Limas Sweed
| File:Limas sweed shaggybevo.jpg | |||||||
| Pittsburgh Steelers | |||||||
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| Career information | |||||||
| College: | Texas | ||||||
| NFL draft: | 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2009 | |||||||
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Limas Lee Sweed, Jr. (born December 25, 1984 in Template:City-state) is an American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He played collegiately for the Texas Longhorns. On April 26, 2008 Sweed was taken 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2008 NFL Draft.[1]
High School
Limas attended Brenham High School in Brenham, Texas. He was a starting receiver on the Brenham Cubs and took them to the Texas AAAA Semi-State Championship, where they were defeated by Denton Ryan High School.[citation needed]
He also lettered in basketball and track. In track, he finished 4th at the UIL State Meet in the 110 Hurdles his senior year.[citation needed]
College career
Sweed was a redshirt freshmen in the 2004 season. As a sophomore, Sweed recorded 36 receptions for 545 yards and 5 touchdowns. One of these touchdowns was a game winning catch from Vince Young against Ohio State to keep the Longhorns ranked second in the nation. In addition, Sweed recorded eight receptions for 65 yards in the BCS National Championship against USC.
Sweed's junior year would be his best season statistically. Receiving for new quarterback Colt McCoy, Sweed collected 46 receptions for 801 yards and 12 touchdowns. By catching a touchdown pass in seven straight games, Sweed broke former Longhorn Roy Williams' record for consecutive games with a touchdown reception.
In the summer prior to the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Sweed injured his wrist but was cleared to play in the season opener for the 2007 Texas Longhorn football team.[citation needed] In the sixth game of the season, the 2007 Red River Shootout, he left the game early because he re-injured his left wrist. He underwent surgery to tighten the ligaments in the wrist, ending his season.[2] However, He returned to play in the Senior Bowl, and was fully healthy for the NFL Scouting Combine.
NFL career
Sweed began to think about playing in the NFL after winning the National Championship during his sophomore year at college.[3] Originally projected to be taken as the first or second receiver in some mock drafts, his stock fell due to his injury.[citation needed] He was selected 53rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and was taken as the 9th receiver in the second round. On July 27, 2008, Sweed agreed to a four-year contract with the Steelers,[4][5] worth US$3.3 million.[6] Since by NFL rules wide receivers can't wear number 4 (Sweed's collegiate number), the Steelers issued Sweed the next-closest number matching his number 4 from college with 14.
During 2008 training camp Sweed discovered that he had "a little astigmatism in both of [his] eyes";[7] he will wear contacts in the future.[8] He started off his career in the 2008 pre-season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles where he led his teams in receptions (3) and yards (23) on the receiving end.[9] His first action in a regular season game came in week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals due to an injury suffered by backup Dallas Baker. He caught 1 pass for 11 yards.[10] He became better known when he dropped a sure touchdown pass in the Steelers AFC Championship Game in 2009. Closer examination showed that his eyes were looking at the scoreboard instead of his hands at the time of the easily possible catch. However, Sweed would redeem himself by inflicting a devastating block on Ravens cornerback Corey Ivy. He finished his first year with 6 catches for 64 yards.
Going into the 2009 Training Camp, Sweed faced competition for the 3rd wide receiver position between veteran Shaun McDonald and rookie Mike Wallace. Sweed entered the season as the 4th receiver, rarely playing in the first 3 games. However, he dropped a pass in Week 3 which, had he held on to, would have been a touchdown.[11] The following week, Sweed was demoted to 5th on the depth chart, and deactivated. Shaun McDonald took his place. For Week 5, Sweed was re-installed to his 4th receiver spot due to McDonald's injury.
References
- ^ Killian, Ryan (October 9, 2007). "No more 'Sweeeeeed' - A nagging wrist injury requires season-ending surgery for Sweed". The Daily Texan. Texas Student Publications. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
- ^ Halliburton, Suzanne (October 82007). "Sweed lost for year". Austin American-Statesman. Cox Enterprises. Retrieved 2007-11-07.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "On the Sidelines with Limas Sweed". PittsburghSteelers.com. 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
- ^ Bouchette, Ed (2008-07-26). "Mendenhall, Sweed sign with Steelers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-07-26.
- ^ "Steelers sign rookie WR Sweed". Yahoo! Sports. 2008-07-27. Retrieved 2008-07-27.
- ^ Dulac, Gerry (2008-07-28). "Steelers notebook: Polamalu, Kemoeatu sit out with injuries". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Steeler Limas Sweed 'Can See Clearly Now'". Steelers. KDKA. 2008-07-31. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
- ^ Limas Sweed. Steeler Limas Sweed 'Can See Clearly Now' (News report). Latrobe, Pennsylvania: KDKA. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
{{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter|date2=ignored (help) - ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles Gamebook for game played on 8/8/08" (PDF). 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
- ^ Injuries open the door for Steelers' second-round pick Sweed
- ^ "Tomlin may bench WR after drops".