Jason Geathers: Helping His Team, In Everyway Possible

Q&A with wide receiver/linebacker Jason Geathers

Editors note: Earlier this week, we sat down with newly acquired WR/LB Jason Geathers in the tenth edition of In the Eye of the Storm. Geathers signed with the Storm on May 5, 2010 but was inactive for the Jacksonville Sharks matchup on May 7th (he only practiced one day with the team). The multi-faceted athlete was a member of the Miami Hurricanes’ 2001 BCS National Championship team and is a three-year AFL veteran. He was named to the AFL’s All-Ironman team for two consecutive years (2007-08).

EDITOR: At Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, FL, you played five different positions (tailback, quarterback, wide receiver, linebacker and returner). As a senior, you accounted for 1,612 yards on offense, rushed 105 times for 846 yards and eight touchdowns. You also caught 15 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns and completed 20 passes for 438 yards and four scores. Whoa! What was this experience like? Did you ever get tired?
JASON GEATHERS: I never did get tired. I just went out there and did the best that I could do for my team. Wherever they needed me to play, that’s what I played. I never got tired because it was fun for me. That’s why I was able to do so well at all of those positions.

ED: How did the coach choose what position he wanted you to play? Was there a rotation?
JG: It was high school so during the course of the game, we were able to adjust on the run. If I needed to be at quarterback, receiver or running back you could do that throughout the course of the game. It wasn’t that bad of an adjustment so I just did my thing.

ED: Well, all of this seemed to translate to college because you played three different positions (running back, receiver and returner). How did the experience with five positions make that transition easier?
JG: Playing offense, it was easy. I was able to keep at an offensive mind. Once I got there, I just had to learn the game.

ED: What was it like to play with such a long list of stars such as Clinton Portis, Jeremy Shockey, Willis McGahee, Antrel Rolle, Sean Taylor, Frank Gore, Kellen Winslow, Roscoe Parrish, Andre Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, Ed Reed and Phillip Buchanon?
JG: It was really fun and an exciting time. To make a Championship run and winning was great; and we tried to repeat. Playing with those guys was pretty cool. They went on, some of us didn’t but it was an exciting time down there in Miami.

ED: Do you still keep in touch with any of those guys?
JG: All the time. We keep in touch throughout the summer. We go back down [to Miami] to workout. We help the younger guys who are making that transition from high school to college or college to the pros.

ED: You had some competition at both the running back/wide receiver position to the likes of McGahee, Johnson, Portis, Gore, Jarrett Payton and Parrish. What was that battle for reps like?
JG: We all competed but at the same time it was fun. Whoever’s number was called, it didn’t matter who it was. It was who is going to make a play, that’s how good we were down there. It really didn’t matter. Whoever was in there, we know would get the job done.

ED: You played with the New York Giants for two years and were finally elevated to their active roster on January 7, 2005. What was your NFL experience like?
JG: It was a great experience. I got a chance to see what being in the NFL and what being a professional was all about. It was nice up there and real professional. I had a great time up there.

ED: The following year you entered the AFL with the San Jose SaberCats. Why did you make the decision to join the AFL ranks?
JG: I wanted to stay in the state. I actually didn’t know anything about arena ball but one of my high school coaches asked me if I was still interested in playing. I said yea so he made a phone call for me and I was off to San Jose. Once they saw I could play, they signed me and the rest is history.

ED: You shinned at both WR and Jack Linebacker. What was it like to go back to playing both ways for the first time since high school?
JG: To be able to play on both sides of the ball was just having fun again. It was great to be able to contribute wherever I was needed. I was doing that my whole career so it wasn’t anything different.

ED: In 2007, you were selected to the AFL’s All-Ironman team and brought your team to the ArenaBowl. In the game you were listed as inactive but the team went on to win. What was it like to sit out that game?
JG: I had a high ankle sprain, which caused me to miss the Championship game. Being that I won before [with Miami], it didn’t bother me at all. We had to go with the guys that were ready and healthy. I felt like if I did play, I would probably hurt my team more.

ED: The league went in hiatus in 2009 so you signed to the Saskatchwan Roughriders (CFL) but were soon released. What were your thoughts about your future in football at that point?
JG: I wasn’t worried. I just knew  the situation I was in was different. I figured that if I got my name back out there, I would be fine. If the Arena League did come back, which it did, I would be fine too. I wasn’t really worried.

ED: Your longtime teammate with the SaberCats, Cleannord Saintil played a role of getting you in with the Storm. How did this workout?
JG: He made a few calls. Once I was released from Alabama, he let [Head Coach Tim] Marcum know that I was available. They gave me a call and that’s how it happened.

ED: What are your goals for the rest of your football career?
JG: It all depends. I will probably play as long as I can play and I don’t know how long that will be. After this, I will probably end up coaching somewhere.

ED: What’s it like to be playing back in your home state of Florida?
JG: It’s great. I’m finally back and able to play in front of my fan base that I do have. It feels good to be back in Florida, a true football state.

ED: Thanks for joining us in the tenth edition of In the Eye of the Storm! Good luck the rest of the way!



(tampabaystorm.com)