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Entering his 10th season with the Cardinals, Player is the longest tenured member of the team in terms of seasons and games played (140).
Hit two career milestones in the 12/3/06 game at St. Louis when he recorded his 700th career punt and eclipsed 30,000 career yards mark.
The Cardinals all-time leader in total career punts (714), yards (30,752), and punts downed inside the 20 (179).
Career started with stints in the CFL (Birmingham, 1995) and World League (Frankfurt, 1997) before hooking on with the Cards in 1998; that year he made his NFL debut as a 28-year-old rookie.
A Pro Bowl selection in 2000, he joined Jeff Feagles, Rich Camarillo and Carl Birdsong as the only Cardinals punters to earn the honor.
Signed an extension on 1/4/05 that keeps him under contract through 2007.
Had a career-best 32 punts downed inside the 20 in 2004, a figure that ranked one shy of the franchise record (Jeff Feagles, 33 in 1994).
Pro Career:
A fixture of the Cardinals organization since 1998, Player signed an extension on 1/4/05 that will keep him under contract through 2007. After numerous tryouts throughout the NFL, Player taught middle school physical education while also working for a trucking company in Birmingham, AL, logging 14 hour days until the Cardinals called him for a second time in 1998. After a season with the Birmingham Barracudas of the Canadian Football League, Player signed with the Cardinals in 1996 as a free agent and from there had brief stints with the Giants and Jets in 1997. After being allocated to the World League (Frankfurt) by the Giants, Player re-signed with the Cardinals on 3/3/98 and entered the season as a 28-year-old NFL rookie.
2006: The Cardinals longest tenured player, appeared in all 16 games in his 10th season punted three times for 147 yards for a 49-yard average, including a then season best 57-yard punt in the first quarter vs. StL (9/24) ... punted a season high eight times for 379 yards and had, for the third week in a row, two kicks downed inside the opponents 20-yard line had a strong game, punting six times for 282 yards, including a season high three kicks inside the 20-yard line @ GB (10/29) punted four times for 197 yards, including a 53-yard punt that was downed at the Lions’ three-yard line in the fourth quarter vs. Det (11/19) for the first time since joining the Cardinals in 1998, a span of 124 regular season games, did not punt in a game @ Min (11/26) had a strong game, punting three times for 155 yards, a 51.7 yard average, including a season high 58-yard punt and season high 45.3 net average @ StL (12/3); hit two career milestones, recording his 700th career punt and eclipsing 30,000 career yards.
2005: Handled the punting duties in all 16 games for the Cardinals punted seven times for 312 yards @ NYG (9/11); downed one punt inside the 20 punted only three times since the offense scored on eight consecutive possessions vs. SF (10/2); finished the night with 135 punting yards for a 36.0 net average punted three times for 127 yards and did not allow a return vs. Car (10/9) vs. Ten (10/23) booted a punt 60 yards while punting 10 times for 496 yards, both season highs punted four times or 197 yards, a 49.3 average @ Hou (12/18); the highest average in eight games.
2004: One of the most consistent punters in the NFL, notched career-highs in total punts (98), yards (4,231) and punts downed inside the 20 (32) the punting yardage set a new franchise record while the total punts and total inside the 20 ranked second in team history ... rewarded with a contract extension on 1/4/05 which will keep him in a Cardinals’ uniform through the 2007 season nailed punts of 50 or more yards in 11 of 16 games punted six times vs. Sea (10/24) for 247 yards, a 41.2 average and 40.0 net average; Arizona’s punt coverage team allowed only seven yards on four Seattle returns; nailed three punts inside the 20 for the second consecutive game punted ten times @ Buf (10/31) in harsh wind conditions for 366 yards and a net average of 27.7 yards averaged 44.4 yards while punting seven times for 311 yards; his 44.4 average was his best since the second week of the season (vs. N.E. 45.0); hit the longest punt of the season with a 57-yard boot late in the third quarter to pin the Dolphins on their own eight-yard line @ Mia (11/7) had his best day of the season vs. SF (12/12) punting five times for 253 yards for an average of 50.6 and a net average of 43.8 yards pinned four punts inside the 20-yard line in the season finale vs. TB (1/2) to finish the season with 32, setting a new career high for punts inside the 20 previous personal best was 28, set in 2002.
2003: Punted 82 times for 3,511 yards, good for 42.8-yard gross mark and 34.4-yard net average dropped 19 punts inside the 20-yard line and recorded nine touchbacks began impressive stretch of 50-plus yard punting average in next three games; recorded career-best 54-yard average and season-long 64-yarder vs. Sea (9/14) second straight impressive kicking show with four punts for a 51-yard average vs. GB (9/21); first punt was 40-yarder, then followed with boomers of 56, 50 and 58 yards; saved a touchdown return when Packer Antonio Chatman took his final punt, a 58-yarder, from own eight to near midfield for 33-yard return near start of fourth quarter when he forced Chatman out of bounds at the 41-yard line 52-yard gross mark and 46-yard net figure with two punts inside-the-20 yard line, including a 61-yarder downed at the one-yard line late in third quarter @ StL (9/28) averaged 48.7 yards on three punts vs. Bal (10/12) but saw second quarter punt blocked by Raven Ed Reed, who returned the ball 22 yards for a touchdown; it marked only the third blocked punt of Player’s career nailed 62-yarder to roll out of bounds at the seven-yard line in second quarter.
