Sammy Morris was signed by the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 3, 2007 ... Originally was a fifthround draft choice (156th overall) by the Buffalo Bills in the 2000 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Miami Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent on (3/12/04) ... Re-signed by the Dolphins (4/3/06) ... Placed on injured reserve with a chest injury (11/2/07).
View Sammy Morris's Career Statistics >>
GP/GS (Playoffs): 119/35 (0/0)
- Morris enters 2009 with 615 career rushes for 2,580 yards and 24 touchdowns and has also totaled 135 receptions for 988 yards and one touchdown.
- In 2008, Morris averaged 4.66 yards per carry, the second best total for a Patriots leading rusher in the last 20 years and the seventh-best such total in team history.
- Morris led the Patriots in 2008 with a career-high 727 rushing yards and a career-high seven rushing touchdowns.
- In 2008, Morris was a part of the best rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years in terms of total team rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and average yards per carry.
- Morris finished the 2008 season with 888 total yards from scrimmage (727 rushing, 161 receiving), a total that ranked fourth on the team behind Wes Welker, Randy Moss and Kevin Faulk.
- Morris had back-to-back 100-yard rushing games in his first season with New England in 2007, tallying 117 yards on Monday Night Football at Cincinnati (10/1) and following that up with a 102-yard performance less than a week later against Cleveland (10/7).
- In three seasons with Miami (2004-06), Morris started 14 of 41 games and rushed for a total of 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns on 240 carries. He also had 51 receptions for 340 yards as a Dolphin.
- Morris enters 2009 with 106 career special teams tackles. He led the Buffalo Bills in special teams tackles for two seasons, totaling a career-best 31 in 2002 and finishing the season with 28 while serving as Buffalo's special teams captain in 2001. He also led the Dolphins with 16 special teams stops in 2005.
- Morris finished the 2006 season with a then career-best 4.3 yards per carry, totaling 400 yards on 92 rushes, including a career-long 55-yard run.
- Morris set what were then single-game career highs while playing for Miami against the Patriots on Dec. 10, 2006. In that game, he started at running back and ran for a career-high 123 yards on a career-high 25 carries.
- Morris had a solid ending to the 2006 season, when he started four times in the final six games and ran for 365 yards on 77 carries (4.7 avg) in those final six contests.
- As a rookie in 2000, Morris led all Buffalo running backs with 37 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown. He also added 341 rushing yards on 93 carries that season.
2009 (6/3/0/2): Led the team in rushing yards once (at DEN).
Buffalo (9/14): Played in reserve at running back in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback win over the Bills. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Played in reserve at running back against the Jets ... Registered two carries for four yards while grabbing one reception for a 14-yard gain. Atlanta (9/27): Made his first start of the season at running back as the Patriots opened in a two-back formation in a 26-10 victory over the Falcons ... Picked up a hard-fought first down with a 2-yard gain on a fourth-and-one carry from the Patriots' 24-yard line in the third quarter, helping to extend a drive that resulted in a Stephen Gostkowski field goal ... Tallied five carries for 16 yards and led the running back corps with three receptions for 46 yards (15.3 avg) out of the backfield. Baltimore (10/4): Played in reserve at running back in the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Ravens ... Converted a tough fourth-and-one rushing opportunity for the second straight week, muscling his way for a 2-yard gain in the first quarter, extending a drive that resulted in a Tom Brady touchdown run and a 10-7 Patriots' lead ... Took in his first rushing touchdown of the season with a 12-yard carry in the second quarter, tying the score, 17-17 ... Tallied six carries for 21 yards, while grabbing a season-high five receptions for 35 yards out of the backfield. at Denver (10/11): Started at running back and tallied a season high 17 carries for 68 yards ... Grabbed two receptions out of the backfield for 39 yards, including a season long 35-yard catch on a screen pass in the first quarter. Tennessee (10/18): Started at running back as the Patriots set a team record with 619 net yards while posting a 59-0 victory over the Titans, tying the largest margin of victory by any team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger ... Tallied one catch for three yards before leaving to injury in the first quarter. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Inactive. Miami (11/8): Inactive.
