Chris Jennings (gridiron football)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1985)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Chris Jennings
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| number = 34, 32
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|12|12}}
| birth_place = Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 218
| college = Arizona
| undraftedyear = 2008
| pastteams =
- Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2008}}–{{CFL Year|2009}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
- Hartford Colonials ({{UFL Year|2010}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2011}})*
- Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2012}}–{{CFL Year|2013}})
- Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2013}})*
| statlabel1 = Rushing attempts
| statvalue1 = 63
| statlabel2 = Rushing yards
| statvalue2 = 220
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 = 9
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 = 56
| cfl-archive = https://web.archive.org/web/20150621234942/http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/5491
}}
Chris Jennings (born December 12, 1985) is a former gridiron football running back. He played college football at Arizona and high school football at Fairview High School in Ashland, Kentucky.
He was a member of the Cleveland Browns, Hartford Colonials, New York Jets, Montreal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts.
Professional career
=Montreal Alouettes=
After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL draft, Jennings drew interest from the Baltimore Ravens and worked out for the Cleveland Browns however, the Browns were not in a position to sign Jennings at the time.{{cite news|title=From CFL to Cleveland, Chris Jennings is the latest option to the Browns' feeble run game |url=http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/11/from_cfl_to_cleveland_chris_je.html |work=The Plain Dealer |publisher=Advance Publications |author=Grossi, Tony |date=November 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016025412/http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2009/11/from_cfl_to_cleveland_chris_je.html |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|title=Jennings now a Montreal Alouette |url=http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x988040988/Jennings-now-a-Montreal-Alouette |work=The Herald-Dispatch |publisher=Champion Publishing Inc. |author=Traylor, Grant |date=June 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320092956/http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x988040988/Jennings-now-a-Montreal-Alouette |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Instead, Jennings signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL on June 15, 2008. Jennings was placed on the team's practice squad.{{cite news|title=Browns put Davis on IR |url=http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/10/04/sports/nh1525133.txt |work=The News-Herald |publisher=Journal Register Company |author=Schudel, Jeff |date=October 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120904033750/http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/10/04/sports/nh1525133.txt |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
=Cleveland Browns=
Jennings was signed by the Browns on August 18, 2009.{{cite web|title=Cleveland Browns sign running back Chris Jennings to the active roster; place James Davis on injured reserve |url=http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/10/cleveland_browns_3.html |publisher=Cleveland.com |date=October 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016025420/http://www.cleveland.com/ohio-sports-blog/index.ssf/2009/10/cleveland_browns_3.html |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} In three preseason games, Jennings ran for 63 yards on 18 carries while catching 7 passes for 69 yards. He was waived by the Browns on September 5 but re-signed to their practice squad two days later. Jennings was promoted to the active roster on October 3 after the team placed James Davis on the injured reserve list.
He made his NFL debut October 4, 2009 for the Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals running for 8 yards on 1 carry.{{cite web|title=Chris Jennings |url=http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/Chris-Jennings/eb578ae3-736e-4d17-beeb-4cb8fba163d8 |publisher=Cleveland Browns |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213173035/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/chris-jennings/eb578ae3-736e-4d17-beeb-4cb8fba163d8/ |archive-date=February 13, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Jennings was primarily used in a reserved role however, he started his first game against Cincinnati on November 29. On December 10, Jennings became the first Browns rookie running back to score a rushing touchdown since Lee Suggs in 2003. It was also the first rushing touchdown by a Browns running back that season.{{cite web|title=Cleveland Browns apparently not hot on re-signing RB Chris Jennings |url=http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/10/cleveland_browns_apparently_no.html |work=The Plain Dealer |publisher=Advance Publications |author=Grossi, Tony |date=October 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216085227/http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/10/cleveland_browns_apparently_no.html |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Jennings finished the season having rushed for 220 yards and a touchdown while catching 9 passes for 56 yards.
Jennings was re-signed by the Browns on March 17, 2010, and figured to have a role in the Browns' offense following his positive performance in his rookie season however, he was waived on September 4 as part of the final roster cuts.{{cite web|title=Browns RB Jennings working on speed, patience |url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/04/17/browns-rb-jennings-working-on-speed-patience |publisher=Pro Football Weekly |author=Wilkening, Mike |date=April 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406023728/http://www.profootballweekly.com/2010/04/17/browns-rb-jennings-working-on-speed-patience |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Cleveland Browns Transactions - 2010 |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/cle/year/2010/cleveland-browns |publisher=ESPN |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710123857/http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/cle/year/2010/cleveland-browns |archive-date=July 10, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=live }} The Browns decided not to re-sign Jennings, who threatened to seek out other opportunities, despite injuries that plagued running back Peyton Hillis.
