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Re-signed with the Cardinals on 3/3/06, inking a two-year deal that will keep him under contract through 2008; initially made the team as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2001 out of UMass.
Was used as a goal-line specialist late in 2006 and finished the year with four rushing TDs on just 17 attempts.
Had not reached the end zone since 12/15/02 but scored a career-high three rushing TDS rushing at St. Louis on 12/3/06; he entered the game with just 3 rushing attempts for the season; was the first Cardinal with three rushing TDs in a game since Jake Plummer on 11/22/98.
Was an 11-game starter and the team’s leading rusher in both 2003 and 2005.
Missed the entire 2004 season after suffering a broken leg and ankle injury in an intra-squad scrimmage at training camp on 8/6/04.
Had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in 2003 a 165-yard effort vs. SF (10/26) and a 141-yard game vs. Cin. (11/2).
Grew up as a neighbor to Cardinals linebacker Gerald Hayes in Paterson, NJ.
Pro Career:
An undrafted rookie free agent signed by the Cardinals in 2001, Shipp spent the entire 2004 season on injured reserve (leg) after sharing the running back responsibilities with Emmitt Smith in 2003. Returned in 2005 to lead the team in rushing and had a solid 2006 season, both rushing and on special teams. Agreed to a new two-year contract with the team on 3/3/07.
2006: Logged time in 15 games, becoming a goal line threat with four rushing touchdowns in the final four games appeared on special teams with three unassisted tackles in the season opener vs. SF (9/10) made two key third down plays vs. Det (11/19), one coming on a 22-yard reception on third-and-one in the third quarter and a seven-yard run on third-and-three on the final drive that iced the game for the Cardinals scored on touchdown runs of one, six and nine yards @ StL (12/3) to establish a personal single game high; became the first Cardinal to rush for three TD’s in a regular season game since Jake Plummer accomplished the feat on 11/22/98 at Washington; one-yard run in first quarter marked his first TD since 12/15/02, a span of three years and 11 months inactive due to a rib injury vs. Den (12/17) turned in another good performance spelling Edgerrin James, rushing five time for 13 yards and a TD and catching one pass for five yards @ SF (12/24).
2005: Led the team in rushing with 451 yards on 157 attempts made his first start for the Cardinals since 12/28/03 vs. Min when he stepped in for the deactivated J. J. Arrington rushed 16 times for 42 yards vs. SF (10/2) while catching five balls out of the backfield for 52 additional yards met the team in Detroit after attending his father’s funeral; rushed only four times for three yards @ Det (11/13) inactive @ SF (12/4) due to a neck injury rushed 13 times for 42 yards vs. Phi (12/24) rushed 16 times for a season-high 57 yards @ Ind (1/1); also caught three passes for 19 yards.
2004: The team’s leading rusher in 2003 suffered an ankle and leg injury in an intra-squad scrimmage at training camp on 8/6 placed on the injured reserve list on 9/1 (leg).
2003: Shared running-back chores with future Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith Smith began the season as the starter, gaining 192 yards on 65 carries until fracturing his scapula and separating his shoulder in his return to Dallas in the season’s fifth contest while Smith mended over the next six weeks, Shipp laid claim to the position the starter over the final 11 outings, gained 830 yards on 228 attempts overall to fall just four yards short of his 2002 single-season best of 834 rushing yards back-to-back 100 yard rushing efforts, a Cardinal first since 1992 included his 35-attempt, 165-yard effort vs. SF (10/26) which was the best performance by a Cardinal running back since 1993; the 35 carries were the NFC’s 2003 single-game high came off bench for Smith (shoulder) @ Dal (10/5) and gained 31 yards on nine carries, including a 16-yard burst in third quarter with Smith inactive for next six games, handed first starting role of season vs. Bal (10/12) and collected 108 yards from scrimmage with 61 yards rushing on 14 carries and five pass receptions for 47 yards exploded for career-best 35 carries and 165 yards rushing to key 221-yard ground effort in 1613 overtime win vs. SF (10/26); 35 rushing attempts most by a Cardinal since Ronald Moore’s club-record 36 carries (160 yards) vs. Phi (11/7/93); piled up 50 yards on five carries on Cards first possession of the game, a 12-play, 70-yard scoring drive became first Cardinal running back to log consecutive 100-yard rushing games since 1992 (Johnny Johnson) with 141 yards on 29 carries in win vs. Cin (11/2) left game @ Cle (11/16) in fourth quarter with knee contusion despite limited practice time while nursing forearm and knee injuries, netted 95 yards on 24 carries and caught two passes for two yards vs. StL (11/23).
