Jerious Norwood's 2010 season is over. With his contract expiring after this season there's speculation that his career as a Falcon may follow suit. Let's take a walk down memory lane with one of the most explosive - and oft-injured - running backs ever to wear an Atlanta uniform. It's time to wonder what might have been.
Norwood ran up 3,398 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns - averaging 5.5 yards per touch - in his four seasons at Mississippi State. He was the eighth running back taken in the 2006 draft that included Maurice Jones-Drew, Joseph Addai and Reggie Bush.
He was the Falcons' top backup every year, first supporting Warrick Dunn from 2006-2007 and then spelling Michael Turner from 2008 through today. He started only six games as a pro and - due to various injuries - played in all 16 games only once in a little over four seasons. Norwood never carried the ball more than 14 times in a game but his top three rushing performances came in games in which he had less than 10 carries.
STAT ALERT: In Falcons' history, only two players have carried the ball at least 300 times while averaging more than 5.0 yards per carry: Michael Vick and Jerious Norwood.
Norwood is only 27 years old so his career in the NFL is not over but if his days as a Falcon are, let's enjoy the promise he teased us with for five years.