Nate Poole
Encyclopedia
Nathan "Nate" Poole is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football
at Marshall.
Poole is best known for his game-winning touchdown that eliminated the Minnesota Vikings
from playoff contention in 2003.
as a free agent
on March 11, 2002. His first NFL score came from quarterback
Jake Plummer
against the Detroit Lions
on December 8. Poole appeared in five games (one start) his rookie season, catching 13 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.
As an exclusive-rights free agent in 2003, Poole was tendered a contract re-signed. He was released by the team on August 31 but was re-signed to the active roster on September 12 and remained there the rest of the season. He appeared in 15 games and started one, catching 13 passes for a career-high 177 yards and one touchdown.
It was in the season finale on December 28 that Poole had his best game as a pro and became, at least for the moment, a household name. With the Minnesota Vikings
leading 17-12 and needing a win to secure a playoff spot, Poole caught a 28-yard touchdown
pass from quarterback Josh McCown
with no time remaining to win the game and eliminate the Vikings from playoff contention. Poole finished the game with five catches for 86 yards - both career highs.
Poole re-signed with the Cardinals on May 30, 2004 and began the season on the team's physically-unable-to-perform list. He made the team out of training camp once again and went on to play in nine games with one start. Poole finished the year with five catches for 70 yards.
. He signed a two-year, $1 million contract with the New Orleans Saints
on May 18. After being cut by the team on September 3, Poole was re-signed by the team less than three weeks later on September 21.
On November 6, Poole tore the ACL
, MCL
and patellar tendon
in his knee against the Chicago Bears
. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve
, finishing the season with three catches for 63 yards in seven games.
Knee
problems often kept Poole out of practice during training camp with the Saints in 2006, and he was eventually waived on July 26.
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...
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...
. He was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2002. 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 Marshall.
Poole is best known for his game-winning touchdown that eliminated the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
from playoff contention in 2003.
Arizona Cardinals
Poole was signed by the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on March 11, 2002. His first NFL score came from quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jake Plummer
Jake Plummer
Jason Steven "Jake" Plummer is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State....
against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on December 8. Poole appeared in five games (one start) his rookie season, catching 13 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.
As an exclusive-rights free agent in 2003, Poole was tendered a contract re-signed. He was released by the team on August 31 but was re-signed to the active roster on September 12 and remained there the rest of the season. He appeared in 15 games and started one, catching 13 passes for a career-high 177 yards and one touchdown.
It was in the season finale on December 28 that Poole had his best game as a pro and became, at least for the moment, a household name. With the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
leading 17-12 and needing a win to secure a playoff spot, Poole caught a 28-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass from quarterback Josh McCown
Josh McCown
Joshua Treadwell McCown is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Sam Houston State.McCown has played for the Detroit Lions, Oakland...
with no time remaining to win the game and eliminate the Vikings from playoff contention. Poole finished the game with five catches for 86 yards - both career highs.
Poole re-signed with the Cardinals on May 30, 2004 and began the season on the team's physically-unable-to-perform list. He made the team out of training camp once again and went on to play in nine games with one start. Poole finished the year with five catches for 70 yards.
New Orleans Saints
In the 2005 offseason, the Cardinals declined to tender a contract to Poole - a restricted free agentRestricted free agent
A restricted free agent is a professional athlete who plays in the KHL, NFL, NHL, or NBA. Such players have special restrictions on the terms under which they can retain or change employment status with their athletic club teams.- NFL :...
. He signed a two-year, $1 million contract with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on May 18. After being cut by the team on September 3, Poole was re-signed by the team less than three weeks later on September 21.
On November 6, Poole tore the ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
, MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
and patellar tendon
Patellar ligament
The patellar ligament is the central portion of the common tendon of the Quadriceps femoris, which is continued from the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia.-Anatomy:It is a strong, flat, ligament, about 10 cm...
in his knee against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
, finishing the season with three catches for 63 yards in seven games.
Knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
problems often kept Poole out of practice during training camp with the Saints in 2006, and he was eventually waived on July 26.