Joe Jurevicius
Encyclopedia
Joseph Michael Jurevicius (born December 23, 1974 in Cleveland, Ohio
) is a retired American football
wide receiver
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Penn State
.
Jurevicius has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, Seattle Seahawks
and Cleveland Browns
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII
.
in Mentor, Ohio
, and was a letterman in football
as a wide receiver/punter and in basketball
. His #84 jersey retired and hanging in Lake Catholic gym.
at Penn State University
. He finished his college career with 94 receptions for 1,905 yards and 15 touchdowns.
in the second round (55th overall) in the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played four seasons with the New York Giants
through the 2002 season. During his time in New York he played in 58 games, scoring five touchdowns and totaling 1,442 receiving yards. He played in the Giants' 34-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens
in Super Bowl XXXV
, but did not record any receptions.
as an unrestricted free agent. In the 2002 NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles
, he took a crossing pattern 71 yards down to the Eagles' five-yard line. In Super Bowl XXXVII
, Jurevicius led the Buccaneers in receiving yards with four catches for 78 yards as Tampa Bay won 48-21 over the Oakland Raiders
.
Jurevicius left Tampa Bay following the 2004 season. He played in 30 games for the team, recording 874 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.
. He finished the regular season with a career-high 10 touchdowns with 694 receiving yards, leading the team in touchdowns and coming in second in yards. He also had a career-high 137 yard against the St. Louis Rams
. He led the Seahawks in receiving with five catches for 93 yards in their 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
in Super Bowl XL
.
. He became an immediate impact player as a dependable, sure-handed receiver—especially on 3rd-and-long situations. He finished the 2007 season
with the third most 3rd-down receptions (29) in the league.
In 2008, Jurevicius spent the preseason recovering from surgery on his right knee. Shortly after the initial surgery, he developed a staph infection
and underwent five additional surgeries to eliminate the infection. He began the season on the Active/PUP
list, and on August 25, he was transferred to the Reserve/PUP list, forcing him to miss the first six weeks of the regular season. Slow recovery prevented his availability before week 10, which by NFL rules, made him ineligible to return for the remainder of the 2008 season
. He was awarded the team's Ed Block Courage Award
, given to the player who best persevered through injury.
Jurevicius underwent a seventh surgery to clear out scar tissue in late 2008, vowing to return for the 2009 season
. However, the Browns released him on March 11, 2009.
On June 26, 2009, Jurevicius filed a lawsuit in Cuyahoga County
Court of Common Pleas
naming the Browns, the Cleveland Clinic
, and Browns team physicians, Dr. Anthony Miniaci and Dr. Richard Figler, as defendant
s. The suit alleged Jurevicius contracted staph in his right knee due to the Browns' failure to sterilize their Berea, Ohio
training facility properly and the failure of doctors at the Cleveland Clinic to take proper precautions against infection. Five other Browns players and two staff members have also contracted staph since 2003. The Browns and Cleveland Clinic confidentially settled with Jurevicius in 2010.
, a neurodegenerative disease. He dedicates each of his touchdowns to Michael, either pointing upward to the sky, or throwing the ball into the air. Since his son's early passing Jurevicius has been an ardent supporter of the March of Dimes
, and a scholarship has been established in his son's name.
Jurevicius has a tattoo of Vytis, the national symbol of Lithuania
on his right biceps. He is of Lithuanian descent.
Jurevicius earned a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University in 1997.
Jurevicius has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
twice: August 25, 1997 and February 3, 2003.
Jurevicius is an avid hunter
. In 2007 he co-founded Dismal River Outfitters, a hunting ranch and resort in Mullen, Nebraska
, with his former Buccaneer and Seahawk teammate, John Howell.
In June 2009, Jurevicius took part in the 2009 NFL/NFLPA "Broadcast Boot Camp," a program designed by the NFL Broadcasting Department and their broadcast partners to prepare players for possible post-playing careers in broadcasting.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
) is a retired American football
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. 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 Penn State
Penn State Nittany Lions football
The Penn State Nittany Lions football team represents the Pennsylvania State University in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big Ten Conference. It is one of the most tradition-rich and storied college football programs in the...
.
Jurevicius has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He earned a Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
.
Early years
Jurevicius attended Lake Catholic High SchoolLake Catholic High School
Lake Catholic High School is located in Mentor, Ohio, an eastern suburb of Cleveland at 6733 Reynolds Rd. . Lake Catholic High School is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Founded in 1970, its first class graduated in 1974. In 2009, 100% of its graduates continued their education at 36...
in Mentor, Ohio
Mentor, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 50,278 people, 18,797 households, and 14,229 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,878.2 people per square mile . There were 19,301 housing units at an average density of 721.0 per square mile...
, and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
as a wide receiver/punter and in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
. His #84 jersey retired and hanging in Lake Catholic gym.
College career
Jurevicius played college footballCollege 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 Penn State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
. He finished his college career with 94 receptions for 1,905 yards and 15 touchdowns.
