Roy Green

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Roy Green
Date of birth	June 30, 1957
Place of birth	Magnolia, Arkansas
Position(s)	WR/CB
College	Henderson State
NFL Draft	1979 / Round 4/ Pick 89
Pro Bowls	2
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1979-1990 1991-1992	St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals Philadelphia Eagles

Roy Green (born June 30, 1957 in Magnolia, Arkansas) is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1979-1987), Phoenix Cardinals (1988-1990) and Philadelphia Eagles (1991-1992).

Green played defensive back and returned kicks for Henderson State University, and achieved All-American status. He was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1979 draft. He starred as a rookie returning kicks, including a 106-yard return for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, tying an NFL record. Green also played well at cornerback. In 1981, he stepped in at wide receiver part-time and managed to gain 708 yards on merely 33 catches - nearly 21.5 yards per catch. The following season, Green fully transitioned to wide receiver and performed well in the strike-shortened season. Green truly shone during the next several seasons, particularly in 1984 when his 1,555 receiving yards were then the third highest in a season (through the 2005 season, this has since dropped to eighteenth). Green led the Cardinals in receiving in 1983, 1984 and 1988 (during those intervening years, veterans Pat Tilley and J.T. Smith split time leading the team in receiving).

Following a pair of decent seasons in 1989-90, Green was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1991. The Browns elected to release Green before the regular season began, and he was subsequently signed to the Eagles, who sought veteran leadership at wide receiver to replace the retired Mike Quick and the waived Cris Carter. Green played much of that season, in which a lackluster offense was balanced by a sensational defense. Green played sparingly the following season and retired in 1993. John Madden honored Green in his annual All-Madden Team, stating that at one point, he regarded Green as not the best wide receiver in the game, but the best player. Green finished with 8,965 receiving yards on 559 receptions and 66 touchdowns. Although many receivers have subsequently passed these marks, Green remains in the NFL's top 50 for receiving yards and touchdowns.