Jamel Richardson facts for kids
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Richardson (left) with Matt Dunigan after winning the 98th Grey Cup MVP award
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| Born: | January 22, 1982 Syracuse, New York, U.S. |
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| Career information | |
| Status | Retired |
| CFL status | International |
| Position(s) | SB |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Weight | 226 lb (103 kg) |
| College | Victor Valley College |
| High school | Corcoran |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 2003–2006 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| 2007 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2008–2013 | Montreal Alouettes |
| 2015 | Saskatchewan Roughriders |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| CFL All-Star | 2008, 2011 |
| CFL East All-Star | 2008–2011 |
| Career stats | |
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Jamel Richardson (born January 22, 1982) is a former professional football player from America. He played as a slotback in the Canadian Football League (CFL). A slotback is a type of receiver who lines up behind the main line of scrimmage. Jamel won two Grey Cup championships with the Montreal Alouettes. The Grey Cup is the championship game of the CFL. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 98th Grey Cup game.
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Jamel Richardson's Early Life and School
Jamel Richardson went to Corcoran High School where he played football. He was very good at sports. In 2011, he was honored and added to the Corcoran High School athletic hall of fame.
After high school, Jamel attended Victor Valley College. There, he was recognized as an All-American in football. He also led the state in how many passes he caught and how many yards he gained.
Jamel Richardson's Professional Football Career
Playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Jamel Richardson started his professional career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played for them for four seasons, from 2003 to 2006. During this time, he caught 113 passes. He gained 1,471 yards and scored 4 touchdowns. A touchdown is when a player carries the ball into the opponent's end zone, scoring points.
Time with the Dallas Cowboys
In March 2007, Jamel signed with the Dallas Cowboys. This team plays in the National Football League (NFL) in the United States. However, it was tough for him to make the team. The Cowboys had many talented wide receivers. On August 27, 2007, the Dallas Cowboys decided to release Jamel. This happened before the regular season began.
Success with the Montreal Alouettes
On March 18, 2008, Jamel Richardson joined the Montreal Alouettes. This was a big move for his career. In his first season with them in 2008, he became a CFL All-Star. This means he was one of the best players in the league. He led the CFL with 16 touchdown catches. He also caught 98 passes for 1,287 yards.
Jamel made a big decision on January 7, 2009. He turned down an offer from the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL. Instead, he chose to stay with the Alouettes for at least three more seasons. Other NFL teams like the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also interested in him.
On November 28, 2010, Jamel played in the 98th Grey Cup game. It was held in Edmonton, Alberta. The Alouettes played against his former team, the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Jamel helped the Alouettes win the game 21-18. He also received the MVP trophy. He was the first receiver to win this award since 2003.
Jamel had an amazing streak of six seasons in a row. From 2008 to 2012, he gained over 1,000 receiving yards each year. This shows how consistently good he was.
However, in 2013, he faced a challenge. On August 4, during practice, he suffered a serious knee injury. He tore two important ligaments in his left knee. This injury meant he missed the rest of the 2013 season. After this injury, the team released him on June 21, 2014.
Return to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Jamel did not play during the 2014 regular season. But he wasn't done with football. On December 22, 2014, he signed again with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. This brought him back to where his CFL journey began.
