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

13 ROSCOE PARRISHWide Receiver-Kick Returner UFA (Buffalo) - ’125-9, 175 Miami8th NFL SeasonMiami Senior HS1st with ChargersMiami, Fla.The Chargers added one of the NFL’s most-explosivereturn specialists when they signed former Buffalo BillRoscoe Parrish.His arrival in San Diego offers the veteran a chance at afresh start after an ankle injury ended his 2011 seasonafter two games and a wrist injury ended his 2010 campaignafter eight games. Parrish posted record numbers asa punt returner in Buffalo where he was a two-time AFCSpecial Teams Player of the Week who averaged 12.0yards per return while taking three punts back for scores.He also became the first player in NFL history to returnpunts for scores in back-to-back Kickoff Weekend games,doing so in 2007 and ’08. Also in 2007 and ’08, Parrish ledthe NFL in punt return average with figures of 15.3 and16.3, respectively.Parrish also racked up more than 1,500 receiving yardsand seven touchdown catches, while averaging 23.6 yardson kickoff returns.Parrish grew up in Miami and attended the University ofMiami, where he became a hometown star wide receiverand punt returner. As a junior, he took a vicious hit in agame against rival Florida State that landed him in theintensive care unit for two days. Weeks later he enduredpersonal heartache when his grandmother, Jesse Anderson,who helped raise him, passed away the week beforethe ’Canes faced Pittsburgh for the Big East title. Parrishflew to Pittsburgh to meet his teammates after her funeraland caught a 45-yard touchdown pass that helped put aseal on the conference championship. Parrish opted toleave Miami after his junior season in 2004 and the Billsselected him in the second round of the ’05 NFL Draft.Quiet and soft-spoken, Parrish enjoys spending timewith his kids, Roscoe III, Rohanni and London. He also likesgoing to movies, listening to music and playing basketball.VETERANS &RETURNING PLAYERSTRANSACTION HISTORY: Second round pick (55) by Buffalo,April 23, 2005...signed with Bills July 30...re-signed Dec. 15,2007...contract expired March 13, 2012...signed one-yearcontract with Chargers, April 11.2011: Suffered season-ending ankle injury Sept. 18 vs. Oakland...placedon Injured-Reserve Sept. 20. 2010: Caught 31-yard touchdown pass Sept. 12 vs. Miami...surpassed 1,500-career punt return yards Oct. 3 vs. NY Jets...career-high eightcatches Oct. 24 at Baltimore...14-yard touchdown catch in75th career game Nov. 7 vs. Chicago...suffered broken wristlate in Bears game and placed on Injured-Reserve Nov. 8.2009: Set Bills’ record with 101st career punt return Sept. 27vs. New Orleans. 2008: Led NFL with 15.3-yard punt returnaverage...AFC Special Teams Player of Week after teamrecord120 punt return yards, including 63-yard touchdownreturn Sept. 7 vs. Seattle...also vs. Seahawks became Bills’ alltimeleader in punt return yards and tied franchise recordwith third career punt return TD...became first player in NFLhistory with punt return scores in back-to-back seasonopeninggames...team-record fourth-straight game withreturn of 20+ yards Sept. 14 at Jacksonville...inactive Weeks4-5 (thumb). 2007: Led NFL with 16.3-yard punt return average...74-yardpunt return for touchdown Sept. 9 vs. Denveron first return of season...season-long 47-yard touchdowncatch Nov. 18 vs. New England...first-career rushing touchdown(24 yards) Nov. 25 at Jacksonville...set up game-winningfield goal Dec. 2 at Washington with 22-yard puntreturn. 2006: Totaled 364 punt return yards, third-most inteam history...career-high 104 yards receiving Sept. 24 vs. NYJets, including career-long 51-yard touchdown catch on secondplay of game...44-yard TD catch Oct. 15 at Detroitbefore leaving game with hamstring injury...AFC SpecialTeams Player of Week after 82-yard punt return touchdownNov. 26 vs. Jacksonville, tied for third-longest return inBills history...set then team-record with 104 punt returnyards vs. Jaguars...also caught two passes for 36 yards late ingame to set up game-winning field goal. 2005: Missed firstsix games with wrist injury...made NFL debut Oct. 23 at Oakland...first-careerstart Nov. 13 vs. Kansas City...career-high176 kickoff return yards Nov. 20 at San Diego, includingreturns of 41 and 45 yards...season-long 43-yard punt returnDec. 11 vs. New England...first-career touchdown catch(three yards) Jan. 1 at NY Jets.COLLEGE: Second-team All-ACC as senior after leading conferencewith eight touchdown catches and ranking fourthwith 693 receiving yards...as senior helped beat Virginia with62-yard punt return touchdown and 25-yard touchdowncatch in final 7:03...caught TD pass with 51 seconds remaining...school-record92-yard punt return touchdown in 2003vs. Boston College...finished career with 81 catches for 1,285yards and 11 touchdown catches, tied for 10th in school history...returned68 punts for 900 yards (13.2 avg.) and threetouchdowns, second-most scores and fourth-most yards inschool history...redshirted in 2001...played at Miami from2002-04...general studies major.PERSONAL: Born in Miami, Fla....first-team all-state afterleading Miami Senior High to district title as senior.Regular Season Receiving Punt Returns Kickoff ReturnsYear Team G-S No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD No.-Yds. Avg. FC Long TD No.-Yds. Avg. Long TD2005 Buffalo 10-1 15-148 9.9 28 1 14-186 13.3 9 43 0 10-261 26.1 45 02006 Buffalo 16-1 23-320 13.9 51t 2 32-364 11.4 9 82t 1 0-0 0.0 -- 02007 Buffalo 16-3 35-352 10.1 47t 1 27-440 16.3 2 74t 1 6-126 21.0 24 02008 Buffalo 13-1 24-232 9.7 22 1 21-322 15.3 10 63t 1 2-40 20.0 25 02009 Buffalo 12-0 3-34 11.3 16 0 24-133 5.5 13 31 0 11-258 23.5 31 02010 Buffalo 8-6 33-400 12.1 37 2 12-131 10.9 7 26 0 0-0 0.0 -- 02011 Buffalo 2-2 1-16 16.0 16 0 5-46 9.2 2 28 0 0-0 0.0 -- 0Totals 77-14 134-1,502 11.2 51t 7 135-1,622 12.0 52 82t 3 29-685 23.3 45 0MEDIA GUIDE | 91Continued next page