 Rosenfels with theMinnesota Vikings | |||||||||
| No. 18, 2 | |||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1978-03-06)March 6, 1978 (age 47) Maquoketa, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 222 lb (101 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Maquoketa Community | ||||||||
| College | Iowa State (1996–2000) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 2001: 4th round, 109th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Sage Jamen Rosenfels (born March 6, 1978) is an American former professionalfootball player who was aquarterback in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theIowa State Cyclones and was selected by theWashington Redskins in the fourth round of the2001 NFL draft. He also played in the NFL with theMiami Dolphins from 2002 to 2005, theHouston Texans from 2006 to 2008, theMinnesota Vikings in 2009, and theNew York Giants in 2010. He spent portions of the 2011 season with the Vikings and Dolphins, after being released by the Giants during preseason.
Rosenfels was born just outsideMaquoketa, Iowa, a town of approximately 6,000, to a Jewish father and agentile mother.[1][2][3][4] He was the fourth of five children.[5]
He attendedMaquoketa Community High School, where he was aletterman in football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and track,[6] as well as a member of the National Honor Society.
In football, he playedquarterback,defensive back,punter, andkicker. As a senior, he was a first team All-District selection, was named as an All-Eastern Iowa selection by theQuad City Times and theDubuque Telegraph Herald, and was honored as a second team Class 3-A All-State defensive back by theDes Moines Register. His senior year, he threw for 1,150 yards and 10 touchdowns.[7]
In basketball, he was a three-year letterman. As a junior, he was an All-State Honorable Mention selection. As a senior, he named as an All-Eastern Iowa selection by theQuad City Times, and was an All-State selection. In baseball, playingthird base, he was twice named as an All-District selection, was a two-time All-Conference selection, and was a two-time All-State selection.[8][9] In tennis, he was a four-year letterman. In the only season he competed in track, Rosenfels was a member of the 4x200-meter relay team which placed at the State Championships. He graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1996.
Rosenfels was a two-year starter atIowa State University. During the 2000 season, Rosenfels led the Cyclones to an 8–3 regular season mark, and a trip to the Insight.com Bowl inPhoenix, Arizona. He led his team to key wins versus Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma State, and Colorado where he had more than 100 rushing yards.
The Cyclones defeated the University of Pittsburgh in the bowl game, and Rosenfels (23–34; 308 yards; 2touchdowns) was named Offensive MVP.[10][11] He was also named Offensive MVP of the Cyclones for the 2000 season. The win against Pittsburgh was the first bowl victory in Iowa State's 108-year football history.[10]
Rosenfels graduated from Iowa State University in December 2000 with a BA degree in marketing.[12] National Football Scouting Inc., a combine services that analyzed college players for NFL teams, rated Rosenfels the second-best NFL prospect among senior quarterbacks.[13]
| Iowa State Cyclones | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
| GP | GS | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 40.0 | 37 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 31.1 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 33.3 | 48 | 42 | 0 | 1 | 55.9 | 4 | 34 | 8.5 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 | 11 | 11 | 127 | 235 | 54.0 | 1,781 | 80 | 10 | 11 | 122.4 | 80 | 225 | 2.8 | 52 | 4 |
| 2000 | 11 | 11 | 172 | 333 | 51.7 | 2,298 | 78 | 8 | 12 | 110.3 | 78 | 381 | 4.9 | 36 | 10 |
| Career | 30 | 22 | 306 | 587 | 52.1 | 4,164 | 80 | 18 | 26 | 113.0 | 164 | 660 | 4.0 | 52 | 14 |
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft4+3⁄8 in (1.94 m) | 228 lb (103 kg) | 32 in (0.81 m) | 10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) | 4.74 s | 1.69 s | 2.76 s | 4.29 s | 7.07 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) | 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) | 32[14] | |
| All values fromNFL Combine[15] | ||||||||||||
Rosenfels, selected by theWashington Redskins in the fourth round of the2001 NFL draft, spent one season as the team's third-string quarterback.[16]
He was acquired by theMiami Dolphins on August 22, 2002, in exchange for a2003 seventh round draft pick. In 2004 he threw a touchdown pass for 76 yards, which tied for the 8th-longest pass of the year in the NFL.[11][17][18]
In 2005, Rosenfels led Miami's biggest comeback since 1974, when he entered their Week 13 game against theBuffalo Bills. AfterGus Frerotte was sidelined by a concussion in the third quarter, Rosenfels entered the game with the Dolphins trailing 23–3. Rosenfels led the team on three fourth-quarter scoring drives, as he threw for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns, as they beat the Bills, 24–23.[11][19]
Two weeks later, Rosenfels entered the game at halftime versus theNew York Jets with the score tied 10–10, and led them on two scoring drives to get the win 24–20.
He signed with theHouston Texans as anunrestricted free agent on March 13, 2006.
In 2006, the Houston Texans trailed theTennessee Titans 21–3 before he threw three second-half touchdown passes to cut the lead to 28–22 as time ended the comeback.
TheSporting News' February 2007 off-season awards issue predicted that Rosenfels would be 2007'sTony Romo, the breakout quarterback of the year coming from a backup role.
