Athletes - Rashaan Salaam

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	Athletes - Rashaan Salaam

Rashaan Iman Salaam (born October 8, 1974 in La Jolla, California) is a former American football running back in the NFL. While attending the University of Colorado at Boulder, Salaam won the 1994 Heisman Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player in College Football being the fourth major college football player to rush for over 2,000 yards. A high school All-American running back from San Diego (La Jolla Country Day), Salaam's success at Colorado led to being the Chicago Bears’ first-round draft pick in 1995 NFL Draft.

In high school, Salaam played 8-man football and ran for over 100 yards in every game except for one. He was held under 100 yards against Christian High School, where they added three more men and played with a full eleven. His team still won the game.

In the NFL, the highly touted Salaam did not meet the high expections. As a rookie, he rushed for over 1,000 yards (a Bears rookie record) and scored 10 touchdowns. But problems with injuries and fumbles led him to spend only three years with the Bears, ending with the 1997 season. Salaam spent 1999 with the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, but only played in two games. In the same year, in an intereview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Salaam revealed that he'd been using marijuana during his seasons with the Bears.

Salaam briefly played in the ill-fated XFL for the Memphis Maniax, but injury cut his season short and the league folded after one season. Still he was the 4th most prolific rusher in the league with 528 yards.

After his stint with the Maniax, he tried out for the Detroit Lions. However, he did not make the squad.

Salaam lauched what appears to be a final attempt at a NFL career in 2002, beginning with a much publicized training at the Cris Carter Speed School. He was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers in 2003, and competed for a roster spot with such notable backs as Garrison Hearst, current starter Kevin Barlow, and NFL Europe MVP Jamal Robertson.

In August of 2003, Salaam was subsequently let go by the 49ers, in the second-to-last round of cuts. Despite receiving accolades from then 49ers head coach Dennis Erickson, Salaam was never signed by another NFL team.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Rashaan Salaam ]

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