Jerry Crafts
Encyclopedia
Jerry Wayne Crafts is a former American football
offensive lineman in the National Football League
for the Buffalo Bills
and Philadelphia Eagles
. He played college football
at the University of Oklahoma
for Barry Switzer and the University of Louisville
.
Crafts was drafted in 1991 by the Indianapolis Colts in the 11th round of the NFL Draft. Released by the Colts, Crafts played for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football (later shortened to the World League Football) 1992. He was a backup to right tackle Rick Allen and left tackle Rick Cunningham, and started World Bowl II in the place of an injured Cunningham.
Crafts would go on to play as a tackle/guard for the Buffalo Bills from 1992 to 1994, but was released by the Green Bay Packers in 1995 after being signed during the offseason. Out of the league, Crafts played the 1996 and 1997 seasons in the World League for the Amsterdam Admirals. His play would lead to a signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, for whom he played 1997 to 1998. He was released in camp in 1999, and later by the Oakland Raiders in 2001.
According to former Eagles teammate Ian Beckles on his sports talk show on 620 WDAE in Tampa, Fl, during Crafts' time with the Eagles, Crafts and Eagles defensive end Tim Harris would occasionally go to a bar near the Eagles training facility and split a pitcher of Southern Comfort between two-a-day practices.
In the latter years of his career, Crafts made many stops across football leagues: 1999 New Jersey Red Dogs (Arena Football League), 1999 to 2000 with the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League), 2000 to 2001 for the Buffalo/Columbus Destroyers (AFL), 2001 for the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) and Los Angeles Extreme of the Extreme Football League (XFL), 2002 Las Vegas Gladiators (AFL), 2002 to 2003 for the Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) and Detroit Fure in 2004 (AFL).
His most recent work in pro football was as head coach
of the Erie Freeze
in 2006.
Crafts's best known nickname is The Condo, but he used the nickname Big Daddy on his XFL jersey and was known as "Creamy" while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles (due to his wardrobe of offbeat suits), according to former teammate Beckles.
Crafts is currently an assistant offensive line coach and scheduler at Jacksonville University
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
for Barry Switzer and the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
.
Crafts was drafted in 1991 by the Indianapolis Colts in the 11th round of the NFL Draft. Released by the Colts, Crafts played for the Orlando Thunder of the World League of American Football (later shortened to the World League Football) 1992. He was a backup to right tackle Rick Allen and left tackle Rick Cunningham, and started World Bowl II in the place of an injured Cunningham.
Crafts would go on to play as a tackle/guard for the Buffalo Bills from 1992 to 1994, but was released by the Green Bay Packers in 1995 after being signed during the offseason. Out of the league, Crafts played the 1996 and 1997 seasons in the World League for the Amsterdam Admirals. His play would lead to a signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, for whom he played 1997 to 1998. He was released in camp in 1999, and later by the Oakland Raiders in 2001.
According to former Eagles teammate Ian Beckles on his sports talk show on 620 WDAE in Tampa, Fl, during Crafts' time with the Eagles, Crafts and Eagles defensive end Tim Harris would occasionally go to a bar near the Eagles training facility and split a pitcher of Southern Comfort between two-a-day practices.
In the latter years of his career, Crafts made many stops across football leagues: 1999 New Jersey Red Dogs (Arena Football League), 1999 to 2000 with the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League), 2000 to 2001 for the Buffalo/Columbus Destroyers (AFL), 2001 for the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) and Los Angeles Extreme of the Extreme Football League (XFL), 2002 Las Vegas Gladiators (AFL), 2002 to 2003 for the Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL) and Detroit Fure in 2004 (AFL).
His most recent work in pro football was as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Erie Freeze
Erie Freeze
The Erie Freeze was an American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania.They were an original member of the American Indoor Football League in 2005, and advanced to the first AIFL Championship Game. When the league was reorganized into the American Indoor Football Association in 2007, they...
in 2006.
Crafts's best known nickname is The Condo, but he used the nickname Big Daddy on his XFL jersey and was known as "Creamy" while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles (due to his wardrobe of offbeat suits), according to former teammate Beckles.
Crafts is currently an assistant offensive line coach and scheduler at Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
.