R. W. McQuarters
Encyclopedia
Robert William McQuarters, II, born December 21, 1976 in Tulsa, Oklahoma
, is an American football
cornerback
who most recently played for the New York Giants
. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Oklahoma State
.
during his time at Oklahoma State, playing defensive back
, wide receiver
, and kick returner
. He started nine games at wide receiver as a junior and finished his college career with eight receptions for 245 yards (30.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. He rushed for 69 yards on two carries and one touchdown. He ranked second in the nation and set a school record with 521 punt return yards for a 16.3-yard average and one touchdown and added 195 yards on eight kickoff returns for an average of 24.4 yards per attempt.
McQuarters played Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball for three years. Prior to attending OSU, McQuarters played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa. McQuarters played for coach Nate Harris who, in 1996, coached the West Team in the McDonald's High School All-American Game.
, who drafted him when Mariucci was head coach
of the 49ers, then signed him as a free agent
with the Lions.
As a Giant, McQuarters had a key interception in a 2007 NFC divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys that sealed New York's victory. McQuarters earned a Super Bowl ring
with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII
.
which he cut in 2007 after growing them out starting in 1998. McQuarters donated the hair to Locks of Love
. McQuarters is known for wearing a variety of band-aids under one or both eyes, including those depicting the Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
On April 29, 2011, McQuarters was shot once in the back as he departed a friend's house in Tulsa. McQuarters was not seriously hurt, and was able to drive himself to the hospital. He described the gunman as a man wearing a ski mask.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, is an 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...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who most recently played for 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...
. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the first 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 Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
.
College career
McQuarters was known as one of the most versatile players in 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...
during his time at Oklahoma State, playing defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
, 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...
, and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
. He started nine games at wide receiver as a junior and finished his college career with eight receptions for 245 yards (30.6 avg.) and two touchdowns. He rushed for 69 yards on two carries and one touchdown. He ranked second in the nation and set a school record with 521 punt return yards for a 16.3-yard average and one touchdown and added 195 yards on eight kickoff returns for an average of 24.4 yards per attempt.
McQuarters played Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball for three years. Prior to attending OSU, McQuarters played basketball at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa. McQuarters played for coach Nate Harris who, in 1996, coached the West Team in the McDonald's High School All-American Game.
Professional career
He is a favorite of former Detroit Lions coach Steve MariucciSteve Mariucci
Stephen Ray "Steve" Mariucci is a former National Football League coach. He coached for the San Francisco 49ers and most recently for the Detroit Lions.-Early career:...
, who drafted him when Mariucci was 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 49ers, then signed him 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....
with the Lions.
As a Giant, McQuarters had a key interception in a 2007 NFC divisional playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys that sealed New York's victory. McQuarters 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 Giants in Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
.
Legal history
In October 2006, a Chicago judge dismissed McQuarters's claims that a bank wrongfully declared him in default on $1.3 million in loans. McQuarters claimed in a countersuit that the bank's representatives had violated consumer fraud acts and its employees had forged his signature on bank documents. The judge ordered him to pay the bank's legal fees of about $20,000.Personal
McQuarters was known for his long dreadlocksDreadlocks
Dreadlocks, also called locks, a ras, dreads, "rasta" or Jata , are matted coils of hair. Dreadlocks are usually intentionally formed; because of the variety of different hair textures, various methods are used to encourage the formation of locks such as backcombing...
which he cut in 2007 after growing them out starting in 1998. McQuarters donated the hair to Locks of Love
Locks of Love
Locks of Love is a non-profit charity based in the United States. The organization accepts donations of human hair and money, with the stated intention of making wigs for needy children who have lost their hair due to a medical condition in Canada and the USA....
. McQuarters is known for wearing a variety of band-aids under one or both eyes, including those depicting the Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants.
On April 29, 2011, McQuarters was shot once in the back as he departed a friend's house in Tulsa. McQuarters was not seriously hurt, and was able to drive himself to the hospital. He described the gunman as a man wearing a ski mask.