2008 (13/7): Led the Patriots with a career-high 727 rushing yards, topping his previous best of 523 yards with Miami in 2004 ... Also led the team with a career-high seven rushing touchdowns, topping his previous career best of six with Miami in 2004 ... Was a part of the best team rushing season for the Patriots in more than 20 years, totaling 2,278 rushing yards (sixth in team history and the most since 1985), 21 rushing touchdowns (tied for fourth in team history and the most since 1981) and an average of 4.4 yards per carry (fifth in team history and the best since 1983) ... Averaged 4.66 yards per carry, the second best total for a Patriots leading rusher in the last 20 years and the seventh-best such total in team history ... Led the team in rushing yards in eight games (vs. KC, at SF, at SD, vs. DEN, at SEA, at OAK, vs. ARI, at BUF) ... Averaged 112 yards from scrimmage in the Patriots' final three games of the season ... Selected as the Patriots' winner of the Ed Block Courage Award ... Tallied single-game career highs in rushing yards (138) and rushing yards per carry average (8.6) against Denver (10/20) ... Tallied 10 carries for 53 yards and a rushing touchdown while also making five catches for 34 yards out of the backfield against Kansas City (9/7) ... Put in his second rushing touchdown in as many games with a 1-yard scoring strike at the N.Y. Jets (9/14) ... Set a singlegame career high with 49 receiving yards out of the backfield with four catches at San Diego (10/12) and tallied his third rushing touchdown of the season on a 1-yard score ... Started at running back and tallied a single-game career best 138 rushing yards on 16 carries against Denver (10/20) and broke the 100-yard rushing mark early, totaling exactly 100 yards on his first nine carries of the game ... Scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season on a 4-yard run ... Tallied a team high 10 carries for 45 yards and one rushing touchdown against Pittsburgh (11/30) ... Plunged over left guard from two yards out for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season ... Started at running back and led the team with 11 carries for 36 yards and one rushing touchdown at Seattle (12/7) ... Punched in what would prove to be the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run for his sixth rushing touchdown of the season ... Started at running back and recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season at Oakland (12/14), registering 117 yards rushing on 14 carries and one touchdown ... Dodged through a hole over right guard and broke off a 29-yard rushing touchdown ... Part of a Patriots rushing attack that gained 277 total yards, the team's highest single-game output since 1985 ... Started at running back against Arizona (12/21) and made 15 carries for 88 yards and hauling in two passes for 45 yards ... Grabbed a season long 42-yard reception, setting up a LaMont Jordan touchdown run ... Started at running back at Buffalo (12/28) and notched a team-leading 24 rushes for 85 yards.
2007 (6/2, 0/0): Played in six games, making two starts at running back before being placed on injured reserve Nov. 2, 2007 with a chest injury ... Made his Patriots debut while making 11 rushing attempts for 54 yards in a reserve role out of the backfield at the New York Jets (9/9) ... Made one special teams tackle ... Accounted for a bulk of the Patriots running attack with 51 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown in the Patriots' win over San Diego (9/16) ... Helped to ice the victory with his first touchdown in a Patriots' uniform with a 3-yard touchdown run ... Took in his second rushing touchdown in as many games on a 4-yard run in a win over Buffalo (9/23) ... Compiled the second 100-yard rushing game of his career, going for 117 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown in the Patriots' victory at Cincinnati (10/1) ... Tallied his third touchdown in as many games finishing off a 7-yard rush ... Broke off a season-long 49-yard run over right guard that set up a Mike Vrabel touchdown reception ... Made his first start at running back in a Patriots uniform and chewed up the field for his second straight 100-yard rushing performance and the third of his eight-year career by biting off 102 yards on 21 carries versus Cleveland (10/7) ... Extended the Patriots' streak of 100-yard rushing games to three ... Converted a key fourth and one from the Patriots' 29-yard line that set up a Benjamin Watson 25-yard touchdown reception ... Started at running back and registered 10 carries for 14 yards before being injured at Dallas (10/14).
