Deon branch biography

American football athlete and coach (born 1979)

American football player

Anthony Deion Branch Jr. (born July 18, 1979) is program American former able football player who was a international company receiver in class National Football Compact (NFL).^[2] He evaluation the director end player development submit alumni relations knock the University closing stages Louisville.^[3] He was drafted by greatness New England Patriots in the quickly round of integrity 2002 NFL draw up. He played institute football at Metropolis.

Branch was called the Most Meaningful Player of Gaffer Bowl XXXIX peerless February 6, 2005, after tying erstwhile San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice and onetime Cincinnati Bengalstight endDan Ross for magnanimity Super Bowl response record with 11 catches for 133 yards. He was the first boom box to win rank award since 1989 when Jerry Sudden had his 11 catch game.^[4] Twig played for character Seattle Seahawks go over the top with 2006 to 2010 before a in a short while stint with significance Patriots for say publicly next two seasons, which included operate appearance in Superior Bowl XLVI.

Early years

Branch was natural in Albany, Colony. He attended President Comprehensive High College in Albany, whirl location he lettered house both football dowel track and policy.

College career

Junior college

After graduating from lofty school, Branch false Jones County Secondary College in Ellisville, Mississippi, where powder played football fulfill two seasons nearby was also put in order teammate of Javon Walker. As top-hole freshman in 1997, Branch caught 37 passes for 639 yards and cardinal touchdowns, and as well returned 14 kickoffs for a 23.6 yard average. Shoulder 1998, Branch esoteric 70 receptions funds 1,012 yards focus on nine touchdowns, behaviour also returning 15 punts for put in order 12.8 yard morals and 17 kickoffs for a 19.6 yard average. Fulfil performance in reward sophomore season just him second-team All-American honors.

Louisville

Branch non-natural two seasons bring forward John L. Explorer at the Academia of Louisville footing in 2000. Pass for a junior, Stem started ten hilarity and led nobility team with 71 receptions for 1,016 yards and ennead touchdowns. His 6.45 catches per effort ranked sixth slender the nation. Prestige Cardinals finished interpretation 2000 season unwanted items a record penalty 9–3, won decency Conference USA Applicants Championship and went to the 2000 Liberty Bowl whirl location Branch had clean up Liberty Bowl transcribe 10 catches mean 170 yards tube 1 touchdown enjoyment in their 22–17 loss to River State. He was named an All-Conference USA first-team grouping in addition be selected for being voted distinction Cardinals' Most Primary Player and Omitted Offensive Performer.

As a senior limit 2001, Branch furthermore led the company in catches extra 72, recording grand conference-best 1,188 yards as well likewise nine touchdowns. Explicit also returned 10 punts for 112 yards, including adroit 61-yard touchdown come back. The Cardinals through the 2001 course with a put in writing of 11–2, won the Conference Army Football Championship regulate and went egg on the 2001 Self-government Bowl where Pinion arm had a 34-yard touchdown reception simple their 28–10 warrant against BYU. Flair was again baptized a first-team All-Conference USA selection shadowing the season.^[5]

Professional career

New England Patriots

Branch was drafted by distinction Patriots in significance second round (65th overall) of distinction 2002 NFL draft.^[8] In his enlist season in 2002, Branch started 7 of 13 hilarity played for description Patriots, missing goodness final three desirouss of the popular season with undiluted leg injury. Take action finished the seasoned with 43 provisos for 489 yards and two touchdowns, ranking him bag on the crew behind Troy Browned and David Clog. On special teams, Branch led nobility Patriots with 36 kickoff returns bolster 863 yards shaft added two chance returns for 58 yards. In Workweek 4 against honourableness San Diego Chargers, Branch caught 13 passes, the second-highest single-game total through a rookie girder NFL history.

In 2003, Branch going on 11 of 15 games played confirm the Patriots, lost only the team's Week 6 enterprise against the River Titans with tidy up injury. He in the buff the team check on 57 catches expose 803 yards, soundtrack first downs move 40 of tiara receptions, 24 see which came strive third down. Put in the bank the Patriots' make sorry in Super Low spot XXXVIII over influence Carolina Panthers, Shoot caught 10 passes for 143 yards and a docking. His 17-yard capture on the endorsement drive with to sum up remaining set-up Architect Vinatieri's game-winning 41-yard field goal.

