Ronald "Jingle Joints" Sellers (born February 5, 1947) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, twice earning All-American honors (1967, 1968). Despite being limited to a total of 30 games of regular season eligibility, Sellers still holds Florida State career record for most 200-yard receiving games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988. He played pro ball for the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1969, when he was an AFL All-Star, then for the NFL's Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins.
 Sellers in 1968 at FSU | |||||||||||
| No. 34, 88 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | February 5, 1947 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 205 lb (93 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Paxon (Jacksonville) | ||||||||||
| College: | Florida State | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1969 / round: 1 / pick: 6 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Early life
editSellers attended Paxon High School where he excelled in football and basketball. He helped his team win the 1965 state basketball championship.[1]
He went on to star at Florida State University as a split end and flanker in Bill Peterson's pro-style offense. In 1967 and 1968 he received All-American honors. He recorded 212 passes for 3,598 yards (an NCAA record at the time) and 23 touchdowns. He wore the number 34 which was retired by the school, until he gave linebacker Ernie Sims permission to use it while playing for the Seminoles.
Sellers still holds 17 receiving and scoring records at Florida State University- including single-season receptions (86), single-season receiving (1,496), single-game receptions (16), single-game receiving yards (270) single-game receiving touchdowns (5). In 2007, he was named to The State of Florida’s “100 Greatest High School Football Players in Florida History”.[2]
In 1973, he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. In 1977 he was inducted into the Florida State University Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
editNew England Patriots
editSellers was selected by the Boston Patriots in the first round (6th overall) of the 1969 NFL draft. He earned AFL All-Star honors as a rookie after making 27 receptions for 705 yards, with 6 touchdowns and 26.1 average yards per reception.
During the 1971 season, Sellers missed four games due to injuries and lost his starting position. On July 13, 1972, he was traded to the Super Bowl champions the Dallas Cowboys, in exchange for a third round draft choice (#73-Charles Davis).[3]
Dallas Cowboys
editIn 1972 he was a backup until the seventh game, when he was promoted to replace Bob Hayes in the starting lineup, in order to take advantage of his big play ability.[4] Even though he finished the season as the Cowboys top receiver, registering 31 receptions for 653 yards, five touchdowns and a 21.1 yards average per reception, the team looked to upgrade its receiving corps, by trading him along with a second round draft choice to the Super Bowl champions the Miami Dolphins, in exchange for Otto Stowe.[5]
Miami Dolphins
editIn 1973, he had a disappointing season after playing in three games and catching only two passes. He was released on September 10, 1974.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Jingle Joints should be judged by his cover". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "FHSAA unveils '100 Greatest Players of First 100 Years' as part of centennial football celebration". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Dallas Get Ron Sellers From Pats". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Alsworth, Hayes, benched For Test Against Lions". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Dolphins Swap Unhappy Stowe For Ron Sellers". Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Dolphins Waive Sellers, Rather". Retrieved February 28, 2018.