Players

Pro Career
Physical runner with game-breaking speed and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield… Tireless worker who overcame long odds to find success in the NFL… Joined the Buccaneers as a free agent on March 3, 2009 after spending the previous five seasons (2004-2008) with the New York Giants… In 2008, rushed for 1,025 yards and joined Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (1,089 rushing yards) as only the fourth pair of running back teammates to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season in NFL history... Averaged 5.6 yards-per-rush in 2008 to become only the seventh running back in NFL history to possess that high of an average while running for at least 1,000 yards… In the Giants’ Week 16 contest against Carolina in 2008, rushed for 215 yards on 15 carries, a 14.3-yard average that was the highest in NFL history by a back with at least 15 rushing attempts… Has played in 65 regular season games with nine starts… Has 456 rushing attempts for 2,159 yards (4.7 avg.) and six touchdowns in his career… Has also caught 89 passes for 726 yards and three scores and returned 40 kickoffs for 923 yards, a 23.1-yard average, and one touchdown… Notched 28 career special teams tackles… Has appeared in one postseason contest, rushing 12 times for 46 yards and posting five receptions for 24 yards… Signed by the Giants off the New York Jets’ practice squad on October 13, 2004… Signed to the Jets practice squad on September 7, 2004… Waived by the Jets on September 6, 2004… Originally entered the NFL as a seventh-round (235th overall) draft choice by the Jets in 2004.

Previous Seasons
2009: Ranked second on the team in rushing yards (409) and attempts (114)… Played in 14 games (all but at Washington and vs. Atlanta) with one start (vs. N.Y. Giants)… Rushed for 62 yards, second-best on the team, on 12 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run, in Buccaneer debut against Dallas (9/13)… Added two receptions for 21 yards… Led team with 32 yards rushing on nine carries at Buffalo (9/20)… Also had one catch for five yards… Had two receptions for seven yards and also carried the ball five times in start against N.Y. Giants (9/27)… Inactive at Washington (10/4) because of injury… Totaled 37 yards on six carries at Philadelphia (10/11)… Had one carry for two yards and one reception for five yards against Carolina (10/18)… Led team with 43 yards rushing on 12 carries against New England (10/25)… Added one catch for eight yards… Caught first touchdown pass of the season on a six-yard reception against Green Bay (11/8)… Totaled three catches for 54 yards and the score, and added four rushes… Had 10 carries for 34 yards at Miami (11/15)… Rushed for 26 yards on seven carries and added three receptions for 14 yards against New Orleans (11/22)… Had team-high 13 carries for 29 yards, and added one reception for two yards, at Atlanta (11/29)… Rushed for 32 yards on five carries at Carolina (12/6) and added three catches for 17 yards… Had four rushing attempts and two receptions against N.Y. Jets (12/13)… Led team with 67 yards, a season-high for him, on 19 carries, at Seattle (12/20)… Added a six-yard touchdown reception… Rushed for 32 yards on seven carries at New Orleans (12/27)…. Inactive against Atlanta (1/3) because of injury.

2008: Played in 16 games with three starts for the Giants Also played in lone playoff contest Rushed for 1,025 yards and joined RB Brandon Jacobs (1,089 rushing yards) as only the fourth pair of running back teammates to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season Against Carolina (12/21), rushed for 215 yards on 15 carries, a 14.3-yard average that was the highest in NFL history by a back with at least 15 rushing attempts Effort against Carolina earned him Week 16 NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors Rushed for 1,025 yards on 182 carries on the season, a 5.6-yard average and caught 41 passes for 384 yards, all career highs... Also rushed for two touchdowns and had a career-long 51-yard run Averaged 5.6 yards on his 182 rushing attempts to become only the seventh running back in NFL history to possess that high of an average while running for at least 1,000 yards.

2007: Played in eight games with five starts for the Giants Missed four contests and the entire postseason because of injury Placed on the Injured Reserve list on December 4 Finished the season with 125 carries for 602 yards and three touchdowns Added 26 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown Replaced the injured RB Brandon Jacobs and led the Giants rushing attack with 13 carries for 89 yards at Dallas (9/9) 13 carries tied a then career high and 89 rushing yards established a then career high Made his first NFL start vs. Green Bay (9/16) and finished with a then career-high 15 carries for 90 yards with a long run of 26 yards Also had four receptions for 35 yards against the Packers Returned to the lineup after missing four games with an ankle and groin injury at Chicago (12/2) Started against the Bears and rushed for a then career-high 154 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries Left the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury and was placed on the Injured Reserve list on December 4.

2006: Played in eight games, primarily on special teams for the Giants Returned 23 kickoffs for 466 yards (20.3 avg.) with a long return of 36 Suffered a foot injury in training camp that forced him to miss the first six games of the season Re-injured his foot vs. Philadelphia (12/17) and was placed on the Injured Reserve list.

2005: Played in 14 games, primarily as a reserve running back and on special teams for the Giants Finished second on the team with 123 rushing yards on 35 carries Caught two passes for 13 yards Finished fifth on the team with 16 special teams tackles Placed on the Injured Reserve list on December 26 after suffering a groin injury at Washington (12/24).

2004: Played in five games and was inactive for six others with the Giants Majority of playing time came on special teams Led the Giants with a 27.3-yard kickoff return average, with 436 yards on 16 returns, including a 92-yard touchdown Returned seven kickoffs for 177 yards (25.3 avg.) with a long of 42 yards in addition to team-high two special teams tackles at Baltimore (12/12) Gave the Giants their only points at Washington (12/5) when he returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown It was the Giants first regular-season kickoff return for a touchdown since December 23, 2000.

College Career
Transferred to Ottawa University in Kansas for his final year in 2003, where he set NAIA single-season records with 2,061 rushing yards, 28 touchdowns and 7.8 yards per carry on 263 attempts... Also had 47 yards on four receptions (11.8 avg.) in 10 games at Ottawa Gained 1,091 yards with 11 touchdowns on 197 carries (5.5 avg.) and caught three passes for 49 yards (16.3 avg.) in 20 games at Fresno State Earned Freshman All-America honors at Fresno State in 1999 despite playing with a broken right hand.

Personal
Attended Valley View (Moreno Valley, CA) High Named the Sun Belt League Offensive MVP Cousin, J.R. Redmond, was an All-America running back at Arizona State and played for the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots Greeted fans and signed autographs at the Giants 2008 Draft Day Party at Giants Stadium Attended the United Way of NYCs 2007 Gridiron Gala fundraiser dinner Signed autographs and greeted fans at Big Blue Travels Giants Wrap-Up Breakfast Attended the United Way of NYCs 2008 Gridiron Gala fundraiser dinner Participated in the Giants Player Development High School Coaching Program, working regularly with West Side High School (Newark, N.J.) Born Derrick Ward on August 30, 1980 in Los Angeles, California.