Jerricho Cotchery

Jerricho Cotchery (born June 16, 1982) is an American football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. He played college football for North Carolina State University.

College
Cotchery was a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. He broke North Carolina State University school records with 200 career receptions and 15 career 100-yard receiving games, both previously held by consensus All-American Torry Holt (1995–98), and finished second to Holt in school history with 3,119 yards and 21 touchdown catches. Cotchery and Florida State's Peter Warrick are the only two receivers in ACC history to record 200 career receptions and 3,000 career receiving yards. He caught at least one pass in 39 consecutive games, which ties for the longest streak in NC State history. He ranks 33rd in NCAA history for career receiving yards and tied for 42nd for career receptions. He majored in Sport Management.

2004 NFL Draft
Cotchery was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2004 NFL draft.

2004
In 2004, Cotchery saw very little playing time on offense. In his limited action Jerricho Cotchery caught 6 passes for 60 yards in 12 games (with no starts) as the team's 5th receiver. As a kick returner, he had 13 returns for 362 yards (27.8 yard average) and one touchdown.

2005
In 2005, Jerricho entered the season as the fourth string wide receiver, but following an injury to Wayne Chrebet, he moved up the depth chart to third string. In 16 games (with one start), he caught 19 passes for 251 yards but he did not have a touchdown. He returned 4 kicks for 105 yards (26.3 yard average) and 23 punts for 182 yards (7.9 yard average).

2006
Fellow Jets WR Justin McCareins showed up for training camp for the 2006 season and failed his physical, landing in new head coach Eric Mangini's doghouse. Mangini promoted Cotchery to be the second starting receiver opposite Laveranues Coles calling him "most outstanding player in our offseason program." Jerricho Cotchery started for the jets week 1 against the Tennessee Titans. He had 6 catches for 65 yards and had his first NFL Touchdown from Quarterback Chad Pennington. Next week against the New England Patriots Jerricho had 6 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown was for 71 yards a new career high. The Jets would go on to lose that game 24-17. In week 4 Jerricho Cotchery had another touchdown catch as the Jets would lose to the Indianapolis Colts 31-28. In week 10 the jets beat the Patriots at Gillette Stadium 17-14 as Cotchery had 6 catches for 70 yards and a touchdown to move the Jets to only one game behind the patriots for first place. In week 12 Cotchery has 7 catches with 110 yards in a Jets win over the Houston Texans 26-11. Next week he had 9 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau field in a Jets win 38-10. The Jets were 7-6 after week 14, but the Jets got hot and won their last 3 games to make the playoffs as a wildcard team. Their final recorded was 10-6. Jerricho Cotchery Ended the regular season with 82 catches (tied for 16th in the NFL) and 961 yards (22nd). Many of his catches were spectacular or in important situations. Much of his success comes from his remarkable ability to gain yards after a catch. Cotchery had 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Jets' wild-card weekend loss to the New England Patriots.

2007
Cotchery signed a multi-year extension with the Jets on March 1, 2007. The Jets opened up the 2007 season against the team that kicked them out of the playoffs the New England Patriots. Jerricho Cotchery would have 6 catches 57 yards but the Jets would lose 38-14. After the game it came out that the Patriots were videotaping New York Jets' defensive coaches' signals during the game. Later it was called Spygate. In week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens Cotchery had 7 catches and set a new career high in yard with 165. The Jets would lose 17-13. On September 30, 2007 Cotchery would have 8 catches for 107 yards but the jets would lose to rival Buffalo Bills as the Jets recorded would drop to 1 win and 3 loses. In week 7 the Jets were playing the Cincinnati Bengals were Cotchery got his first touchdown reception of the year. He had 6 catches for 60 yards in the game. At the half of the Jets season they were 1-7 and were going through a quarterback controversy between Chad Pennington and Kellen Clemens. In week 11 the Jets got a win over playoffs contender Pittsburgh Steelers. It was the biggest win of the season for the jets but in the win Cotchery only had 1 catch for 5 yards. Now their record was 2-8. On Monday November 26, 2007 injured his right index finger during Monday's practice. He would have surgery on that finger. Many thought he would miss the rest of the reason but he would only miss one game. In Jerricho Cotchery first game back after his surgery he had 6 catches with 119 yards as the Jets lose to the Cleveland Browns 24-18. In week 16 Cotchery had 8 catches for 152 yards with 1 touchdown. That touchdown would be the only points that the Jets would get that day as they lost to the Tennessee Titans. In the Last game of the season for the Jets was a win in overtime as they were playing the Kansas City Chiefs at home. Jerricho Cotchery had 8 receptions for 76 yards. Jerricho Cotchery had his best season yet even though the Jets recorded was 4-12 and was lat in the AFC east. At the end of the year Jerricho Cotchery had 82 receptions, 1130 yards, two touchdown and a 13.8 yards per catch average. He led the Jets in all these stats.Former Jets head coach Herm Edwards admitted he regretted not playing Cotchery more while he was head coach of the NY Jets.