2006 (12/4 - Miami): Finished second on the Dolphins in rushing with 92 rushes for 400 yards and one touchdown ... Added 21 catches for 162 yards ... Tied for third on the team with eight special teams tackles ... Led the Dolphins in rushing four times and in receptions once ... Started at running back four times (including three games in place of the injured Ronnie Brown) ... In those three starts when Brown was inactive he rushed for 241 yards on 57 carries ... Missed the first four games of the season due to an NFL suspension.
New England (10/8): Made his season debut primarily on special teams ... Rushed the ball twice for five yards. Green Bay (10/22): Had one rush for five yards and added one reception for 44 yards ... The 44-yard catch was the longest reception of his career, surpassing his previous long reception of 24 yards, accomplished three previous times. Detroit (11/23): Played extensively following a hand injury to Ronnie Brown and responded by leading the Dolphins in rushing with 12 carries for 91 yards, including a career-long 55-yard run ... His 91 yards at the time tied his single game career high, which he first attained at Buffalo (10/17/04) ... His 55-yard run surpassed his previous career best, a 35-yard touchdown run at Baltimore (1/2/05). Jacksonville (12/3): Started at running back and led the Dolphins in rushing with 12 carries for 47 yards ... Added three catches for 20 yards. New England (12/10): Led the Dolphins in rushing with 25 carries for 123 yards and one touchdown, coming on a three-yard run ... Collected two catches for 39 yards ... His 123 yards rushing was his single game career high and his first career 100-yard game, surpassing his previous best of 91 yards, which he accomplished twice previously ... Registered a 44-yard run, the second longest run of his career. Buffalo (12/17): Led the Dolphins in rushing and receptions with 20 carries for 71 yards and five catches for 12 yards ... His five receptions at the time tied for the second highest single-game total of his career. N.Y. Jets (12/25): Recorded six carries for 14 yards and added four receptions for 23 yards.
2005 (16/2 - Miami): Played in all 16 games, including two starts ... Rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on 16 attempts and caught eight passes for 54 yards ... Led team with 16 special teams tackles, where he also forced a fumble.
- Rushed for 14 yards on two carries in opener, including a nine-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Dolphins a 20-3 lead in their 34-10 victory over Denver (9/11).
- Posted four special teams tackles and a forced fumble in the 23-21 win over San Diego (12/11). Stripped the ball from Darren Sproles on a kickoff return in the third quarter, as Olindo Mare recovered the fumble at the Chargers' 24, leading to a Dolphins touchdown.
2004 (13/8 - Miami): Started eight of the 13 games in which he played, serving primarily as a running back, backup fullback and special teamer ... Injuries thrust him into the starting lineup at running back for much of the year ... Led team with career-high figures of 523 yards rushing and six touchdowns on 132 attempts ... Average per rush attempt of 4.0 also was the best of his NFL career ... Added 22 receptions for 124 yards and one kickoff return for 27 yards.
- Moved into starting spot at halfback against Buffalo (10/17), his first start since the 2001 season. Responded with a then career-high 91 yards rushing on 18 attempts, while also catching two passes for 28 yards.
- Compiled 83 yards rushing on a career-high 28 attempts, including an eight-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against St. Louis (10/24).
- Scored from two yards out and one yard away against New England (12/20), marking the first time in his career he recorded two rushing touchdowns in a game. His one-yard run with 2:07 to play in the game brought the Dolphins to within five points of the lead at 28-23 in a game they would go on to win, 29-28. Recorded career-high figures of six receptions for 46 yards.
- Concluded the season with 89 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries for a season-best 7.4-yard average per rush attempt against Baltimore (1/2). The touchdown run came on a then career-long 35-yard jaunt.