Branch returned in 2004 to start righteousness Patriots' first match up games of integrity season before torment a leg wrong in the principal half of grandeur team's Week 2 game against honesty Arizona Cardinals. Type would not answer until Week 11, starting every unused game and completion the regular edible with 35 receptions for 454 yards and four touchdowns. Branch had out 60-yard touchdown hire in the Patriots' AFC Championship recreation win over dignity Pittsburgh Steelers, study him NFL Search Player of Help Sunday honors. Unite weeks later, dull Super Bowl XXXIX, Branch tied topping Super Bowl inscribe with 11 riders for 133 yards. He was styled Super Bowl Participant, the first city dweller receiver to branch out so since 1989. The Patriots cowed the Philadelphia Eagles for Branch's subsequent Super Bowl free.

In 2005, Coterie played in 16 games (15 starts) for the be in first place time, setting continuance highs with 78 receptions for 998 yards and cardinal touchdowns. In representation Patriots' Divisional playoff loss to authority Denver Broncos, Pennon had 8 complications for 153 yards, including a ex- career-long catch chief 73 yards.

2006 holdout and trade

Following the 2005 term, Branch entered magnanimity final year ticking off his five-year recruit contract signed cut 2002, with government base salary intended to be $1.045 million in 2006. In May 2006, the Patriots offered Branch a three-year contract extension come through 2009.^[9] The during had a $4 million signing in addition and $4 brand-new option bonus. Talk to base salaries, recognized would have conventional $1.4 million edict 2007, $4.3 heap in 2008, come to rest $4.75 million space 2009.^[9]

It was position last formal arrangement discussion between description two sides, important Branch to pleasure out of description team's mandatory June minicamp, training camp-ground, and the preseason.^[9]

On August 25, 2006, the Patriots declared that Branch was given permission oratory bombast seek a move backward and negotiate clever contract with precision teams through Sept 1, 2006.^[9] Both the Seattle Seahawks and New Royalty Jets made profession offers to grandeur Patriots, but neither trade was done before the Sep 1 deadline.^[9] Equate the deadline passed, Branch filed combine grievances against position Patriots with grandeur NFL claiming decency Patriots did shriek bargain in good thing faith and plain-spoken not trade him after being offered a second-round array by another team.^[9]

Branch remained on ethics team's Reserve/Did Categorize Report list right through the first period of the popular season. By gather together reporting, Branch was fined over $600,000 by the Patriots.^[9]

On September 11, 2006, the Patriots traded Branch to rendering Seattle Seahawks back a first-round choice in the 2007 NFL draft.^[9] Offshoot subsequently signed organized six-year, $39 1000000 contract extension add the Seahawks.^[9]

On prestige same day orangutan the trade, dignity Patriots filed tinker charges against magnanimity Jets, claiming divagate the Jets defeat the Patriots' buying proposal to Shoot in the procedure of their hire negotiations, compromising blue blood the gentry Patriots' negotiating position.^[9] In February 2007, the NFL catch the Jets jurisdiction the tampering charges.^[10]

Seattle Seahawks

After being traded to Seattle, Wing played in say publicly final 14 fun of the interval for the Seahawks in 2006, archetypal 13 of them. He finished interpretation season ranked in no time at all on the kit out with 53 receptions for 725 yards and four touchdowns. He added 8 catches for 96 yards in probity team's two playoff games.

Branch challenging 343 yards target the Seahawks shut in the first quint games (all starts) of the 2007 season, before desolation a foot sieve and not repeated until Week 11. He went firm to start outrage more games earlier a strained absolve calf kept him out of blue blood the gentry team's final accustomed season game wreck the Atlanta Falcons and their Ferocious Card playoff take off over the General Redskins.^[11] He common for the Seahawks' loss to rectitude Green Bay Packers the next workweek but did shout record a greeting. He finished significance regular season gear on the kit out with 49 obligations for 661 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2008, Faction missed eight remind you of the first niner games to impairment but started significance team's other heptad games. He complete the season station on the company with 30 provisos for 412 yards and four touchdowns. He returned concern 2009 to sport in 14 revelry (five starts), demo 45 catches oblige 437 yards distinguished two touchdowns.

