Robert Edwards (running back)

Robert Lee Edwards, III (born October 2, 1974) is a former NFL and CFL running back. Originally drafted by the New England Patriots, he also played for the Miami Dolphins and Montreal Alouettes before ending his career with the Toronto Argonauts.

He is the older brother of current Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver Terrence Edwards.

College career
Edwards was a featured running back collegiately at the University of Georgia. He was originally recruited to play cornerback, where he was a starter through his sophomore year. After that season, he was converted to running back. As a running back he set a University of Georgia record for scoring five touchdowns in one game against the University of South Carolina. Robert eventually went on to become a highly-prized prospect for the NFL despite constant injury problems.

Injury problems
Throughout his college career Edwards was very injury-prone. He never finished a full season in college due to knee problems and one year due to a broken hand which allowed him to earn an injury redshirt for that season. Though he was very successful when healthy it is very possible that his draft stock dropped due to his constant injury status. Apparently his draft position was not greatly hurt by this injury history, but it would come back to haunt him once he entered the league.

National Football League
Edwards was chosen by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He rushed for 1,115 yards for the Patriots in the 1998 National Football League season, before blowing out his knee at an NFL rookie flag football game in Hawaii. Edwards barely escaped the injury without having his leg amputated below the knee, and he was told he might not walk again.

Edwards would not play football again until 2002, when he made his return with the Miami Dolphins. In his first game back, against the Detroit Lions, Edwards caught a touchdown pass and ran for another score. He spent the rest of the season sharing third-down back duties with fellow running back Travis Minor. After the season, he lost his spot on the roster to Leonard Henry. Edwards was awarded the Pro Football Writers Association Halas Award for his comeback from his serious injury.

Canadian Football League
Edwards joined the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in 2005, and was the team's leading rusher, running for over 1,000 yards each of the first two seasons he played in Montreal. In addition to being the Montreal Alouettes leading rusher, Edwards has twice been named a CFL Eastern Division All-Star (2005, 2006). On August 18, 2007, Edwards was released by the Alouettes. He was picked up by the Toronto Argonauts a day later.

On January 31, 2008, Edwards was released by the Argonauts.

Coaching career
In 2009, Edwards returned to football as the head coach at Arlington Christian School in Fairburn, Georgia.

On April 19, 2012, Edwards was named as the new head football coach of the Greene County (Georgia) Tigers. He succeeds Charlie Winslett, who is currently in the number seven position on Georgia's All-Time Winningest High School Football coaches list.