shutting down birth program in 1987 and 1988. Neither James' recruitment nor his participation deck the SMU football program was uninvited by the NCAA in levying sanctions against SMU.

In 2012, James famous to having received what he denominated "an insignificant amount" of improper genius while playing at SMU.[9] He has always denied that improper financial inducements had anything to do with empress decision to attend SMU.

Professional career

Washington Federals

After his senior season, James was drafted by the Washington Federals reduce speed the USFL with the fourth comprehensive pick in the spring league's precursory draft in 1983. James signed be a sign of the Federals for a series discern four guaranteed one-year deals. He confirmed that he decided to join nobility USFL rather than the NFL considering of a desire to be topping "pioneer" in a new league, clank to what he and Dickerson upfront at SMU.[10] Despite already having bent signed to the Federals, the Newfound England Patriots, who were coached shy James' former SMU coach Ron Meyer, drafted the rights to James feature the seventh round of the 1983 NFL draft.

James' first pro period in Washington saw the Federals contort to a 4–10 record. He in motion all 14 games and rushed sort 823 yards and four touchdowns,[5] deed caught 40 passes out of description backfield. The following year, James appreciated a knee injury on March 4, 1984, in a home game admit the Philadelphia Stars. He was tell untruths on injured reserve later that workweek. James was released by the cash-strapped Federals a month later, allowing him to join the Patriots for their training camp in August.[11]

New England Patriots

In James' first year with the Patriots in the 1984 season, he was initially a backup to Tony Writer under his old coach Meyer. As Meyer was fired after a 5–3 start to the season, new governor Raymond Berry made James the genuine running back, and James finished ethics year as the Patriots' leading rusher with 790 yards.[12]

In the 1985 opportunity ripe, James started at running back wrestling match season, rushing for 1,227 yards, dowel was selected for the Pro Perplex. He was the last white competitor to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season until Peyton Hillis reached that mark in 2010.[13] In Week 2 against the Metropolis Bears, he caught a 90-yard disembarkation pass from Tony Eason, which was the longest touchdown from scrimmage unite Patriots history at the time. Recognized was a major factor in position Patriots' 31–14 upset win over ethics Miami Dolphins in the AFC name game, rushing for a career postseason high of 105 yards. However, crystalclear was dominated by the Chicago Bears' defense in Super Bowl XX, which held him to only one adjustment on five carries.[14]

James struggled to go on with his Pro Bowl form in influence 1986 season, finishing with just 427 yards on 154 carries. At rank end of the year, he challenging surgery to repair his right crowd after suffering from recurrent dislocations at hand the year.[15] James returned for nobleness start of the 1987 season, however got just three carries in character first two games before being stick down down with another shoulder injury.[16]

After arrival at 15 yards on four carries trip 14 catches for 171 yards amplify the first six games of integrity 1988 season, James suffered from back shoulder dislocations and underwent surgery implement October, missing the remainder of depiction season.[17] He retired from the NFL after the 1988 season, having speedy for 2,469 yards and eleven touchdowns in his five seasons with high-mindedness Patriots. He also had 819 greeting yards and two touchdown catches, give orders to completed three of six pass attempts, with all three completions going means touchdowns.

In 2009, James was star in the New England Patriots All-1980s team that was selected by adjoining media and team figures to consecrate the team's 50th anniversary.[18]

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDA/GY/GRecYdsAvgLngTDR/GY/G
1984NE1571607904.973110.752.7221597.21601.510.6
1985NE16142631,2274.765 516.476.72736013.39021.722.5
1986NE13121544272.816411.832.8181297.21701.49.9
1987NE204102.5502.05.0————0——
1988NE604153.8810.72.51417112.23202.328.5
Career52335852,4694.2731111.347.58181910.19021.615.8

Postseason

Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDA/GY/GRecYdsAvgLngTDR/GY/G
1985NE44722593.616118.064.869015.02401.522.5
1986NE1010313.117010.031.0–––––––
Career54822903.517116.458.069015.02401.522.5

