ONE OF THE GREATS CALLS IT QUITS, THE REAL SCOOP ON DANARIO & COVERING AN UNCOMFORTABLE SUBJECT
Walter Jones of the Seattle Seahawks quietly called it a career this evening, retiring after 13 seasons at left tackle. Jones & Willie Roaf were the best tackles of their era. Jones earned 9 trips to the Pro Bowl & passed on two other because of injury. He had recurring knee problems, requiring 5 operations. A 1st round draft pick in 1997, the 6th overall selection, from Florida State. Jones played in 180 games, starting all 180. Like Roaf, Jones was a leader by example & what an example he set. There were absolutely no holes in his game, he played every snap as if it was his last, he was the ultimate blindside protector. Seahawk management announced quickly his #71 was officially retired. He was absolutely one of the league's finest.
For all of you who have emailed questions regarding Mizzou wide receiver Danario Alexander, I have a definitive answer about his status as an unsigned, undrafted free agent. His agent Graylan Crain said yesterday Alexander has been on crutches since his 4th knee operation in 35-months last February. All 4 surgeries have been on his left knee. Crain said Alexander wouldn't be able to run till late next month or go full speed well into June. He'll need time to get back into playing shape, so don't expect to see him signing before Memorial Day. I expect someone will sign him, put him on the PUP(physically unable to perform) list & right onto injured reserve in week six of the regular season, having never played a down. But this way he will have a full year to rehab before joining his team for OTA's next spring.
I want to cover a subject that may make you squirm, but please hear me out, I feel strongly about this. We live in an age of hypocrisy, it's all around us in our everyday lives & it has become my #1 pet peeve. If you read my player profiles leading up to the draft last week, you might have read my analysis of an offensive tackle, Tony Washington, from Abilene Christian. Washington is a registered sex offender. In 2003, at the age of 16, he had consensual sex with his 15-year old sister. One of her friends turned them in. Washington spent 2 weeks in jail before pleading guilty to the charge against him, his sister was spared any legal entanglements stemming from this episode & I haven't been able to find out why. He was required to register annually as a sex offender & have his name published in the local newspaper yearly. His family was described as "one of the most dysfunctional family units" their social case worker had ever seen. Later the family was completely broken up after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home. After only playing football as a senior in high school, Washington attended Trinity Valley Junior College in Texas. He started 17 games there before requesting a transfer to Abilene Christian. With his 5-year probation satisfied, he now had to pass 5-levels of approval at ACU, first the football coach, Chris Thomsen had to get on board. Then the process moved to the athletic director, then the dean of students, the Abilene, Texas Chief of Police & finally the university president. After a careful interview process with Washington & his probation officer, he was accepted to the christian school.
By now, the 21-year old Washington was married & had 2 children. He & his wife divorced during his junior year. He threw everything he had into his studies, daily chapel sessions & football. He became a 2-time Division II 1st team All-American. As he began looking for an agent, he was contacted by Vann McElroy, ex-Baylor bear, ex-Oakland Raider safety. McElroy's father & grandfather were preachers, considering Washington's new found faith, it seemed like a natural that they pair up in an attempt to get him ready for the NFL. Washington didn't attend one of the conditioning camps that precede the NFL Combine. Instead he worked out twice daily with ACU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes president Anthony Schlegal. At the combine, he made a huge impression physically. Third in the bench press, 5th in the 3-cone drill, 1st in the broad jump & top-10 in every other test. I thought he looked unbelievably athletic in each of the position drills. More than a few scouts thought of Washington as a 2nd round talent. It was in the personal interviews he had with teams that threw up some red flags as to his maturity & emotional development. As he always did in the past, Washington admitted up front to his mistakes, but what some teams saw was a 23-year old man who was broken emotionally. Several teams teams told McElroy they would not draft Washington because of their interview, McElroy put it at "four teams."
Washington & McElroy knew this was going to be an uphill struggle, but if just one team would believe all the testimonials & letters of recommendation on behalf of Tony, he would get his chance. The draft came & went, Washington's name wasn't called. They figured he would get several undrafted free agent contract offers. So far he hasn't. He wasn't invited to any of the rookie tryout camps beginning this weekend. McElroy is baffled, as he told CNBC.com's Darren Rovell, Washington should get a chance & I agree. Here's why I think so.
I don't believe in pointing to another's bad behavior to justify your own, but hear me out on this. The league currently has two active players who pleaded guilty to killing people with their automobiles. Together, they did 4 months in jail. One was suspended for an entire season, the other, eight games. There are numerous domestic violence offenders, drug users & even a convicted dog killer playing in the league. And then there's Ben Roethlisberger & his two investigations of sexual assault, currently suspended for 4-6 games. I think it is because of Big Ben's recent problems, Washington has become even more radioactive. Teams have brands to protect & signing someone like Washington invites trouble in their eyes. Plus, the Vicks & Roethlisbergers of the league sell jerseys, they're established, they're proven. Washington is an unknown commodity as a player but as a public relations nightmare, he's right up there with some of the leagues' worst.
If Tony Washington had killed someone with a car, sold drugs, beat up a girlfriend & killed five pit bulls while a juvenile, those records would have been sealed & Vann McElroy would be negotiating a contract for Washington very soon. But because his crime was of a sexual nature, it became public knowledge. I'm not condoning the horrific decision he & his sister made in 2003. My argument is just like all the other offenders, he deserves a second chance. If he had assaulted a 9-year old, I might feel differently. There are people in this league currently on their third & fourth chances. He's asking for just one & he should get it.
