Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

Sports News

NFL tight ends having big seasons

|
|
 
  
Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley warms-up prior to the Redskins game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on October 26, 2009. The Eagles defeated the Redskins 27-17. UPI/Kevin Dietsch 
License photo
Published: Nov. 5, 2009 at 1:13 PM

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The recent leg injury suffered by Washington's Chris Cooley underscores how important the tight end has become in most NFL offenses.

Cooley, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and a primary target for quarterback Jason Campbell, suffered a broken bone in his right leg Oct. 26 during the Redskins' 27-17 loss to Philadelphia.

He underwent surgery Tuesday but said he hopes to play again this season.

Among other tight ends who are primary receivers are Dallas Clark (Indianapolis), Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans), Heath Miller (Pittsburgh), Todd Heap (Baltimore) and Antonio Gates (San Diego).

Through last Sunday, tight ends have 11,280 receiving yards on 1,018 receptions with 87 touchdowns, a record pace through eight weeks.

"They're 6-4, weigh 260-270 pounds and can run," said Baltimore General Manager Ozzie Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end in an outstanding 13-year playing career with the Cleveland Browns. "They can line up tight and block, and you can split them out as a big receiver -- and they do all of it well."

Topics: Chris Cooley, Jason Campbell
Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Linsanity The Daytona 500 Cheerleaders of 2012
Additional Sports News Stories
1 of 27
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego wins Finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
View Caption
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego, California watches confetti rain down as she wins the two-day Scripps National Spelling Bee championship, May 31, 2012, in National Harbor, Maryland. Nandipati successfully spelled the word .* guetapens *, meaning to lure or ambush. UPI/Mike Theiler
fark
Oh, the Dew-manity
"Clean up on Aisle 1..... and 2, and 3, and 4, and"
Good news: The "digital divide" between rich and poor is closing. Bad news: The poor are using the...
Oh dear lord, YES
The FSM parted his noodley appendages over Washington State today and proclaimed "Let private liquor...
You're an enterprising bank robber: You have 30 minutes to knock off 3 banks. GO