James Sanders (American football) facts for kids
Sanders with the New England Patriots in 2009
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| Position: | Safety | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | November 11, 1983 Porterville, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 210 lb (95 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Porterville (CA) Monache | ||||||||||||
| College: | Fresno State | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2005 / Round: 4 / Pick: 133 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
James Sanders (born November 11, 1983) is a former American professional football player. He played as a safety, which is a key defensive position. James was chosen by the New England Patriots in the 2005 NFL draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals during his career.
Contents
College Football Journey
After finishing high school at Monache High School, James Sanders went to Fresno State University. There, he played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs. His coach, Pat Hill, had worked with Bill Belichick, who later became James's coach with the Patriots.
In 2002, as a freshman, James was named a first-team freshman All-American. This means he was one of the best new players in the country. He also received an honorable mention for the All-WAC team. The next year, in 2003, he started every game as a strong safety and earned first-team All-WAC honors. He continued to play well in 2004, earning All-WAC honors again in his final season at Fresno State.
Playing in the NFL
New England Patriots Years
The New England Patriots picked James Sanders in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL draft. He was the 133rd player chosen overall. He signed with the Patriots in July 2005.
In his first year, 2005, James played in 10 games and started two. In one game against the Buffalo Bills, he caught an opponent's pass (an interception) and ran it 39 yards for a touchdown! This was a big play for a rookie. In 2006, he started five games, helping out when another safety, Rodney Harrison, was injured.
During the 2007 season, James became a full-time starter. He started 15 games and even played in Super Bowl XLII. He continued to be a key player in 2008, starting 14 games. In 2009, he signed a new three-year contract with the Patriots. He reportedly chose to stay with the team even though other teams offered him more money.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick praised James in 2009. He said James was an "excellent leader" and a "very committed player." Belichick added that James was a great example for any player because of his hard work and toughness.
In 2009, James started the first game but then lost his starting spot for a bit. He also had a shoulder injury. However, he got his starting job back later in the season and played in the Patriots' playoff game. He finished that season with 48 tackles.
In 2010, James started the season as a starter again. He later became the team's third safety. In Week 10, he had an amazing game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He intercepted a pass from Ben Roethlisberger and ran it 32 yards for another touchdown! For this great play, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week. In the very next game, against the Indianapolis Colts, James made a game-saving interception. He caught Peyton Manning's pass near the Patriots' goal line with seconds left, stopping the Colts from scoring.
James finished the 2010 season with 58 tackles, three interceptions, and one forced fumble. He played in 15 games and started nine. The Patriots released him in August 2011.
Atlanta Falcons
After leaving the Patriots, James Sanders signed with the Atlanta Falcons on August 30, 2011. He played one season with them.
Arizona Cardinals
On April 4, 2012, James signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He played his final NFL season with them.
Career Highlights
Throughout his NFL career, James Sanders played in 114 regular season games. He made 363 total tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players many times. He also had 8 interceptions, catching passes from rival quarterbacks. Three of these interceptions he returned for touchdowns! He also recovered 6 fumbles, which is when a player drops the ball and another player picks it up.
Images for kids
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James Sanders with the New England Patriots in 2009