Teams know NFL locker rooms can be a very tough place to exist, especially for rookies, even worse for rookies with a past. Locker room behavior ranges from extreme ball-busting to absolute cruelty. It certainly wouldn't be the forgiving environment of a christian university. Many media members would be salivating at the opportunity to question Washington. And then there's the fans, at home & on the road. I have no idea if Washington's faith & intestinal fortitude could sustain him thru all this, but give him a shot.
Tony Washington
For all of you who have emailed questions regarding Mizzou wide receiver Danario Alexander, I have a definitive answer about his status as an unsigned, undrafted free agent. His agent Graylan Crain said yesterday Alexander has been on crutches since his 4th knee operation in 35-months last February. All 4 surgeries have been on his left knee. Crain said Alexander wouldn't be able to run till late next month or go full speed well into June. He'll need time to get back into playing shape, so don't expect to see him signing before Memorial Day. I expect someone will sign him, put him on the PUP(physically unable to perform) list & right onto injured reserve in week six of the regular season, having never played a down. But this way he will have a full year to rehab before joining his team for OTA's next spring.
I want to cover a subject that may make you squirm, but please hear me out, I feel strongly about this. We live in an age of hypocrisy, it's all around us in our everyday lives & it has become my #1 pet peeve. If you read my player profiles leading up to the draft last week, you might have read my analysis of an offensive tackle, Tony Washington, from Abilene Christian. Washington is a registered sex offender. In 2003, at the age of 16, he had consensual sex with his 15-year old sister. One of her friends turned them in. Washington spent 2 weeks in jail before pleading guilty to the charge against him, his sister was spared any legal entanglements stemming from this episode & I haven't been able to find out why. He was required to register annually as a sex offender & have his name published in the local newspaper yearly. His family was described as "one of the most dysfunctional family units" their social case worker had ever seen. Later the family was completely broken up after Hurricane Katrina destroyed their home. After only playing football as a senior in high school, Washington attended Trinity Valley Junior College in Texas. He started 17 games there before requesting a transfer to Abilene Christian. With his 5-year probation satisfied, he now had to pass 5-levels of approval at ACU, first the football coach, Chris Thomsen had to get on board. Then the process moved to the athletic director, then the dean of students, the Abilene, Texas Chief of Police & finally the university president. After a careful interview process with Washington & his probation officer, he was accepted to the christian school.
By now, the 21-year old Washington was married & had 2 children. He & his wife divorced during his junior year. He threw everything he had into his studies, daily chapel sessions & football. He became a 2-time Division II 1st team All-American. As he began looking for an agent, he was contacted by Vann McElroy, ex-Baylor bear, ex-Oakland Raider safety. McElroy's father & grandfather were preachers, considering Washington's new found faith, it seemed like a natural that they pair up in an attempt to get him ready for the NFL. Washington didn't attend one of the conditioning camps that precede the NFL Combine. Instead he worked out twice daily with ACU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes president Anthony Schlegal. At the combine, he made a huge impression physically. Third in the bench press, 5th in the 3-cone drill, 1st in the broad jump & top-10 in every other test. I thought he looked unbelievably athletic in each of the position drills. More than a few scouts thought of Washington as a 2nd round talent. It was in the personal interviews he had with teams that threw up some red flags as to his maturity & emotional development. As he always did in the past, Washington admitted up front to his mistakes, but what some teams saw was a 23-year old man who was broken emotionally. Several teams teams told McElroy they would not draft Washington because of their interview, McElroy put it at "four teams."
Washington & McElroy knew this was going to be an uphill struggle, but if just one team would believe all the testimonials & letters of recommendation on behalf of Tony, he would get his chance. The draft came & went, Washington's name wasn't called. They figured he would get several undrafted free agent contract offers. So far he hasn't. He wasn't invited to any of the rookie tryout camps beginning this weekend. McElroy is baffled, as he told CNBC.com's Darren Rovell, Washington should get a chance & I agree. Here's why I think so.
I don't believe in pointing to another's bad behavior to justify your own, but hear me out on this. The league currently has two active players who pleaded guilty to killing people with their automobiles. Together, they did 4 months in jail. One was suspended for an entire season, the other, eight games. There are numerous domestic violence offenders, drug users & even a convicted dog killer playing in the league. And then there's Ben Roethlisberger & his two investigations of sexual assault, currently suspended for 4-6 games. I think it is because of Big Ben's recent problems, Washington has become even more radioactive. Teams have brands to protect & signing someone like Washington invites trouble in their eyes. Plus, the Vicks & Roethlisbergers of the league sell jerseys, they're established, they're proven. Washington is an unknown commodity as a player but as a public relations nightmare, he's right up there with some of the leagues' worst.
If Tony Washington had killed someone with a car, sold drugs, beat up a girlfriend & killed five pit bulls while a juvenile, those records would have been sealed & Vann McElroy would be negotiating a contract for Washington very soon. But because his crime was of a sexual nature, it became public knowledge. I'm not condoning the horrific decision he & his sister made in 2003. My argument is just like all the other offenders, he deserves a second chance. If he had assaulted a 9-year old, I might feel differently. There are people in this league currently on their third & fourth chances. He's asking for just one & he should get it.
Teams know NFL locker rooms can be a very tough place to exist, especially for rookies, even worse for rookies with a past. Locker room behavior ranges from extreme ball-busting to absolute cruelty. It certainly wouldn't be the forgiving environment of a christian university. Many media members would be salivating at the opportunity to question Washington. And then there's the fans, at home & on the road. I have no idea if Washington's faith & intestinal fortitude could sustain him thru all this, but give him a shot.
Tony Washington
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