Boatmen anchor Johnnie Mitchell
Published on May 22, 2004 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Toronto Argonauts News Release
TORONTO, ON â Former NFL first round draft pick Johnnie Mitchell has been added to the Toronto Argonauts' training camp roster. Mitchell first entered professional football in 1992 when he was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round (15 overall) of the 1992 NFL Draft. At one time, he was considered to be one of the top players at his position in the NFL. Following stints with New York (Jets), Miami and Dallas from 1992 to 1996 Mitchell retired from football and attempted comebacks in 1999 and 2001 with his former club in New York, and in 2002 with the New Orleans Saints. Mitchell signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as recently as April 2003 and will attempt to crack the line-up of strong athletes already in Toronto's camp. Mitchell is the fourth former NFL first round pick to attend the Argo 2004 Training Camp, a list that already includes RB John Avery (1998), OL Bernard Williams (1994) and WR R. Jay Soward (2000).
Greg Mohns, Toronto Argonauts Director of Player Personnel, commented, "We are extremely excited to have a talent like Johnnie Mitchell join the Toronto Argonauts organization. He is an outstanding player on the field and an outstanding person off the field. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our roster."
Johnnie Mitchell
Nebraska
Slotback
6'3", 235 lbs., Import
POB: Chicago, IL
January 20, 1971
2003 â Signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars and released August 4.
2001 - Signed with New Orleans Saints on June 5 ... After recording four receptions for 70 yards in two preseason appearances, was released in final cuts on Sept. 2... Re-signed by Saints on Dec. 26 to 53-man roster but did not play in final two games of the season.
1999 - Signed with N.Y. Jets on Jan. 19 but announced his retirement at the start of training camp on July 31.
1996 - Named Jets' franchise player in the off-season, then granted unconditional free agency on April 23 and subsequently signed with Miami Dolphins on July 17 ... Retired from football and was placed on the retired list 12 days later (July 29) ... Signed with Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 21 and played in four games with one start in a two-tight end alignment (12/22 at Washington) ... Had only one reception for 17 yards all season ... Played as reserve in NFC Wild-Card playoff Dec. 28 vs. Minnesota (no catches) ...
1995 - In final season with Jets, played in 12 games with 11 starts ... Caught 45 passes (third on team) for 497 yards (11.0 average, 43t long) and team-high five touchdowns ...
1994 - Played in 16 games and started 14 ... Recorded career highs in receptions (58) and yards (749) ... Ranked second on Jets and 17th in AFC in receptions, and second on team and 18th in AFC in receiving yards ... Averaged 12.9 yards per catch and scored four TDs ... Opened the season on Sept. 4 at Buffalo with two receptions for 74 yards ... On Sept. 25 vs. Chicago, for the third straight week had four catches for 65 yards ... Totaled five receptions for 79 yards a week later at Cleveland ... Scored on a one-yard TD reception on Oct. 9 vs. Indianapolis ... Recorded three catches for 27 yards and one TD a week later vs. New England ... Held without a catch for only time all season Nov. 6 vs. Buffalo ... Rebounded with five receptions for 50 yards a week later vs. Green Bay ... Led team and posted career high with 11 receptions for 120 yards on Nov. 20 at Minnesota ... Posted the third multiple-TD game of his career when he scored two touchdowns on Nov. 27 vs. Miami ...
1993 - Started all 14 games played ... Finished season with 39 catches for 630 yards and career-high six touchdowns ... Had big day, with 146 yards on seven catches and three TDs on Oct. 3 vs. Philadelphia, marking his career high in receiving yards. Became the first Jet to score three touchdowns since Al Toon in 1986 and only the third Jet ever ... Made four receptions for 38 yards and scored two touchdowns on Nov. 7 vs. Miami, his second multiple-TD performance of the season ... Inactive Nov. 21 at Cincinnati and a week later at New England with a knee injury ... Made six receptions for 78 yards on Dec. 26 at Buffalo ...
1992 - Earned All-Rookie honors from Football Writers of America/Pro Football Weekly ... Played in 11 games, making no starts ... Totaled 16 receptions for 210 yards and one touchdown ... Opened season on Sept. 6 with one catch for 23 yards at Atlanta, but injured his shoulder and was placed on injured reserve for next five games ... Returned to lineup and had one catch for 18 yards in Game 7 vs. Buffalo ... Had his best game of the season with four receptions for 78 yards and one TD on Nov. 1 vs. Miami ... Had three catches for 41 yards on Dec. 13 vs. Indianapolis ... Had two receptions for seven yards in Dec. 26 season finale vs. New Orleans ... Drafted in the first round, the 15th choice overall and second tight end selected (after Derek Brown), after declaring for the draft as a sophomore.
College
Star player who made 50 catches for 1,011 yards and 13 touchdowns in his two-year career ... Named to UPI All-America team and was an All-Big 8 selection as a sophomore in 1991 ... Big Eight's Freshman of the Year and named first-team All-Big Eight in 1990 ... Was the first Husker to earn those honors as a freshman since Tom Novak in 1946 ... His 25.6 receiving average as a freshman set a school record ... Set a school bowl record when he caught five passes for 138 yards and one TD vs. Georgia Tech in the Citrus Bowl ... Majored in human development.
Fans can see Mitchell, as well as the rest of the Toronto Argonauts, practice throughout training camp at UofT Erindale Campus.
The Toronto Argonauts are North America's oldest professional football club, having celebrated their 130th anniversary in 2003. The Toronto Argonauts have 14 Grey Cup championships to their credit. Full roster and training camp details are available at www.argonauts.ca. Season ticket hotline: (416) 341-ARGO.
Canadian Football League Stories from May 22, 2004
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- Date changed for preseason away game - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Training camp underway - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Training camp report - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Green and Gold sign all-star slotback - Edmonton Elks
- Boatmen anchor Johnnie Mitchell - Toronto Argonauts
- Flory Added to Saskatchewan Roster - CFL
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