football. The buyers are defending, I'm on the offense. It's axiomatic in football for every good offense there is a proper defense — and vice versa. That goes for selling, too." After he announced his retirement, the Oakland Tribune called him "a scrappy little back" who "made up with hustle what he lacked in ability" and became "the most popular player on the 49ers." In seven years in the NFL, Arenas accumulated 987 rushing yards, 675 passing yards, 774 punt return yards, 3,798 kick return yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions. Over the course of his career, he averaged 27.3 yards per kick return, a figure that remains ninth best in NFL history. His 4,572 career kick and punt return yards was the best in NFL history at the time of his retirement; Al Carmichael broke his record in 1958. After retiring from the 49ers, he covered the team for the San Francisco Call-Bulletin during the 1958 season. In December 1958 Arenas wrote that he had been banned from the 49ers' bench and dressing room for things he had written in his newspaper column. According to Arenas, team owner Vic Morabito claimed that his former teammates "had not appreciated my comments about their playing." In an interview in 1990, Arenas said of his time with the 49ers, "It was something I will always cherish. It was the highlight of my life." Later years Acquittal on forgery charges In March 1961 the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department issued an all points bulletin for Arenas after he was charged with forging a business partner's name on a $264 check at a Bank of America branch in San Jose, California. In June 1961 Arenas was ordered to stand trial in San Jose, California on a forgery charge. In November 1961 a San Jose jury acquitted Arenas of the charge. The check had been made out to both Arenas and his partner, and Arenas contended he had authorization from his partner to endorse the check with both names. Coaching For 23 years, from 1963 to 1986, Arenas was an assistant football coach for the Houston Cougars football team under College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Yeoman. Arenas worked with the receivers at the University of Houston and developed such NFL receiving talents as Riley Odoms and Carl Hilton. Arenas recalled, "I was just fortunate enough to be able to do both with Coach Yeoman.