2008
Coming into the 2008 season the biggest question for the Jets was who their starting Quarterback was going to be, Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens. They ended their quarterback problem when august 7, 2008 the New York Jets Traded for Brett Favre. The Jets played their first game of the season against the Miami Dolphins in Miami. Brett Favre first touchdown pass as a New York Jet was 56 yard touchdown pass to Jerricho Cotchery. Jerricho Cotchery finish the day with 3 receptions for 80 yards as the Jets would get the win 20 to 14. In week 4 the Jets were playing the Arizona Cardinals at home. Brett Favre threw for 6 touchdowns in the game. Two of those touchdowns was to Jerricho Cotchery as he had 4 catches for 67 yards. The Jets would win the game 56 to 35. In week 11 the Jets were playing division rival Patriots on Thursday night football. Late in the First half jerricho Cotchery pulls in the ball with one hand diving catch as Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs covers him. It was a 46 Yard gain. Later in the same drive Cotchery caught a 15 yard touchdown pass. He finished the day with 5 receptions with 87 yards. The Jets would go on to win the game in overtime 34-31 and would move the Jets over New England for first place in the AFC east. Next week the Jets were playing the 10 win 0 loses Tennessee Titans in Tennessee. Cotchery had 6 catches as the Jets would Get their biggest win of the season 34-13 to push their record to 8-3. In week 15 the Jets had lost 2 Straight games and were playing the Buffalo Bills. Jerricho Cotchery had a touchdown catch as the Jets would end their losing streak with a 31-27 win. The Jets were 8-3 and was in first Place in the AFC east. The Jets would lose 4 out of their next 5 games. They would finish 9-7 and miss the playoffs for the seconded straight year. Later after the season it came out that in week 11 Brett Farve injured his throwing arm. Jerricho Cotchery ended the season with 71 receptions for 858 yards, 12.1 yards per catch average and 5 touchdown. He played and started in all 16 games.

2009
After failing to come to terms on a contract extension, the Jets restructured the contract of wide receiver Laveranues Coles to allow him to immediately become an unrestricted free agent on February 25. Though Coles admitted a chance he could re-sign with the Jets, he signed a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. After the departure of Laveranues Coles, Cotchery would become the Jets Number 1 receiver. In week 1 of the 2009 jets season, they were playing the Houston Texans. In that game Cotchery had 6 catches for 90 yards in a Jets win. In week 3 the Jets were playing a home game against the Tennessee Titans were Jerricho had 8 receptions for 108 yards and would catch his first touchdown of the season. The jets would get the win 24-17 and push their recorded to 3-0 and giving them 1st place in the AFC east. On October 7, Braylon Edwards was traded to the New York Jets for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and a 3rd and 5th round picks in the 2010 NFL draft. Braylon was to start at wide receiver with Jerricho Cotchery. Cotchery made 57 catches for 821 yards in 2009. Although he only had 3 touchdowns, he was a very important player for rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez to throw to. His most impressive touchdown of the season was against the New England Patriots in Week 11, where he caught a 29 yard touchdown pass in a tight space at the edge of the endzone. In Week 17 facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Cotchery caught numerous passes and fought for yardage that made the running game more fluid. He then caught a pass from Mark Sanchez and ran it in for a touchdown, but it was a rushing touchdown. After the Jets won in week 17 they finished with a 9-7 recorded and made the playoff with a second wildcard spot. In the first round of the playoffs the jets would play the team they beat to make the playoffs, the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game Jerricho had 6 catches for 67 yards in a jets win 24-14. Next week the jets would beat the San Diego Chargers to get the Jets to the AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. Cotchery had 5 catches for 100 but the Jets lost 30-17 and missed the Super Bowl.

2010
On April 11, 2010 the New York Jets traded for wide receiver Santonio Holmes and in exchange gave up a 5th round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. This would now make Cotchery the 3rd wide receiver on the team, behind Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards. After several seasons, Cotchery was released by the Jets on August 4, 2011.

2011
Cotchery agreed to a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 11, 2011 after he had met with the team at training camp the previous week. On April 12, 2012 he was reported to have re-signed for two more years, agreeing to a deal worth around $3 million.

Personal life
Cotchery was born with six fingers on his left hand. He is the second youngest out of 13 children. On May 30, 1998, Cotchery was in a car accident. He lost a lot of blood through several cuts on his arms, hands and head. Cotchery still has scars on his wrists and hands, and as of 2008, shards of glass continue to work their way up and out of his skin.

Cotchery married his wife, Mercedes a month after being selected by the Jets in 2004. The couple adopted their daughter, Jacey, in 2007. The couple also have two sons, Joshua and Nicholas.

Cotchery majored in Sports Management at North Carolina State.

Community work

 * He established the Cotchery Foundation in 2007 to “inspire children to conceive and achieve goals by providing programs and services designed to enhance their futures.”
 * He is a recipient of the Jets' 2007 Marty Lyons Award for community service.
 * He also hosted a one-day Skills & Drills Football Clinic at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, with teammate and fellow Alabama native Kerry Rhodes in 2007.
 * He is also a winner of the Jets' 2006 Kyle Clifton Good Guy Award, which recognizes consistent willingness, cooperation and professionalism in everyday dealings with various departments in organization.
 * Hosts an annual summer football camp for children ages 7–18 at William Patterson University in Wayne, NJ.
 * On April 22, 2009 he participated in NFL's Take a Player to School Day. He got the chance to spend the day with fourth grader at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School, Javier Benitez and his classmates. He conducted an assembly on the importance of health and fitness as well as hard work and staying in school, and he participated in a physical education class.