2002: Finished the season with 1,247 total yards from scrimmage on 226 touches (188 rushes, 38 receptions) to finish with a 5.5-yard average, second in the NFC to Minnesota running back Michael Bennett (5.6-yard average) and fifth in the NFL 5.52-yard average also was best by a Cardinal since fullback Larry Centers averaged 5.54 yards in 1996 (116 rushes for 425 yards, 99 receptions for 766 yards) also on receiving end of 80-yard scoring play on screen pass @ StL (12/15), the team’s longest play from scrimmage since 1988; added two rushing touchdowns against the Rams for three overall, a Cardinal first since quarterback Jake Plummer rushed for three scores @ Was (11/22/98) @ Was (9/8) made fine block as kick returner MarTay Jenkins took fourth-quarter kickoff 95 yards for a score; on ensuing Cards kickoff made the tackle downfield scored first career touchdown vs. SD (9/22) with 31-yard catch on third-and-four midway through fourth quarter by out-running Charger linebacker Junior Seau to the endzone came off the bench for Jones vs. NYG (9/29) and was a one-man show with 92 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries; added five receptions for 39 yards and a score for 131 yards total offense, nearly one-half of the Cards’ team total of 263; later scored on a 10-yard touchdown run on his sixth consecutive carry of the drive rushed for over 100 yards vs. Oak (11/24) in his first NFL start 122 yards on 12 carries in the first half with 16 attempts for 135 yards with one touchdown career-best seven receptions @ KC (12/1) split 158 yards total offense in half @ StL (12/15) with 26 carries for 79 yards and two scores, two pass receptions for 79 yards, including an 80-yard scoring play on third-quarter screen pass the Cards’ longest play from scrimmage in 223 games and longest scoring connection for both he and quarterback Plummer.
2001: Played in 10 games, exclusively on special teams, as a rookie in 2001 inactive for four contests finished season with 12 special-teams tackles, and returned six kickoffs for 118 yards first kick return duty resulted in one kickoff return for 21 yards @ SD (11/25) returned two more kickoffs for 36 yards @ Oak (12/2), one return for 22 yards with two tackles on coverage units @ NYG (12/15) returns of 26 yards vs. Dal (12/23) and 13 yards in season finale @ Was (1/6).
College:
One of the most decorated athletes in University of Massachusetts history left UMass as the sixth-ranked all-time rusher in NCAA Division 1-AA annals with 5,383 yards gained over 100 yards 33 times, including seven 200-yard performances set school record with 19 consecutive 100-yard efforts left UMass with career records of 1,215 carries for 6,250 yards, 58 touchdowns, 378 points and 7,759 all-purpose yards also ranks second in Minuteman annals with 126 receptions and third with 6,250 yards total offense sixth player in college football history to rush for over 6,000 yards and gain over 1,000 yards receiving in a career finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the top player in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks first team all-America as a sophomore with 2,542 yards rushing on 428 attempts (5.9-yard average) and 18 touchdowns.
Personal:
Full name Marcel C. Shipp ... played one year of prep football at Milford (CT) Academy and was all-New Jersey choice as a senior at Passaic County Technical High School ran for 1,510 yards and 24 touchdowns on 172 carries (8.8-yard average) as a senior and gained 3,239 yards with 42 touchdowns on 429 carries (7.8-yard average) as a prep education major at UMass with minor in sociology. | 