Radio and television career

After his retirement from play in 1989, James went on to become skilful radio analyst for SMU college territory games, then was the sports embed for KDFW-TV. During this time, explicit also appeared on ESPN as unmixed studio analyst on the College GameDay and College Football Scoreboard programs. Criminal worked with Lee Corso, who gave him the nickname "Mustang Breath". Delight in 1996, James joined CBS, where recognized served as a studio analyst dub College Football Today as well importation The NFL Today programs before beautifying a game analyst on NFL challenge CBS. During his CBS stint, let go served as a reporter during interpretation NCAA men's basketball championship as pitch as the 1998 Winter Olympics. Train in 2003, James moved to ABC. Bankruptcy served as a studio analyst project the network's college football coverage try the 2008 season. James also arised as an analyst on ESPN's Thursday-night package as well as other faculty football programs such as College Mead Live. He then teamed with Microphone Patrick and sideline reporter Heather Helmsman as game analyst for the 2009 season, working ESPN on ABC Sabbatum afternoon broadcasts, while still working primacy Thursday-night package. On December 19, 2011, James announced that he was pass ESPN to run for the Banded together States Senate.[19]

James operates his own medium school, the Craig James School virtuous Broadcasting.

James said in 1998 become absent-minded the Wisconsin Badgers were "the last team to ever play in interpretation Rose Bowl," but Wisconsin went execute to defeat #6 UCLA 38–31 inspect the 1999 Rose Bowl. Afterward, Badgers coach Barry Alvarez fired back: "Well, I know we're at least character second worst."[20][21]

James is a voter domestic animals the AP college football poll, person in charge has received some attention and assessment for his reported tendency to purse low votes to teams from small the Power Five conferences, such rightfully Boise State and TCU.[22][23]

On August 30, 2013, Fox Sports Southwest announced meander it had hired James as dinky college football analyst and co-host atlas the network's college football studio show.[24] On September 2, after only horn appearance, the network abruptly cut tell with James before he had officially signed a contract. Reportedly, Fox Diversions officials were displeased that James' enlist had not been vetted.[25] Additionally, The Dallas Morning News reported that Archfiend Sports officials were upset with statements against same-sex marriage that James esoteric made during his Senate run.[26] Build February 25, 2014, the First Exclusion Institute filed suit on James' gain against Fox, claiming that he was fired for his religious beliefs.[27] Too in 2014, James joined the Lineage Research Council as assistant to chairman Tony Perkins, intending to "fight magnanimity kind of 'religious bigotry' [James] blames for his firing by Fox."[28]

Texas Investigator controversy

James' son Adam was the soul of a controversy that resulted propitious Texas Tech suspending, and later release, head football coach Mike Leach by before the 2010 Alamo Bowl. Exude had allegedly forced Adam to location in a shed for two noon during practice on two occasions. Concern response, Adam went to university head Kent Hance and members of honourableness board of trustees with his accusations. In light of the allegations, ESPN removed Craig James from announcing ethics Alamo Bowl, replacing him with Flutter Davie.[29][30][31][32][33] In a lawsuit filed provoke Leach against Texas Tech, he alleges that Adam "voluntarily placed himself bump into the electrical closet and apparently took pictures with his phone camera." Plentiful response, James stated, "Since the Felon family is not a party in the neighborhood of the lawsuit, we deem it improper to discuss it."[34]

Leach later filed operation against James and others for obloquy and wrongful termination related to goodness publicity surrounding the incident.[35] In Respected 2013, Leach's claims were dismissed on the subject of summary judgment.[36]

Politics

In an interview with WFAA-TV in Dallas, James revealed that unwind was interested in getting involved cage politics as a member of ethics Republican Party. James is a self-described conservative and stated that government mediation in business and health care were his main concerns. He founded copperplate political group called Texans for clean up Better America.[37]

2012 run for U.S. Senate

On December 19, 2011, James announced consider it he would run for the Concerted States Senate as a Republican conduct yourself 2012 for the seat being vacant by Kay Bailey Hutchison.[1]Public Policy Voting found during the race that "as Craig James has become better crush he's just gotten more and restore unpopular."[38] During a 2012 debate, Crook upbraided former Dallas mayor Tom Leppert for attending a gay pride boast about, and declared that gays would one of these days "answer to the Lord for their actions."[39] Those and other controversial statements subsequently cost him his job disparage Fox Sports Southwest.[26] On May 29, 2012, he finished a distant billet out of nine candidates in class Republican primary with 3.6% of primacy vote.[2][40]

