SaberCats Welcome Back QB Mark Grieb and WR Ben Nelson
Published on September 9, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - The SaberCats today announced QB Mark Grieb and WR Ben Nelson will return for the 2012 season.
Grieb and Nelson will be available for interviews by request. Media must contact the SaberCats Media and Public Relations Manager Ryan Donough at r.donough@thesanjosesabercats.com.
"What can you say about the connection of Mark Grieb to Ben Nelson," said Owner/Head Coach Darren Arbet. "They have been two of the best players to ever put on a SaberCats uniform and they will be crucial pieces on our team this coming season."
Grieb, (6-2, 200, UC-Davis) will be returning for his 12th season with the team. A two-time ArenaBowl Most Valuable Player, Grieb holds a 103-45 career regular season record as a starter and is one of the most accomplished signal callers in AFL history. He is the highest rated quarterback (122.1) and most accurate quarterback (67.1%) in league history (minimum 100 games), currently ranking in the top five in career passing yards (42,158) and touchdown passes (810) while becoming only the fifth player in league history to surpass 40,000 yards and 800 touchdowns. In 2011, he set the AFL single-season record for passing yards with 5,312 to go along with 95 touchdown passes. Grieb also became the only quarterback in league history to throw for over 4,000 yards in six consecutive seasons and 70-plus touchdowns in eight consecutive seasons.
A three-time All-AFL selection and 2002 Offensive Player of the Year, Grieb has the highest postseason quarterback rating (123.9) and completion percentage (68.0) of all-time and ranks second in AFL history with 5,037 passing yards and 112 touchdowns passes (minimum 15 games).
"I was disappointed with the way the season ended last year," said Grieb "I know the SaberCats organization will put together a great team for next season and I'm looking forward to playing quarterback for San Jose in 2012."
A 14-year veteran of the AFL, Grieb joined the SaberCats after being traded from the Buffalo Destroyers on March 11, 1999. Prior to his time with the Destroyers, he played for the Anaheim Piranhas in 1997. Grieb also served a stint with the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 1998 and the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL in 2001.
Grieb played collegiately at UC-Davis where he was a three year starter for the Aggies, finishing in the top 10 in six different offensive categories. His final year at UC-Davis, he threw for a then-school record 3,230 yards and 25 touchdowns. Grieb is a graduate of Oak Grove High School in San Jose.
Nelson (6-2, 190, St. Cloud State) rejoins the SaberCats after spending the 2011 season with San Jose. In his first year back with the SaberCats since 2007, he finished with a team-high 76 receptions for 1,019 yards and 24 touchdowns despite only playing in 11 games for San Jose. Nelson became the only player in AFL history to post 1,000-yard seasons in his first five years in the AFL.
Prior to 2011, he spent the 2010 season with the Cleveland Gladiators, where he earned first-team All-Arena honors after setting career highs in receptions (151), receiving yards (1,867) and receiving touchdowns (47) in only 14 games. For his career, Nelson has caught 549 passes for 6,906 yards and 152 touchdowns in 62 regular season contests.
Nelson spent his first two seasons in the AFL with the SaberCats, where he was named the 2006 AFL Rookie of the Year after setting franchise rookie records with 94 receptions, 1,405 yards and 26 touchdowns. In his second season with San Jose, Nelson totaled 101 receptions for 1,257 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in 11 games prior to being signed by the Atlanta Falcons during the offseason. In two postseasons with the SaberCats, Nelson totaled 38 receptions for 490 yards and 14 touchdowns in five games, setting the then-SaberCats postseason single-game record for catches (12), receiving yards (202) and touchdowns (6) in his first career playoff game on May 27, 2006.
Following his stint with the Falcons, Nelson spent 2008 with the Colorado Crush, totaling 126 receptions for 1,358 yards and 30 touchdowns.
He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2003 out of St. Cloud State (MN). He made the roster and contributed on special teams, playing in three games for Minnesota.
An All-American and North Central Conference Most Valuable Receiver as a senior at St. Cloud State, Nelson holds the school record for touchdown receptions (43) and points (266) while finishing second all-time in receptions and third in receiving yards. He held a streak of 34 consecutive games with a reception for the Huskies.
A native of Coon Rapids, MN, Nelson attended Anoka High School (MN) where he earned all-conference honors as well as all-state and all-metro honorable mentions.
Arena Football League Stories from September 9, 2011
- SaberCats Welcome Back QB Mark Grieb and WR Ben Nelson - San Jose SaberCats
- SaberCats Return Four from 2011 Roster - San Jose SaberCats
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