Tony Tompkins
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tony Tompkins | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Date of birth | November 21, 1982 |
| Place of birth | Port Arthur, Texas |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver Kick returner |
| College | Stephen F. Austin |
| Team(s) | |
| 2005-present | Edmonton Eskimos |
Tony Tompkins (b. November 21, 1982 in Port Arthur, Texas) is a Canadian Football League wide receiver and special teams player for the Edmonton Eskimos.
Standing at only 5'8", Tompkins is just one of many diminutive kick return specialists to have found success in the CFL. After attending Stephen F. Austin University, Tompkins signed with the Eskimos as the replacement for former kick returner Winston October. As a rookie in 2005, Tompkins participiated in the 93rd Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he set a record for the longest kickoff return in a Grey Cup game by taking the ball 96 yards for a key touchdown, helping the Eskimos take victory.
After the Grey Cup, Tompkins believed that he was entering his option year, and as such that he would have a chance to try and sign with a National Football League team. Tompkins, who did not have an agent when he signed his first contract, in fact signed a two-year contract with a club option, thus requiring him to report to the Eskimos for one more season than he expected. Tompkins's agent Alex Balic attempted to persuade the Eskimos to release Tompkins but they refused. Tompkins and Balic briefly considered legal action, but in the end Tompkins agreed to return to the Eskimos for the 2006 CFL season. Tompkins will make $40,000 CAD with the Eskimos in 2006, well below the NFL league minimum.