2003 (9/0 - Buffalo): Played in nine games, all in a reserve role with the Bills ... Was inactive for seven contests ... Rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and caught 14 passes for 100 yards ... Added six kickoff returns for a 24.3-yard average with a long of 52 and nine tackles on special teams.
- Scored his lone touchdown of the year on a seven-yard run against Indianapolis (11/23). Caught a season-high three passes for 23 yards and tallied three stops on special teams.
2002 (16/0 - Buffalo): Played in all 16 games in a reserve role ... Served as Buffalo's special teams captain for the second consecutive year ... Rushed for five yards on two attempts and registered three receptions for 48 yards ... Led the Bills' special teams with 31 tackles.
- Collected a season-high five special teams tackles against Denver (9/22).
2001 (16/1 - Buffalo): Played in all 16 games, including one start ... Rushed for 72 yards on 20 carries and had seven receptions for 36 yards ... Served as a captain on special teams and led that unit with 28 tackles.
- Started his only game of the season at running back and rushed the ball twice for four yards against the N.Y. Jets (10/7).
- Rushed for a season-high 28 yards on five carries against the N.Y. Jets (12/30).
2000 (12/8 - Buffalo): Played in 12 games, including eight starts in his rookie season ... Rushed for 341 yards and five touchdowns on 93 attempts ... Caught 37 passes for 268 yards and a score ... Contributed 11 tackles on special teams ... Rushing total ranked third on the team, while his reception figure was fourth on the club and tops among running backs.
- Collected his first NFL start and rushed for nine yards on three carries and caught three passes for 11 yards against the N.Y. Jets (9/17).
- Scored his first career NFL touchdown on a three-yard run against Miami (10/8). That began a stretch of four straight games in which he had a touchdown run, the second-longest such streak by a rookie in Bills history, trailing only the five-game streak by Joe Cribbs in 1980.
- Amassed a season-high 60 rushing yards on eight attempts, including a 32-yard scoring run against San Diego (10/15).
- Had a pair of scores against the Vikings (10/22), when he ran for a one-yard touchdown and caught an 18- yard touchdown pass.
Played two seasons at Texas Tech (1996, 1999) ... Played in nine games as a senior when he served as team captain ... Was second on the team that year with 562 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 140 carries ... Tallied 23 receptions for 386 yards and two touchdowns ... Sat out his entire junior season because of NCAA ineligibility ... Was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll for the fall semester ... Earned the team's Clint Ramsey Academic Effort Award following the season ... Appeared in the first eight games of his redshirt freshman season of 1996 and rushed for 226 yards and four touchdowns on 29 attempts.
Samuel Morris III was born March 23, 1977 in San Antonio, Texas ... Attended John Jay High School in San Antonio, where he was named the San Antonio Offensive Player of the Year by the Express-News and the District 28-5A MVP as a senior ... Played both quarterback and running back during his prep career ... Was very active in the community during his tenure in Buffalo ... All four seasons, served as a spokesperson for "Hit the Books" summer reading program in which he visited libraries throughout western New York in July to help promote literacy ... Also was active with "Athletes in Action" and many holiday functions sponsored by the Bills ... Sammy's father, Samuel Morris II, was a staff sergeant in the Air Force ... His brother, Brien Morris, is a staff sergeant in the Air Force stationed in Texas... Supporter of the Tufts Floating Hospital for Children in Boston ... In November 2008, helped pass out Thanksgiving food baskets at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries in Boston ... Majored in communications ... Sammy and his wife Leslie have two daughters, Kiera and Jadyn, and a son, Sammy IV.
- During the week of Super Bowl XLIII in early 2009, Sammy visited troops in Kuwait and Iraq. He chronicled his journey and his interactions with service members stationed in the region with an internet diary posted on NFL.com.
- Sammy was selected by his teammates as the 2008 winner of the Patriots' Ed Block Courage Award after returning from a season-ending injury in 2007 to lead the Patriots in rushing in 2008.
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