Hot! Derrick Mason

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Derrick James Mason(born January 17, 1974) is an American football for the Houston Texans of the National Football League . He was drafted by the 1997 NFL Draft . He played college football at Michigan State .

Mason has also played for the Baltimore Ravens where he became the Ravens' all time leading receiver with 5,777 yards. He played for the New York Jets in 2011 before he was traded to the Texans.

Early years

Mason attended Detroit, Michigan . He set a school record for both catches (70) and receiving yards (1,243).

College career

Mason played college football at Michigan State . During his four year career, he set a team record for kick off return yards of 2,384. He also caught eight touchdowns.

Professional career Tennessee Titans

Mason started his career with the Oilers/Titans after being drafted in the 4th round (98th overall) in the 1997 NFL Draft . In his rookie season he played in 16 games recording 14 catches for 186 yards. He made his NFL debut versus the Oakland Raiders on August 31. The following season he again played in all 16 games and this time recording 25 catches for 333 yards and three touchdowns, the first of his career came versus the Chicago Bears on October 25. He also returned 31 punts for 228 yards. In the 1999 season ,Mason gained 1,030 yards returning punts and kickoffs, assisting the Titans to Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC title game . In the 2000 season , he led the NFL in punt return yards (662) while also catching 63 passes for 895 yards and returning 41 kickoffs for 1,132 yards (an NFL leading 27 yards per return average), giving him 2,690 combined receiving and special teams yards, breaking the NFL record for all-purpose yards in a single season previously held by Lionel James (2,535). He is only the second player in Titans history to pass the 2,000 yard mark. He earned his first trip to the . In 2001, he started 15 games and scored 9 touchdowns, a career high. Just as he had done the previous season, he went past the 2,000 all purpose yards mark, the first Titan to do this in consecutive seasons. The following season he started in 14 games and led the team in a number of categories including receptions, reception yards and touchdowns. In 2003, he started all 15 games and finished the season with 1,303 receiving yards and 95 receptions which was the 5th highest in the NFL. The following season, in 2004, he again started all 16 games and was ranked 2nd in the NFL with 96 receptions for 1,168 yards and seven touchdowns.

Baltimore Ravens

Mason signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an unrestricted free agent on March 7, 2005. In his first year with the team, he started in all 16 games and recorded 86 receptions, a Ravens franchise season record. In 2006, he played in 16 games with 15 starts and finished the campaign with 68 receptions for 750 yards and two touchdowns. Mason caught the pass that gave 30,000 passing yards for his career in the 19-7 win in the season finale against the . The following year, Mason had 103 receptions for 1087 yards and five touchdowns. Mason became the first player in Ravens history to record 100 receptions in a season.

In 2008, Mason was selected as a third alternate wide receiver for the Pro Bowl. In 2008, he had 80 receptions for 1037 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. He was the primary target for rookie quarterback Joe Flacco . Mason dislocated his shoulder when he fell after a catch in a game against the Houston Texans , eventually coming back to finish the contest. Mason also played with a shoulder he separated against the Giants. Mason re-aggravated of his injury against Dallas, but finished the game with six catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. He led the team with a postseason career-high 12 receptions for 190 yards, including a postseason career long 48 yard touchdown reception.

On November 21, 2010, Mason caught his 900th reception, becoming the 13th receiver in NFL history to do so.

When the NFL announced the new collective bargaining agreement on July 25, 2011, the Ravens announced their intention to release Mason upon the start of salary cap space. He was formally released by the team on July 28.

New York Jets

Mason signed with the New York Jets on August 6, 2011.

Houston Texans

The Jets traded Mason to the Houston Texans on October 11, 2011, in exchange for a conditional draft pick.

NFL records

All-purpose yards in a single season (2000): 2,659

Kick return yards in a single postseason (1999): 437

Personal

Mason and his wife, Marci, were married on June 7, 1997 and have 2 children: daughter, Bailee My-Lin (3-24-1999), and son, Derrick James II (7-11-2003). Marci is the "The Derrick Mason Foundation" organization s Vice President. One of Derrick's most cherished items is a pair of boxing gloves, which he purchased at an auction for his son, Derrick II.

References

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. pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2011.

Mason Shows Toughness ,

Walker, James (July 25, 2011). . ESPN. Archived from on August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.

Ginsburg, David (July 28, 2011). on August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.

Cimini, Rich (August 6, 2011). on August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.

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