=Hartford Colonials=
Jennings signed with the Hartford Colonials of the UFL on October 21, 2010.{{cite web|title=25 UFL Players Sign NFL Futures Contracts |url=http://www.ufl-football.com/news/25-ufl-players-sign-nfl-futures-contracts |publisher=United Football League |date=January 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912014544/http://www.ufl-football.com/news/25-ufl-players-sign-nfl-futures-contracts |archive-date=September 12, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Jennings carried the ball only 12 times for 6 yards in his tenure with the Colonials however he was an important contributor to their special teams unit.
=New York Jets=
Jennings was signed to a future contract by the New York Jets on January 5, 2011.{{cite web|title=NFL transactions for January 5, 2011 |url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/01/05/nfl-transactions-for-january-5-2010-2 |publisher=Pro Football Weekly |author=PFW Staff |date=January 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309090556/http://www.profootballweekly.com/2011/01/05/nfl-transactions-for-january-5-2010-2 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |access-date=January 8, 2011 |url-status=dead }} During the Jets' second game of the 2011 preseason he had four carries for 81 yards. He ran 69 yards on one run, which was the longest run from the line of scrimmage by a Jet in the preseason since Curtis Martin ran 80 yards in 1999.{{cite web|title=Plax, Sanchez, Jets Rain on Bengals, 27-7 |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Plax-Sanchez-Jets-Rain-on-Bengals-27-7/c4fa3c45-a8ef-4eed-a37a-61d37f43705f |publisher=New York Jets |author=Lange, Randy |date=August 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909013344/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Plax-Sanchez-Jets-Rain-on-Bengals-27-7/c4fa3c45-a8ef-4eed-a37a-61d37f43705f |archive-date=September 9, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }} He was waived on September 3.{{cite news|title=Jets trim roster to 53; make two trades |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades |work=New York Daily News |publisher=Mortimer Zuckerman |author=Mehta, Manish |date=September 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103170833/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=September 3, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
=Montreal Alouettes (II) =
Jennings returned to the CFL in the second half of the 2012 CFL season after being released by the New York Jets. He played in 7 of the 18 regular season games that year, compiling 318 yards on the ground and 163 through the air. He received 8 rushing attempts in the first 3 games of the 2013 CFL season before being released by the Alouettes on July 15, 2013.
=Toronto Argonauts=
The Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, signed Jennings on September 25, 2013. He was released by the Argonauts on October 22, 2013.
Personal life
=Legal=
Jennings allegedly assaulted a doorman on April 17, 2010, at a dance club. The following month, Jennings was not charged with assault as the doorman did not sign the complaint.{{cite news|title=Browns running back Chris Jennings won't be charged with assault in incident at a Cleveland nightclub |url=http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/05/browns_running_back_chris_jenn.html |work=The Plain Dealer |publisher=Advance Publications |author=Miller, Donna J. |date=May 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626061438/http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2010/05/browns_running_back_chris_jenn.html |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
Jennings was arrested in Guernsey County, Ohio, on September 5, 2011, for driving 147 MPH, in a 65 MPH zone.{{cite web|title=Jennings arrested, clocked at 147 mph |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-free-agent-chris-jennings-arrested-clocked-at-147-mph-090511 |work=Fox Sports |date=September 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330015418/http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/nfl-free-agent-chris-jennings-arrested-clocked-at-147-mph-090511 |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |access-date=September 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110727185619/http://www.arizonawildcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/041707aam.html Arizona Wildcats bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110213173035/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/team/roster/chris-jennings/eb578ae3-736e-4d17-beeb-4cb8fba163d8/ Cleveland Browns bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jennings, Chris}}
Category:Sportspeople from Ashland, Kentucky
Category:Players of American football from West Virginia
Category:Players of Canadian football from West Virginia
Category:Canadian football running backs
Category:American football running backs
Category:Arizona Western Matadors football players
Category:Arizona Wildcats football players
Category:Montreal Alouettes players
Category:Cleveland Browns players