Jeff Blake


Jeff Bertrand Coleman Blake is a retired American football quarterback who played in the National Football League. Although he finished his career with the Chicago Bears, he was formerly a quarterback for the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Jets out of East Carolina University.
His only Pro Bowl appearance came with the Bengals in 1995, when he was selected for the AFC team. In that contest, Blake threw a Pro Bowl record-long 92-yard touchdown pass to Yancey Thigpen.

Career

College career

Blake finished sixth in the 1991 Heisman Trophy voting, while leading East Carolina to an 11-1 record and the #9 ranking at season's end. He was inducted into the East Carolina Hall of Fame in 2007.
Blake's best seasons came with Cincinnati in the mid-to-late 1990s ; he established great rapport with Bengal receivers Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott, helping the former vie for the receiving title in 1995.
Blake left the Bengals after the 1999 season. He signed with the New Orleans Saints as a free agent. Blake started 11 games at quarterback before breaking his foot late in the 2000 season and being replaced by Aaron Brooks.
Blake left the Saints after the 2001 season. He started 11 games for the Ravens in 2002 and 13 games for the Cardinals in 2003, but neither team expressed interest in signing him to a long-term contract.
Blake was signed by the Chicago Bears before the 2005 NFL season to replace back-up quarterback Chad Hutchinson. Following an injury to the Bears' starting quarterback, Rex Grossman, coach Lovie Smith opted to select rookie Kyle Orton to fill the slot. During the last game of the regular NFL season, Blake was put in to replace Kyle Orton during the fourth quarter, completing eight of nine passes.
Despite stating that he wished to continue playing for the Bears and work with Grossman, the Bears did not express any interest in re-signing Blake. His contract with the team expired before the start of the 2006 NFL season. His position was filled by Kyle Orton, who was demoted after the Bears signed Brian Griese to serve as Grossman's back-up. At the conclusion of his fourteen-year career, Blake amassed 21,711 passing yards, with 134 touchdown passes, and 99 interceptions. A mobile quarterback, Blake ran for 2,027 career rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. He made 100 career starts.