Leon Washington
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| Leon Washington | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 29, 1982 |
| Place of birth | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Position(s) | Running back |
| College | Florida State |
| NFL Draft | 2006 / Round 4 / Pick 117 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2006-present | New York Jets |
Leon Washington (born August 29, 1982) 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. He played 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.
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[edit] Early life
Leon Washington grew up in suburban Houston and did not play football until the age of 13.
[edit] Rookie Season
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 great amounts of 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 Washington ran for 129 yards for 2 touchdowns and led the Jets' to a 31-24 win. Leon Washington is emerging as a NFL star and could be the future starter for the Jets.
[edit] Football Card Controversy
Washington's card with the Jets caused a bit of a controversey during the third week of November, 2006, in which it appears that he is "flipping the bird." Washington insists that it is a popular hand gesture among his friends in his hometown.
