Washington, Leon

From JetsWiki

Leon Washington is a Pro Bowl running back for the New York Jets.

Contents 1 Background and college 2 NFL Career 2.1 As a Jet 3 Statistics 3.1 Regular Season 3.2 Playoff Statistics 4 Football Card Controversy

Background and college

Born August 29, 1982, in Jacksonville, Florida, Washington was heavily recruited during his high school career at Andrew Jackson Senior High School, where he was first brought to local prominence by talk-show host Travis Newsome, of AM 930 the Fox, Washington elected to play college football for Florida State.

NFL Career

As a Jet

Washington was the 20th pick in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. 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.

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 Leon ran for 129 yards for 2 touchdowns and led the Jets' to a 31-24 win. In a vital game in Miami on Christmas night, Washington had 108 receiving yards including an exciting 64-yard reception to set up the game winning field goal in a 13-10 win. He helped the New York Jets clinch the fifth playoff spot in the AFC on New Years Eve, 2006 with a touchdown run that put the game out of reach for the Oakland Raiders. He finished the regular season with 650 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 151 attempts. Washington averaged 4.3 yards per rush.

In 2007, after Justin Miller's season ending injury, Washington took over on kick return duties for the Jets. A 98 yard TD return against the Dolphins was followed up 2 weeks later by another 98 yard TD return against the Giants. The 2008 season saw Washington being used primarily on return duties. More TD returns followed, including a 92 yarder against the New England Patriots. Many felt that he was underused by Eric Manigini, only getting a handful of touches in each game. In the December win against Buffalo, Washington only had one rush, but it was a 47 yard touchdown rush. In December, he was named to his first Pro Bowl.

Statistics

Regular Season

		Receiving						Rushing						Returns
Season		Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Lng		Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Lng		KR	Yds	Avg	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	TD
2006		25	270	10.8	0	64		151	650	4.3	4	23		6	79	13.2	0	13	97	7.5	0
2007		36	213	5.9	0	18		71	353	5.0	3	49		47	1291	27.5	3	20	183	9.2	0
Total		61	483	7.9	0	64		222	1003	4.5	7	49		53	1370	25.8	3	33	280	8.5	0

Playoff Statistics

		Receiving						Rushing						Returns
Season		Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	Lng		Att	Yds	Avg	TD	Lng		KR	Yds	Avg	TD	PR	Yds	Avg	TD
2006		4	25	6.3	0	12		11	50	4.5	0	19		0	0	0.0	0	1	7	7.0	0
Total		4	25	6.3	0	12		11	50	4.5	0	19		0	0	0.0	0	1	7	7.0	0

Football Card Controversy

Washington's 2006 Bowman "Signs of the Future" card with the Jets caused a great deal of controversy during the third week of November, 2006, in which it appears that he is "flipping the bird." The card sold on eBay during that time for more than four times its book value. Washington insists his gesture is a popular hand gesture among his friends in his hometown.