Like 716,750 other Americans, Tony Washington is a registered sex offender. You can find his picture online, a simple head shot; he is dressed in a black jacket, eyes low, resigned. He takes a new photo every year. It's a requirement, one of the easier ones to endure. The registry lists his address and provides a map to it. His height, weight, skin color, shoe size, employer and photos from previous years are all there too. The charge is at the bottom: prohibited sexual conduct.On May 9, 2003, Washington pleaded guilty to having consensual sex with his biological sister, Caylen. He was 16, she was 15.
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Wells says his daughter told him that "she was as much to blame as Tony," that they "were experimenting." He pauses, takes a deep, cleansing breath, searches his mind for a reason. "Say you're playing football. The coach wants you to play but then says, 'Hey, we don't have helmets or cleats, but go out anyway.'" His voice sounds weary. "Sometimes in life we aren't equipped to deal with the game."
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At this year's NFL combine, in March, Washington finished with a 6.3 national grade, projecting him as a possible second-round talent. Then the whispers started. In team interviews, he had been up-front about his record. "No big deal," he says he was told by league gatekeepers. But Ben Roethlisberger and Michael Vick were causing a stir, ushering in a new tide of character scrutiny. And as the draft neared, owners and their decision-makers began to think it through. How do you defend your choice to draft a known sex offender? Would Washington need to announce his crime every time his team traveled to another state? (No.) Would teammates accept him?
With the whispering came rumors. That he was a rapist. That his sister was mentally disabled. That he'd had run-ins with women since the incident.
"None of which was true!" shouts his agent, former NFL defensive back Vann McElroy. "You get a feeling from bad guys. Things keep coming up. But Tony is clean, and has been for years."
The big day arrived. Washington knew better than to expect to go during the first round of the draft. "But on the second day, we believed, maybe," he says. The call didn't come. Certain he'd be selected on the third and final day, he threw a backyard party in Dallas. There were more than 30 people -- his parents, uncles, aunts, his two kids, his girlfriend, his trainer, his trainer's family, Abilene teammates -- all watching together, eating barbecue and flipping dominoes, waiting for his name to be announced.
By the fifth round, it started to hit him: Players with lower combine grades than his were being drafted. He began to pray, to beg God. The sixth round ticked by. Nothing. Then the seventh. Finally, the last pick came. No call. No one drafted him. "I couldn't explain it," he says. "I didn't want to have to explain it."
Interesting story, it really makes you feel bad for the guy. He probably doesnt deserve to be judged as harshly as he has been. Maybe he will get a shot at the CFL.
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'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
Hey guys, I'm lookin for some pointers for one of my pools. Where would you rank Jamaal Charles among other RB's in a PPR league? I'm skeptical to use my keeper on him because the Thomas Jones situation scares me.
Also, who would you pick in a ppr between Turner, S.Jackson, D. Williams, Mendenhall(sp?)?
does Tony Romo ever wear his hat like a normal human being? God he looks like a tool.
Also why does he get away with wearing a starter hat during Interviews when John Kitna got a fine by the league for wear a hat with a cross on it?
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Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
I noticed moving the Ump to the backfield takes away the pick routes and the ref bounce interception. Any other real change? Think it will be harder to call holding? If this just some noise or a real change? I bet they change this back before the season is over.
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Watching the Oilers defend is like watching fire engines frantically rushing to the wrong fire
Location: Watching 7ungo Giving Up Goals A 5 Year Old Could Stop!
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Originally Posted by YourMother
Hey guys, I'm lookin for some pointers for one of my pools. Where would you rank Jamaal Charles among other RB's in a PPR league? I'm skeptical to use my keeper on him because the Thomas Jones situation scares me.
Also, who would you pick in a ppr between Turner, S.Jackson, D. Williams, Mendenhall(sp?)?
Michael Fabiano from the NFL Network has him 10th in PPR RB's. He's big on projections instead of automatically taking proven talent.
Out of those I would go with Mendenahall. Fabiano has him 7th on his list of PPR RB's.
I noticed moving the Ump to the backfield takes away the pick routes and the ref bounce interception. Any other real change? Think it will be harder to call holding? If this just some noise or a real change? I bet they change this back before the season is over.
Well, there have been countless 5 yard penalties for the QB hiking the ball before the Umpire was set, so I'm sure that will be a point of contention. Messes up the QB's rhythm.
Interesting story, it really makes you feel bad for the guy. He probably doesnt deserve to be judged as harshly as he has been. Maybe he will get a shot at the CFL.
