KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City running back Jamaal Charles was the NFL’s second-leading rusher last season, totaling 1,467 yards in 230 carries as he led the Chiefs to a 10-6 record and was selected to his first career Pro Bowl. Charles combined with Thomas Jones to total 2,363 yards last season, the fourth-highest total in NFL history by teammates with at least 500 yards apiece and the highest amount by Kansas City teammates. Charles led the NFL by averaging 6.38 rushing yards per carry. His total trails only Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Cleveland Browns star Jim Brown, who averaged 6.40 in 1963. … Only RBs LaDainian Tomlinson (7,505) and Steven Jackson (7,275) have rushed for more yards over the past six years than Jones (7,274). Jones, who had 245 carries for 896 yards and six touchdowns last season, is the third active player and 25th player in league history with 10,000 career rushing yards. … Quarterback Matt Cassel started in 15 games last season, finishing second in the NFL with a +20 TD/Interception differential. Ranking eighth in the league with a 93.0 passer rating, he finished No. 8 in the NFL in TD passes with 27, tying the fourth-highest amount in franchise history. He attempted a career-long 162 straight passes without an interception, the third-longest streak in Chiefs history. … Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was named to first Pro Bowl last season after catching a league-leading 15 TD passes — a franchise record — while totaling 1,162 receiving yards and tying for eighth in the AFC with 72 catches. … Linebacker Tamba Hali, who just signed a $60M contract, finished second in the NFL with 14.5 sacks in 2010, trailing only Dallas’ DeMarcus Ware (15.5). He had 50 tackles, 19 QB pressures and tied for fourth in the AFC and ninth in the NFL with four force fumbles.
Bucs playmakers in 2010
Quarterback Josh Freeman had a breakout second campaign last season while starting all 16 games. He completed 291 of 474 passes for 3,451 yards and 25 touchdowns for a 61.4 completion percentage.
Running back LeGarrette Blount led all NFL rookies last season with 1,007 yards. His six touchdowns ranked second amongst first-year backs. … Tight end Kellen Winslow led the Bucs with 66 receptions for 730 yards and five scores. … Wide receiver Mike Williams led all rookies, catching 65 balls for a team-high 964 yards and a franchise-record 11 touchdowns. … Former Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib registered a team-best six interceptions, including a 45-yard return for a TD. … Cornerback Ronde Barber returns for his 15th season after finishing third on the team with 102 tackles (88 solo), including a team-leading nine tackles for loss. … Former Chiefs kicker Connor Barth converted 23 of 28 field goals and all 36 of his extra-point kicks for 105 points, including a career-best 53-yard field goal.
Freeman with Bucs
Freeman had a quarterback rating of 95.9, which ranked sixth in the NFL and third in the NFC.
He dramatically improved in virtually every category from the year before.
A first-round pick and 17th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft, Freeman, who is 6-foot-5 ¾ and 248 pounds, was thrown into the fire his rookie season. He helped the Buccaneers break an 11-game losing streak while appearing in 10 of 16 games.
Freeman completed 158 of 290 aerials for 1,855 yards and six scores. He had 10 touchdown passes and threw 18 picks.
Freeman at Kansas State
After originally committing to Nebraska, Grandview, Mo., native Freeman landed at Kansas State on the urging of former Wildcats coach Ron Prince. … Freeman played for three years at Kansas State before deciding to forego his senior season to enter the draft. … He became the first freshman starter at quarterback at Kansas State since 1976. … Freeman had a school-record 36 completions in 51 attempts against Oklahoma State on Oct. 20, 2007, setting a new standard for a sophomore with 404 passing yards. … Freeman also ranks second on the KSU career list for highest completion percentage (84.6) after completing 22 of 26 passes for 251 yards against Colorado during his freshman year. Carson Coffman, who quarterbacked KSU last season, has the highest mark, completing 15 of 16 passes for 184 yards against Kansas on Oct. 14, 2010. ... Freeman ranks third in the school annals for single-game attempts, completing 32 of 57 his sophomore year in 2007 at Auburn, trailing only Lynn Dickey (61) and Dennis Morrison (59). … Freeman set a single season mark for attempts in 2007, connecting on 316 of 499 passes, along with yardage (3,353). His 2,945 yards the following season ranks second on the list as both marks surpassed former Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Bishop, who had 2,844 yards in 2008. … Freeman set single-season passing yardage marks during his three seasons, including 1,780 in 2006, 3,353 in 2007 and 2,945 in 2008. For his career, Freeman has a school-record 8,078 yards, completing 680 of 1,150 aerials. Dickey (1968-70) is a distant second with 6,208 career yards.