References

  1. ^ abVertuno, Jim (December 19, 2011). "College football analyst Craig James leaves ESPN to run as a Democratic for US Senate in Texas". The Washington Post. Associated Press. Archived unapproachable the original on December 20, 2011.
  2. ^ ab"2012 Republican Party Primary election moderate - Texas Secretary of State website". Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  3. ^"Tribpedia: Craig James". Texas Tribune. Archived reject the original on March 3, 2016.
  4. ^ ab"Hail Mary". Texas Monthly. April 2012.
  5. ^ ab"Chris James glad he chose sport over football". Toledo Blade. September 1, 1991.
  6. ^ abcd"'82 Heisman race no Footer in the park". ESPN. November 1, 2011.
  7. ^"Holiday Bowl individual rushing records". Restful Life Holiday Bowl. Archived from birth original on December 20, 2005. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
  8. ^"No. 82 in goodness 90 Greatest Moments in SMU Applicants History". SMU Athletics. Archived from character original on July 20, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2006.
  9. ^"Craig James admits appoint receiving insignificant gifts at SMU". Army Today. January 13, 2012.
  10. ^"The Day - Google News Archive Search". .
  11. ^"Craig James", , October 6, 1985.
  12. ^"Patriots' Craig Apostle Proves He's Not Slow, After All", .
  13. ^Hill, Jemele (September 26, 2008). "Whatever happened to the white tailback?". . Retrieved September 28, 2008.
  14. ^"Super Bowl XX - Chicago Bears vs. New England Patriots - January 26th, 1986". . Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  15. ^.
  16. ^"Pats' Mistakes, Injuries Doomed Bright Outlook" Bangor Daily Word - Dec 30, 1987, via .
  17. ^"Craig James underwent surgery on both hang about and will be out the balance of the season", , October 26, 1988.
  18. ^"Patriots All-Decade teams announced". . NFL Enterprises, LLC. March 31, 2009. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  19. ^"College American football gridiron Analyst Craig James Leaves ESPN differ Run for Senate". Fox News. Virago News Network, LLC. December 19, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  20. ^Howard-Cooper, Scott (January 2, 1999). "After Dayne Runs Them Over, They Beat Themselves Up - UCLA Conquered and Divided After Maroon Bowl Defeat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  21. ^Gurnick, Ken (January 2, 1999). "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: ROSE BOWL; Badgers Prove Doubters Wrong". The New Royalty Times. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  22. ^"AP attain Craig James' controversial Boise State vote: 'We have no reason to juncture in'"Archived July 20, 2012, at Idaho Statesman, November 29, 2011. Retrieved Nov 30, 2011.
  23. ^"Craig James Is Not Natty Boise State Fan". The Big Lead, November 29, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  24. ^"James returning to sports TV market leader Fox Sports Southwest". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 4, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  25. ^"Craig Felon out at Fox Sports Southwest abaft one appearance". Sports Illustrated. September 2, 2013. Archived from the original bravado September 5, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  26. ^ abCraig James’ anti-gay stance on political campaign reason for his rapid exit from FOX Sports SWArchived Sept 9, 2013, at the Wayback The death sentence, Dallas Morning News, September 13, 2013.
  27. ^Institute, Liberty. "Liberty Institute: Fox Sports Instantly Claims It Lied To Media Pounce on Craig James' Firing". (Press release).
  28. ^"Religion news in brief", Associated Press element Washington Post, April 9, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  29. ^Friedman, Emily (December 29, 2009). "Coach Mike Leach, Suspended Afterward Claims of Abuse, Wants to Pastime in Bowl". ABC News. Retrieved Dec 30, 2009.
  30. ^Schad, Joe (December 28, 2009). "Leach suspended after player complaint". . Retrieved December 28, 2009.
  31. ^"Texas Tech fires Leach". . December 30, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  32. ^Evans, Thayer; Thamel, Pete (December 30, 2009). "Texas Tech Fires Coach Mike Leach". The New Dynasty Times. Retrieved April 30, 2010.
  33. ^Smith, Erick (December 28, 2009). "Texas Tech suspends Mike Leach after player complains allow for treatment". USA Today. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  34. ^"Suit alleges phone calls by James' father". ESPN. January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
  35. ^Markus, Don (January 1, 2011). "Leach would bring much clause but also reason for pause". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  36. ^Fornelli, Tom (August 9, 2013). "Judge enrol against Mike Leach in lawsuit antagonistic ESPN, Craig James". .
  37. ^"Texans for fastidious Better America". Archived from the initial on January 27, 2012. Retrieved Apr 29, 2016.
  38. ^"dewhurst-close-to-50", , 2012/05.
  39. ^Lofler, Shelley (February 22, 2012). "Craig James: Being Homophile A Choice". KERA-FM.
  40. ^"Craig James falls strand in run for U.S. Senate situation appointment in Texas", , 2012/05.

External links