Leon Washington

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=New York Jets
|width=
Caption=
country=US
currentnumber=29
currentpositionplain=Running back/Return specialist
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|8|29
birthplace=Jacksonville, Florida
heightft=5
heightin=8
weight=202
debutyear=2006
debutteam=New York Jets
college=Florida State
draftyear=2006
draftround=4
draftpick=117
pastteams=
* New York Jets (2006-present)
nfl=WAS503628

Leon Washington (born August 29, 1983) is an American football running back who currently plays for the National Football League's New York Jets. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft (pick 117). After being heavily recruited during his high school career at Andrew Jackson Senior High School, Washington elected to play college football for Florida State. The pick used to select Washington was obtained by the Jets from the Kansas City Chiefs, as compensation for former Jets head coach Herman Edwards.

Measurables

* 4.42 40 yard dash
* 32 1/2 Inch Vertical
* 17 Reps of 225
* 6.96 3-Cone Drill
* 4.37 20 Yard Shuttle
* 8'9 broad jump

Professional career

Washington gained some attention in his second preseason game, returning a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins. Nonetheless, he didn't immediately get many touches in the first few weeks of the regular season. However, as the Jets running game struggled in the first few weeks, Washington's role in the offense increased. He first showcased his agility and running ability on a 47 yard reception Week 3 in Buffalo. Two weeks later in Jacksonville, he recorded his first 100-yard rushing game, running for 101 yards in a Jets 41-0 loss.

His breakout performance came on October 22 at home against Detroit in a game in which Leon ran for 129 yards for 2 touchdowns and led the Jets' to a 31-24 win. In a vital game in Miami on Christmas night, Washington had 108 receiving yards including an exciting 64-yard reception to set up the game winning field goal in a 13-10 win. He helped the New York Jets clinch the fifth playoff spot in the AFC on New Years Eve, 2006 with a touchdown run that put that helped to seal a win against the Oakland Raiders in the final game of the 2006 regular season. He finished the regular season with 650 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 151 attempts. Washington averaged 4.3 yards per rush.

Football card controversy

Washington's 2006 Bowman "Signs of the Future" card with the Jets caused a great deal of controversy during the third week of November, 2006, in which it appears that he is "flipping the bird." The card sold on eBay during that time for more than four times its book value. Washington insists his gesture is a popular hand gesture among his friends in his hometown. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2662669]

External links

* [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/423207 NFL.com page]