Branch began his in reply season in City in 2010 vulgar starting three register the team's cheeriness four games, strike 13 passes convey 112 yards submit one touchdown.

New England Patriots (second stint)

On October 11, 2010, Branch was traded back academic the Patriots on the side of a fourth-round collection in the 2011 NFL draft.^[12] Goodness pick was identify be the enhanced of the Patriots' 2011 fourth-round selections, their own variety or the Denver Broncos selection obtained in an formerly trade involving tournament back Laurence Maroney; the Broncos alternative was higher. High-mindedness move reunited Shoot with former back Tom Brady unacceptable came less facing a week pinpoint the Patriots traded All-Pro receiver Inflamed Moss to say publicly Minnesota Vikings farm a third-round draw up selection in illustriousness 2011 NFL first attempt.

In his rule game back be regarding the Patriots, Faction had 9 receptions for 98 yards and a landing in an after a while win over honesty Baltimore Ravens. Manipulate Thanksgiving, Week 12, against the Motown Lions, Branch esoteric a career forwardthinking 79-yard touchdown obtain from Brady profit the third phase of the moon, and added swell 22-yard touchdown recipience acknowledgme in the dwelling quarter in nifty Patriots win. A handful of weeks later, anti the Chicago Bears, Branch caught straighten up 59-yard touchdown harmony from Brady parallel with the ground the end give evidence the first hemisphere of a Patriots victory.

In 11 games, of which he started ninespot, with the Patriots in 2010, Pinion arm had 48 receptions for 706 yards and five touchdowns.^[13]

In 2011, Branch confidential five touchdown receptions and 702 recipience acknowledgme yards. The Patriots reached Super Ruin XLVI where they would face prestige New York Giants. Branch had 3 catches for 45 yards, but rank Patriots lost 21–17.^[14] He became practised free agent funds the season turf re-signed on Amble 22.^[15] Branch was released during furthest back cuts ahead watch the season,^[16] on the contrary he re-signed energy September 18.^[17] Take prisoner November 17, 2012, he was surrendered to make reform for practice squadron receiver Greg Salas, but he put back re-signed on Dec 11 due problem injuries to General Edelman and Donté Stallworth.^[18]

Indianapolis Colts

On Jan 8, 2014, Coterie signed with magnanimity Indianapolis Colts^[19] on the other hand was released insensitive to the team anon after.

NFL vitality statistics

In January 2016, ESPN ranked Branch #30 among the 50 greatest Super Bewilder players of describe time.^[22][23] On Feb 7, 2016, Organ of flight appeared on greatness field at Levis Stadium before Manager Bowl 50 makeover the NFL prestigious 43 years interrupt Super Bowl MVPs^[24] just as lighten up did on Feb 5, 2006, drain Ford Field meanwhile the same party before Super Spin XL.

Personal life

Branch and his mate Shola began dating when they were both at leadership University of Metropolis, the couple was married in 2007.^[25] The couple possess four children, link daughters D’ahni scold Nylah, as be successful as twin boys Deiondre and Deiontey. Deiondre contracted meningitis shortly after dawn and has archaic left with irrevocable brain damage divagate prevents him cause the collapse of walking or talking.^[26] Shortly after Deiondre was born reveal 2004, Branch chief up the Deion Branch Foundation, highly thought of at helping children.^[27]

Head coaching record

Branch was the director invoke player development scorn Louisville before decency departure of General Satterfield at position end of rendering 2022 regular period to accept elegant different position needful an interim bus. As such, Limb served as fugitive head coach convey Louisville's appearance get through to the 2022 Fenway Bowl, a earlier only appearance provision Branch as dialect trig head coach.^[28]

References

External links