New York Giants
Jurevicius was selected by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round (55th overall) in the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played four seasons with the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
through the 2002 season. During his time in New York he played in 58 games, scoring five touchdowns and totaling 1,442 receiving yards. He played in the Giants' 34-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
, but did not record any receptions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2002, Jurevicius signed a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as an unrestricted free agent. In the 2002 NFC Championship game against the 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 took a crossing pattern 71 yards down to the Eagles' five-yard line. In Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
, Jurevicius led the Buccaneers in receiving yards with four catches for 78 yards as Tampa Bay won 48-21 over the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Jurevicius left Tampa Bay following the 2004 season. He played in 30 games for the team, recording 874 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks
In 2005, Jurevicius signed with the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. He finished the regular season with a career-high 10 touchdowns with 694 receiving yards, leading the team in touchdowns and coming in second in yards. He also had a career-high 137 yard against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He led the Seahawks in receiving with five catches for 93 yards in their 21-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
.
Cleveland Browns
On March 11, 2006, Jurevicius signed a four-year contract with his hometown team, the Cleveland BrownsCleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He became an immediate impact player as a dependable, sure-handed receiver—especially on 3rd-and-long situations. He finished the 2007 season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
with the third most 3rd-down receptions (29) in the league.
In 2008, Jurevicius spent the preseason recovering from surgery on his right knee. Shortly after the initial surgery, he developed a staph infection
Staphylococcal infection
Staphylococcus is a genus of Gram-positive bacteria which includes several species that can cause a wide variety of infections in humans and other animals through either toxin production or invasion....
and underwent five additional surgeries to eliminate the infection. He began the season on the Active/PUP
Physically Unable to Perform
Players can be labeled Physically Unable to Perform in the National Football League if they suffer from football-related injuries during the preseason...
list, and on August 25, he was transferred to the Reserve/PUP list, forcing him to miss the first six weeks of the regular season. Slow recovery prevented his availability before week 10, which by NFL rules, made him ineligible to return for the remainder of the 2008 season
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the...
. He was awarded the team's Ed Block Courage Award
Ed Block Courage Award
The Ed Block Courage Award is an annual award presented to selected players in the National Football League , who are voted by their teammates as role models of inspiration, sportsmanship, and courage. Named in memory of Ed Block, a well-liked humanitarian and trainer for the Baltimore Colts, the...
, given to the player who best persevered through injury.
Jurevicius underwent a seventh surgery to clear out scar tissue in late 2008, vowing to return for the 2009 season
2009 NFL season
The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at...
. However, the Browns released him on March 11, 2009.
On June 26, 2009, Jurevicius filed a lawsuit in Cuyahoga County
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Cuyahoga County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. It is the most populous county in Ohio; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,280,122. Its county seat is Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is part of Greater Cleveland, a metropolitan area, and Northeast Ohio, a...
Court of Common Pleas
Ohio Courts of Common Pleas
The Ohio Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the state court system of Ohio.The courts of common pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state. They are the only trial courts created by the Ohio Constitution . The duties of the courts are outlined in Article IV, Section...
naming the Browns, the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic
The Cleveland Clinic is a multispecialty academic medical center located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The Cleveland Clinic is currently regarded as one of the top 4 hospitals in the United States as rated by U.S. News & World Report...
, and Browns team physicians, Dr. Anthony Miniaci and Dr. Richard Figler, as defendant
Defendant
A defendant or defender is any party who is required to answer the complaint of a plaintiff or pursuer in a civil lawsuit before a court, or any party who has been formally charged or accused of violating a criminal statute...
s. The suit alleged Jurevicius contracted staph in his right knee due to the Browns' failure to sterilize their Berea, Ohio
Berea, Ohio
- History :The first European settlers were originally from Connecticut. Berea fell within Connecticut's Western Reserve and was surveyed and divided into townships and ranges by one Gideon Granger, a gentleman who served as Postmaster General under President Thomas Jefferson...
training facility properly and the failure of doctors at the Cleveland Clinic to take proper precautions against infection. Five other Browns players and two staff members have also contracted staph since 2003. The Browns and Cleveland Clinic confidentially settled with Jurevicius in 2010.
Retirement
The damage done to his knee effectively forced him into retirement. He now appears on the Tailgate Show on Cleveland Browns pre-game television.Personal
Jurevicius lives in Pepper Pike, Ohio with his wife, Meagan, and two daughters: Caroline and Ava. His infant son, Michael William Jurevicius, died on March 24, 2003 from sialidosisSialidosis
Mucolipidosis type I or sialidosis is an inherited lysosomal storage disease that results from a deficiency of the enzyme sialidase. The lack of this enzyme results in an abnormal accumulation of complex carbohydrates known as mucopolysaccharides, and of fatty substances known as mucolipids...
, a neurodegenerative disease. He dedicates each of his touchdowns to Michael, either pointing upward to the sky, or throwing the ball into the air. Since his son's early passing Jurevicius has been an ardent supporter of the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
, and a scholarship has been established in his son's name.
Jurevicius has a tattoo of Vytis, the national symbol of Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
on his right biceps. He is of Lithuanian descent.
Jurevicius earned a degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Penn State University in 1997.
Jurevicius has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
twice: August 25, 1997 and February 3, 2003.
Jurevicius is an avid hunter
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
. In 2007 he co-founded Dismal River Outfitters, a hunting ranch and resort in Mullen, Nebraska
Mullen, Nebraska
Mullen is a village in Hooker County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 491 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hooker County.-Geography:Mullen is located at ....
, with his former Buccaneer and Seahawk teammate, John Howell.
In June 2009, Jurevicius took part in the 2009 NFL/NFLPA "Broadcast Boot Camp," a program designed by the NFL Broadcasting Department and their broadcast partners to prepare players for possible post-playing careers in broadcasting.