Shawn King (American football)

Shawn King
No. 96     
Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: June 24, 1972 (1972-06-24) (age 39)
Place of birth: West Monroe, Louisiana
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Weight: 290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
College: LSU
NFL Draft: 1995 / Round: 2 / Pick: 36
Debuted in 1995 for the Carolina Panthers
Last played in 1999 for the Indianapolis Colts
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • None
Career NFL statistics as of 1999
Tackles     57
Sacks     8.5
Interceptions     1
Stats at NFL.com

Shawn King (born June 24, 1972) is a former National Football League defensive end who played for the Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts. He is best remembered for his numerous suspensions due to violating the NFL's drug policy.

NFL career

Shawn King was drafted in the second round of the 1995 draft by the Carolina Panthers. King was first drug violation came in 1995 during his rookie training camp after testing positive for marijuana. King played in 13 games his rookie season and in all 16 games the following season. However after testing positive again, King was suspended for the first six games of the 1997 season, only appearing in 9 games. After yet another positive test, King found himself suspended for the entire 1998 season. Prior to the 1999 season, King signed a three-year, $6 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts and started 8 of the teams first 9 games, but was suspended again (along with teammate Tito Wooten), this time for four games due to showing up late to a meeting. The Colts later cut King and he was suspended yet again by the league for 12 months for another drug violation and missed the entire 2000 season. Though he was reinstated in January 2001, King chose to retire from the NFL citing the league's drug policy as a reason. After four season of retirement, King signed on to play with the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm for the 2004 AFL season, after which he left pro football for good.[1]

Suspensions

Shawn King was active in the NFL for six seasons from 1995 to 2000. However due to suspensions, King missed 42 games, including the entire 1998 and 2000 seasons. King retired from the NFL in January 2001 shortly after the league reinstated him due to his problems with the drug policy.

References