2002: Finished second in the NFC and third in the NFL with 43.9-yard average on 88 punts for 3,864 yards recorded 28 punts inside-the-20, 10 touchbacks, and one blocked punt logged 49.5-yard average on four punts vs. SD (9/22), but had first punt blocked in 57 games and four years (1998) as ball rolled out of the end zone for a fourth-quarter safety five punts for 41-yard average with two inside-the-20 boots in 217 win vs. NYG (9/29), including a 38-yarder to the corner that bounced out of bounds at the nine-yard line; also boomed season-long 58-yarder in third quarter nailed three punts over 50 yards, including 55-yarder in second quarter that resulted in holding play on return and placed the ball at Carolina’s 19-yard line; on next play, the Panthers lost a fumble and Cards converted the turnover into a field goal @ Car (10/6) three punts for 40.5-yard average vs. StL (11/3) included a 47-yarder in fourth quarter that rolled out of bounds at the eight-yard line as Cards returned an interception five plays later for touchdown outstanding 45.8-yard average and 44-yard net mark vs. Oak (11/24) as dangerous Raiders return men Charles Woodson and Tim Brown combined for just 14 yards on three returns with three fair catches.
2001: Endured disjointed season to average 41.5 yards on 67 punts with 17 inside the 20 suffered an ankle sprain in the seventh game of season, inactive for four contests, then returned to duty for final five outings six punts for 40.8-yard average @ Phi (10/7) with two of last three inside the 20 efforts in the second half as Eagles dangerous return specialist Brian Mitchell was forced into three fair catches in 2120 Arizona win punted with severely sprained left ankle @ Phi (11/4) after Eagle rusher William Hampton rolled into his planted left leg on the first punt of the game; after rookie place kicker Bill Gramatica handled one punt in second quarter and Player returned to finish the game with nine punts for a 41.4-yard average inactive next four games and free agent Chad Stanley was signed during Player’s absence returned to duty vs. Was (12/9).
2000: Voted to first Pro Bowl as 44.2-yard gross and 37.3-yard net averages ranked second in NFC just five touchbacks on 65 punts with 17 inside-the-20 punts active day vs. GB (9/24) with six punts for season best 48-yard average including a pair of 54-yarders 46.3-yard average on three kicks as Eagle returner Mitchell fielded two punts for zero yards with one fair catch vs. Phi (10/15) 45.7 yard gross average and 39-yard net mark with one inside-the-20 effort, a 51-yarder with roughly two minutes left in game to pin Redskins at own 10-yard line following penalty vs. Was (11/5); handled pressure kicks to return specialist Deion Sanders, who finished game with one return for zero yards finished season @ Was (12/24) with 41.5-yard average on four punts with two inside-the-20 efforts and only his fifth touchback of the season in Pro Bowl in Honolulu, punted three times for 48.7-yard average.
1999: Voted second alternate to NFC Pro Bowl squad after finishing sixth in NFC with 42-yard average; tied for fourth with 36.7-yard net mark, and ranked second with 94 punts 94 punts was the third most by a Cardinal in a season had his finest game of season @ Dal (10/3) with 45.3-yard average on eight punts, seven in the first half; near flawless execution of direction and hang time with anticipated returns of Dallas return specialist Sanders, but was limited to returns of 4, 8, 6, 7, 1 and 16 yards made a touchdown-saving tackle of returner Tiki Barber on fourth-quarter punt after a 36-yard return @ NYG (10/10) outstanding first half with punts of 55, 58 and 49 yards vs. Was (10/17); finished game with 44.1-yard average and 44.9-yard net mark with seven boots for 309 yards and two efforts inside the 20-yard line punts of 39, season-long 60, 52 and 53 yards translated into season-best 51-yard average in 21 17 win vs. Phi (12/5).
1998: As a 28-year-old NFL rookie, punted 81 times for 3,378 yards ranked third in NFC with just six touchbacks in 81 punts for 7.4 percent mark also dropped 12 punts inside the 20-yard line had one blocked punt in first NFL game @ Dal (9/6) hit eight punts for 46-yard average for the day suffered calf muscle pull on scout team in practice Wednesday prior to game vs. Phi (9/20); after treatment throughout week, kicked by Friday and managed seven punts for 36.4-yard average vs. Eagles fourth-quarter punt blocked by Ricky Bell, only to have teammate Ronald McKinnon snatch the ball out of the air and run for a first down @ Chi (10/11); closed game with season-long 67-yarder to the Chicago three-yard line with 1:15 remaining rose to the challenge of Cowboys returner Deion Sanders vs. Dal (11/15) with directional boots of 48 and 46 yards; the former pinned Sanders on the sideline for a one-yard return, the latter was downed punted three times for 39.7-yard average in first half @ Was (11/22), including a 47-yarder in first quarter that Redskins Mitchell muffed and Cards recovered and converted into 30 lead after kicker Joe Nedney was injured on fourth-quarter kickoff that had to be re-kicked due to offsides penalty, handled the place kicking duty line.
College:
Made the team as a walk-on at Florida State University originally played collegiate baseball (catcher) in Florida at Flagler College and Florida Community College rotator cuff injury stalled baseball career despite FSU having two punters on scholarship, earned punting duties as a senior punted 45 times for 1,820 yards, good for a 40.4-yard average for the 112 Seminoles.
Personal:
Full name Scott Darwin Player played football and baseball at St. Augustine (FL) High School interests include classic cars and golf owns bachelor’s degree in education from FSU wife Julianne, daughters Ava Anne and Margeau Scott. |
