James Baron

James Baron (born June 8, 1973) is a former

In his career, Baron has played for the Detroit Lions, the Nashville Kats, the Chicago Bears, and the Chicago Rush. He was one of only two players to play in all 80 games with the original Nashville Kats franchise, including ten postseason contests, quarterback Andy Kelly being the other. He also had a streak of 131 consecutive games played (including playoffs), which came to an end when he missed the first two games of the 2005 season with a foot injury. He also is the Kats' franchise leader in sacks with 34. He also holds team records for sacks in one season with 7.0.

High school and college

Baron attended

After not being able to make a team's roster in 1996, he signed with the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League. As a rookie in 1997, he recorded six sacks and five more tackles for loss, as well as being named First-team All-Arena.

He recorded 23 total tackles, and also recorded five

In April 1999, Baron requested his release from the Bears to join the Kats for the 1999 season. In 1999, Baron was chosen as the Arena Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award winner after posting 11 tackles, five sacks, five batted down passes, a recovered fumble and a forced fumble. He recorded numerous quarterback hurries and knockdowns while drawing double coverage for most of the season. He was selected as a First team All-Arena lineman and named to the AFL All-Ironman team. He was selected as the Kats' co-Ironman of the Year, sharing the award with Darryl Hammond. Baron had nine receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown as a tight end on offense.

2000s

In 2000, Baron was a Second-team All-Arena selection, recording 13 tackles and 3.5 sacks along with three batted-down passes, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on defense. He also had five receptions for 35 yards and two for touchdowns, on the season. He was named the Kats' Ironman of the Year. He also blocked one field goal attempt on the season. He recorded a career-high 2.5 sacks and earned Ironman of the Game honors in a win over the Bobcats. Baron had one of the best outings of his career, in an ArenaBowl XIV loss at Orlando, including a leaping 28-yard touchdown catch and run, two sacks and tackle for loss. He was named the Ironman of the Game and also had an apparent interception return for a touchdown overturned when he was ruled to have Predators' quarterback Connell Maynor in the grasp before the ball was thrown. In 2001, Baron earned AFL Lineman of the Year honors for the second time after recording 11 tackles and six sacks. Earned First-team All-Arena honors and was a finalist for the Defensive Player of the Year and Ironman of the Year awards. He blocked a field goal attempt at home against Los Angeles, recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown. Baron's best overall game of the season came on the road against the Los Angeles Avengers, when he recorded 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a tackle, and a career-high four receptions for 14 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception. He was also the recipient of the Hero Award, which is given by the league to honor a player for his off-the-field contributions to his local community. At the 2001 ArenaBowl he was named to the AFL's 15th Anniversary All-Time team. After the 2001 season, the Nashville Kats folded and moved to Georgia and became the Georgia Force, and Baron left the team and signed with the Chicago Rush. In 2002, Baron was named First-team All-Arena after recording 18 tackles and three sacks in his first season with the Rush. The tackle total was his highest total since his rookie season. He was a finalist for the AFL Lineman of the Year award. He recorded his second career interception in his Rush debut on the road against the Indiana Firebirds. He recorded his first sack with the Rush against the Dragons, also recording his only touchdown reception of the season, in the game, a two-yard touchdown. Had one of his best games of the season against the Dallas Desperados, recording 2.5 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

In

In 2006, he recorded 16.5 tackles and three sacks in 16 games. He also had three tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In 2007, he played in 12 games and recorded 10 tackles, 3.5 sacks, five passes-batted-down, and two blocked field goal attempts. After the season, he re-signed with the Rush after the Kats closed after a disappointing season. In 2008, he played in 13 games and recorded 13 tackles, five sacks, six passes-batted-down, and one blocked field goal attempt. He was released by the Rush on September 3, 2008.

Outside football

Outside the AFL, Baron is very active in the community, working with many organizations in the Nashville and Chicago areas. He works with the YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs in middle Tennessee. During the 2001 season, he donated $10,000 to the YMCA Urban Services program. He was recognized by the AFL for his participation in the YMCA's Li’l Sisters/Buffalo Soldiers program. He sponsored the Chicago Rush Team Zone at each home game during his three seasons in Chicago, paying for the tickets and bus transportation from Hammond, Indiana for various youth groups. He also serves as a volunteer and fundraiser for the Preston Taylor Center in Nashville, a center for at-risk youth that is co-operated by the YMCA and the Girls and Boys Club.

Personal

Baron currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee during the off-season. He is the president of Everyday Entertainment.

References

• "BARON BACK IN RUSH BLUE"