In 2007, the Houston Texans trailed the Tennessee Titans 32–7 entering the fourth quarter. Rosenfels tied an NFL record by throwing four 4th-quarter touchdown passes, to give the Texans a 36–35 lead beforeRob Bironas kicked his NFL-record 8thfield goal to give the Titans a 38–36 win.[20] Rosenfels finished the 2007 season at 4–1 as a starter, in comparison toMatt Schaub's 4–7 on the season.[21] He completed 154-of-240 passes for 1,684 yards and 15 touchdowns.[22] His passing touchdown percentage of 6.3% was fourth-best in the NFL for the season, and his pass completion percentage of 64.2% was the 10th-best in the NFL.[23]
In 2008, Rosenfels started the Texans' home opener against theIndianapolis Colts. Although Rosenfels had led the team to a 27–10 lead with 8:18 remaining, Indianapolis scored a touchdown to make the score 27–17 with 4:04 left. Rosenfels fumbled twice, one of which was returned for a touchdown after he attempted to hurdle multiple defenders, after which the Colts took the lead and sealed the 31–27 victory following a last-minute interception.[24]
Rosenfels got his first win as a starter in 2008 in a November game against theCleveland Browns. His second win of the season came against theJacksonville Jaguars in the Houston Texans' first ever Monday Night Football appearance.
In his three seasons with the Texans, Rosenfels went 6–4 as a starter.[20] Through the 2008 season, he had thrown 30 career touchdown passes.[20][25]
Rosenfels was acquired from the Texans by theMinnesota Vikings on February 27, 2009. In exchange, the Texans received a fourth-round pick in the2009 NFL draft. After failing to negotiate the rights to No. 18 fromwide receiverSidney Rice, Rosenfels decided to wear No. 2 because he had two children named Peyton and Ava and his favorite band isU2.[26] Rosenfels was originally supposed to battleTarvaris Jackson for the starting spot, but his role changed to third-string quarterback afterBrett Favre was signed.
On September 3, 2010, Rosenfels was traded, along with RBDarius Reynaud, to theNew York Giants. He wasEli Manning's backup throughout the season, and also was the team's holder for field goals and extra points. His only action at quarterback was in the 4th quarter of a victory at Seattle.
In 2011, in his one preseason game he completed 13 of 19 passes, for 129 yards, even though he played withstrep throat.[27] He missed most of the pre-season and on September 3 was placed oninjured reserve when he contractedbacteremia.[27][28] On October 4, he was released with an injury settlement. At the time, he had a career 81.2quarterback rating.[27]
On October 6, 2011, Rosenfels signed a one-year deal for $970,000 with theMiami Dolphins after a season-ending injury toChad Henne.[27][28] The Dolphins chose Rosenfels after also working outKellen Clemens,J. P. Losman,Brett Ratliff,Jim Sorgi, andCharlie Frye.[29][30] Rosenfels was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list on October 25. He was waived from the list on December 1.
TheMinnesota Vikings claimed Rosenfels off waivers on December 2, 2011. On August 31, 2012, as the Vikings reduced their roster down to league maximum of 53 players, he was released.[31]
| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | Sacked | Fumbles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Avg | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Sck | SckY | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2001 | WAS | 0 | 0 | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| 2002 | MIA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 39.6 | 2 | −9 | −4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | MIA | 2 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 66.7 | 50 | 8.3 | 1 | 0 | 131.9 | 1 | −1 | −1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | MIA | 3 | 1 | 16 | 39 | 41.0 | 264 | 6.8 | 1 | 3 | 41.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | MIA | 4 | 1 | 34 | 61 | 55.7 | 462 | 7.6 | 4 | 3 | 81.5 | 6 | 15 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | HOU | 4 | 0 | 27 | 39 | 69.2 | 265 | 6.6 | 3 | 1 | 103.0 | 4 | 5 | 1.3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | HOU | 9 | 5 | 154 | 240 | 64.2 | 1,684 | 7.0 | 15 | 12 | 84.8 | 21 | 51 | 2.4 | 1 | 6 | 48 | 4 | 3 |
| 2008 | HOU | 6 | 5 | 116 | 164 | 66.7 | 1,431 | 8.7 | 6 | 10 | 79.5 | 11 | 37 | 3.4 | 0 | 9 | 58 | 4 | 2 |
| 2009 | MIN | 0 | 0 | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | NYG | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | −3 | −1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | MIA | 0 | 0 | DNP | |||||||||||||||
| MIN | 0 | 0 | DNP | ||||||||||||||||
| Career | 43 | 12 | 351 | 562 | 62.5 | 4,156 | 7.4 | 30 | 29 | 81.2 | 48 | 95 | 2.0 | 1 | 19 | 127 | 11 | 5 | |
Rosenfels is a writing contributor forThe Athletic Minnesota andtheScore.com. He also serves as a color analyst for Iowa State games on Cyclones TV and a radio host for ESPN 1500 in Minnesota. In 2018, he joined the cast of Late Night Tailgate[32] a touring sports discussion and comedy show produced by MBM Entertainment, The Kicker and IMG Artists. As part of this tour, Rosenfels made both his standup comedy as well as his singing debut at Irving Arts Center on October 10, 2018. His a capella performance of "I Will Always Love You," written byDolly Parton and later recorded byWhitney Houston was captured on film by the Irving Community Television Network.[33]