2012 SD Chargers Media Guide_PROOF.P - Seahawks Online ...

12 ROBERT MEACHEMWide Receiver UFA (New Orleans) - ’126-2, 215 Tennessee6th NFL SeasonWashington HS1st with ChargersTulsa, Okla.The Chargers didn’t wait long to snag one of the topcatches on the 2012 free agent market, agreeing to termswith former New Orleans Saint Robert Meachem on afour-year contract just hours after he became available. Afirst-round pick in 2007 and a Super Bowl champion withthe Saints following the 2009 season, Meachem has animpressive resume that includes 141 career catches, 2,269yards (16.1 avg.) and 23 touchdowns.The 27-year-old Meachem was ranked 47th on SI.com’slist of the Top 50 available free agents in 2012 and he’sexpected to fit right into Norv Turner’s offensive system.Meachem was raised in Tulsa, Okla., where he owns an8.5-acre farm that his grandfather, Leon, passed down toRobert when he was born. The farm is where he learned toride horses and rope calves before he turned six and it provideda safe haven from Tulsa’s notoriously violent streetgangs. Meachem’s dad, Robert, was an accomplished calfroper himself and the two of them traveled to rodeos inCalifornia, Nevada, Texas and Louisiana when Meachemwas a child. His very first horse was named “Little Man.”As a child, Meachem also fell in love with basketball.When his father built a regulation-height basket on thefarm, Meachem would shoot baskets while sitting on hishorse. As a middle and high schooler, Meachem was one ofthe nation’s best young players. As aneighth grader, he led his AAU team to anational title and in the ninth grade hefaced a team that featured LeBron Jamesand dunked over the Miami Heat star earlyin the contest. His success on the hardwoodcontinued into high school as he ledTulsa’s Booker T. Washington High to back-to-back statetitles following the 2001 and ’02 seasons. Football, however,was Meachem’s ticket to success so the Parade All-America receiver took his talents to the University of Tennesseewhere he blossomed into an All-America choice.Meachem opted to leave Tennessee after his junior seasonand the Saints chose him with the 27th overall pick in the’07 NFL Draft.Meachem has a very spiritual side to him. It comes fromhis late sister, Tammie, who was 12 years older and helpedraise Meachem as a child. She taught him about toughlove and helped him develop into a young man. Tammiethough suffered from severe asthma and a non-relatedskin disease and she passed when Meachem was just inseventh grade.Meachem and his wife, Shea, have two daughters, Adriannaand Ryli, and they played a major role in his decisionto come to San Diego. The Meachems have been veryactive in the community, hosting Christmas toy drives inNew Orleans while also running the Follow Your DreamsFoundation, whose mission is to help youth get involved incommunity activities and to help provide them withavenues to participate in sports, music lessons and culturalactivities. In association with the Foundation, Meachemawards college scholarships and he hosts a football campin Tulsa that is only open to kids who participate in his Read60 Program, a literacy program that encourages youngpeople ages 8-18 to take 60 minutes each day to read.One of Meachem’s distant cousins is former Chargerswide receiver and kick returner, Eric Metcalf.VETERANS &RETURNING PLAYERSTRANSACTION HISTORY: First-round choice by New Orleans(27th overall), April 28, 2007...signed with Saints, July 25, 2007...re-signed with Saints, Sept. 5, 2009...contract expired, March 13,2012...signed with Chargers, March 15.2011: Team-high 119 yards, including season-long 67-yardtouchdown catch, Dec. 4 vs. Detroit...set postseason careerhighs with four catches and 111 yards, including 56-yardscoring catch in Wild Card Playoffs vs. Detroit. 2010: Tiedcareer high with two touchdown catches Nov. 21 vs. Seattle...helpedset up game-winning touchdown in Nov. 25Thanksgiving game at Dallas with season-long 55-yard catchlate in fourth quarter...first 100-yard game of season Dec. 5at Cincinnati included 55-yard touchdown catch and 42-yarder during fourth-quarter game-winning touchdown drive...career-high 10 catches for 101 yards Dec. 27 at Atlanta.2009: Led Saints with career-high 10 touchdowns...careerlong41-yard run and 27-yard scoring catch Nov. 15 at St.Louis...first-career two-TD game Nov. 22 at Tampa Bay...latein second quarter Dec. 6 at Washington, stripped ball fromsafety Kareem Moore after interception, recovered ball in midair and returned it 44 yards for touchdown that tied game at17-17...finished Redskins game with eight catches for careerhigh142 yards, including 53-yard touchdown catch that tiedgame with just over minute remaining in fourth quarter...Saints won game, 33-30, in overtime...set up game-winningfield goal with 12-yard catch to Minnesota 22 in Jan. 24 NFCChampionship Game. 2008: First-career NFL catch was goodfor 19-yard touchdown Sept. 14 at Washington...career-long74-yard catch Sept. 21 at Denver...two catches Sept. 28 atSan Francisco, one good for 52 yards and other for 47-yardtouchdown...first-career rushing touchdown on 20-yardreverse Dec. 21 at Detroit. 2007: Inactive for all 16 games.COLLEGE: Sporting News and Football Writers Associationfirst-team All-America and All-SEC as junior in 2006 afterschool-record 1,298 yards and 11 touchdowns...finishedcareer with 125 catches for 2,140 yards and 17 touchdowns...sixthplayer in school history with more than 2,000yards receiving and left school ranked fifth in scoring catches...redshirtedin 2003...played at Tennessee from 2004-06...communications major.PERSONAL: Born in Tulsa, Okla....all-state receiver at BookerT. Washington High in Tulsa.MEDIA GUIDE | 87Continued next page