Couldn't help but feel for the guy. I wonder what CFL team was interested in him. It doesn't seem like he will be crossing the border anytime soon as a registered sex offender.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
I will say that I think San Diego being handed the division by most is a mistake. I think they are the only team in the division that did not improve in the offseason. I think the Chiefs will be the most improved team in the division. I'm not convinced it would be enough to win it though.
I do think things are looking up in the AFC West.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
I will say that I think San Diego being handed the division by most is a mistake. I think they are the only team in the division that did not improve in the offseason. I think the Chiefs will be the most improved team in the division. I'm not convinced it would be enough to win it though.
I do think things are looking up in the AFC West.
As a Raiders fan I am pretty skeptical that the ACF West will be that much improved. It won't be as bad as the NFC West but it's still comprised of one average team and three below average teams.
KC looks to have some offensive weapons but IMO Matt Cassell is miscast as a starter. He get's happy feet in the pocket and doesn't have the arm strength to make all the passes required of an NFL QB. The running game looks very solid though so they should be able to put points up on the board. However the defense still looks really bad. I think they finish last in the division at 5-11.
The Raiders had a really good draft and finally got rid of the cancer that was JaMarcus Russell. Still though they are inexperienced at the receiver position and the OL still looks like it has issues. The defense looks like it's going to be very good at pass defense but I still see the same issues of not being able to stop the run in the preseason. Just not having Russell there losing games should be worth a couple more wins for the Raiders but until Davis is out of the picture a winning record is probably out of reach. I think they finish tied with the Broncos at 6-10 and 3rd in the division.
In a QB driven league you will only go as far as your QB can take you and Orton is a caretaker not a game breaker. On a stacked roster he is probably just good enough not to lose games but on an average roster that has key injuries on the defensive side of the ball he won't be able to overcome the issues of the lack of overall offensive talent. Also I'm not a fan of the Josh McDaniels dink and dunk offense approach. The best teams in the league Packers, Colts, Saints all go deep to stretch the field and McDaniels approach of running the ball & continually running screen passes, quick slants, etc just make it too easy for defenses.
The Chargers have been fortunate to play in the AFC West as if they were in a more competitive division they probably wouldn't even be a playoff team. They have good players at the skill positions on offense, a slightly below average defense, and stellar special teams. A great coach may be able to do something special with this team unfortunately they are stuck with a great OC that is horribly miscast as a HC. The Chargers always get outcoached in the playoffs and I expect that to continue this year. 10-6 and first in the AFC West.
Last edited by Erick Estrada; 08-31-2010 at 07:36 AM.
I still think the Chiefs are at least one year away from being able to threaten for a playoff spot. It would be more of a case of the Chargers losing the Division than letting the someone else win it. But the Chiefs do get them in Arrowhead to open up the season on Monday night so maybe that gives the Chiefs a chance to win that game and build some early confidence.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
I still think the Chiefs are at least one year away from being able to threaten for a playoff spot. It would be more of a case of the Chargers losing the Division than letting the someone else win it. But the Chiefs do get them in Arrowhead to open up the season on Monday night so maybe that gives the Chiefs a chance to win that game and build some early confidence.
They have really whiffed on some of their defensive picks over the past few years. They were praised for the Dorsey pick but he's been a disappointment. Berry looks like a great pick for them but so did Dorsey.
The Chiefs entire front 7 is a bunch of mis-cast parts that aren't really suited to play in a 3-4 defence. If only dum dum Peterson hadn't traded Jared Allen than they might have stuck with the 4-3 and Hali, and Allen would be one of the better pass rushing duo's, and Derrick Johnson and Glen Dorsey would be in much better roles.
I think they have a pretty good young secondary in place, but no doubt they need to address the front 7 here in the next two years if they want to emerge as a playoff team, and go above that to an elite level playoff team.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
The Baltimore Ravens have added a cornerback to their paper-thin secondary.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Ravens traded a conditional fifth-round pick to the Seahawks for cornerback Josh Wilson. The pick could become a fourth-rounder, depending on how many games Wilson starts in Baltimore.
Great pickup for the Ravens, was hoping they would aquire a CB before the start of the season. From the sounds of it Hawks fans liked the guy.
“He’s an extremely fiery and aggressive player, and I think he’s very talented,” said Foxworth, who played with Wilson for three years at Maryland. “I know his personality fits into what we’re building here. Josh is a no-nonsense type of guy that fits in with this defense and what it means to be a Raven. Off the field, he is a high-integrity guy. He’s a family man, who is very smart and community-minded.”
