Tony Washington (offensive lineman)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1986)}}
{{Distinguish|Tony Washington (linebacker)|Tony Washington (wide receiver)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
| name = Tony Washington
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|2|17}}
| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
| team =
| number =
| import = yes
| position1 = Offensive lineman
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 318
| college = Abilene Christian
| high_school = Alcée Fortier
| playing_years1 = {{AFL Year|2010}}–{{AFL Year|2011}}
| playing_team1 = Dallas Vigilantes
| playing_years2 = {{CFL Year|2011}}
| playing_team2 = Calgary Stampeders
| playing_years3 = {{IFL Year|2012}}
| playing_team3 = Allen Wranglers
| playing_years4 = {{CFL Year|2012}}–{{CFL Year|2013}}
| playing_team4 = Toronto Argonauts
| playing_years5 = {{CFL Year|2014}}–{{CFL Year|2017}}
| playing_team5 = Edmonton Eskimos
| playing_years6 = {{CFL Year|2017}}–{{CFL Year|2018}}
| playing_team6 = Hamilton Tiger-Cats
| playing_years7 = {{CFL Year|2018}}–{{CFL Year|2021}}
| playing_team7= Montreal Alouettes
| playing_years8 = {{CFL Year|2022}}
| playing_team8= Edmonton Elks
| career_highlights =
| CFL = tony-washington/157373/
}}
Tony Washington (born February 17, 1986) is an American former professional football offensive tackle who played in the Canadian Football League (CFL).{{cite news|last=Cruickshank|first=Scott|title=Controversial lineman grateful for second chance in Calgary|url=http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/06/19/stamps-lineman-grateful-for-second-chance/|access-date=November 10, 2011|newspaper=The National Post|date=June 19, 2011}}
Early life and college
On May 9, 2003, Washington pleaded guilty to prohibitive sexual conduct after having consensual sex with his sister, Caylen. At the time, he was 16, and she was 15. Washington was processed as an adult and put in jail; he was released after one month. As a result of the charge, he is a registered sex offender.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?page=Mag15unforgiven|title=The Mag Archives: When the NFL doesn't give second chances|date=25 August 2010|website=ESPN.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/argos/2012/08/24/toronto_argos_lineman_tony_washington_seeks_to_overcome_sex_offender_stigma.html|title=Toronto Argos lineman Tony Washington seeks to overcome sex offender stigma|first=Bob|last=Mitchell|date=24 August 2012|via=Toronto Star}}{{cite news|last=Sullum|first=Jacob|title=Perverted Justice|url=http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/14/perverted-justice/singlepage|access-date=November 10, 2011|newspaper=Reason|date=July 2011}}
Washington played one year of high school football as a junior while living in New Orleans. That year, he was awarded with all-league honors as a member of the Alcée Fortier High School football team.{{cite web|title=Tony Washington, OT|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1675296|work=CBS Sports|access-date=November 10, 2011}} His family moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. After graduating from high school, Washington did not plan to attend college. He decided to go to college, however, after a car salesman suggested he continue his football career. He then enrolled at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas.{{cite news |last=Glock |first=Allison |title=Unforgiven |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5497517 |access-date=November 10, 2011 |newspaper=ESPN The Magazine |date=August 31, 2010}} While at Trinity Valley, Washington was named to the 2007 all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference first team.
Washington then attended Abilene Christian University, playing on the football team for two years and winning the LSC championship in 2008. Both years he was voted the Lone Star Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Professional career
Though Washington excelled at the NFL Scouting Combine workouts he was undrafted. He was very agile and quick for a lineman, running the 40-yard dash in 5.09 seconds. After leaving school, Washington played for the Dallas Vigilantes of the Arena Football League (AFL) for two years before signing with the Calgary Stampeders in 2011. He was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on July 4, 2012, where he won his first Grey Cup.
Washington was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos from the Argos in May 2014. In his first three seasons in Edmonton he started in 48 games for the club, including the 2015 Grey Cup championship victory. Following the 2016 season Washington signed a contract extension with the Eskimos.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/eskimos-sign-ol-washington-to-extension-1.631860|title=Eskimos sign OL Washington to extension - Article - TSN|date=2016-12-14|newspaper=TSN|access-date=2016-12-16}} He was released by Edmonton on August 7, 2017,{{cite news|last1=Campbell|first1=Dave|last2=Mertz|first2=Emily|title=Edmonton Eskimos release veteran Tony Washington|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3653101/edmonton-eskimos-release-veteran-ol-tony-washington/|publisher=Global News|access-date=7 August 2017}} and was immediately signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.{{cite web|last1=Chidley|first1=David|title=Ticats Release Elliott, Kilgore; Sign Washington|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/08/08/ticats-release-elliott-kilgore-sign-washington/|publisher=CFL Enterprises|access-date=8 August 2017|date=8 August 2017}}
On July 22, 2018, Washington was traded with teammate Landon Rice to the Montreal Alouettes in the blockbuster Johnny Manziel deal.
Washington re-signed with the Alouettes on a one-year contract extension on December 16, 2020.{{cite news |title=Adams Jr. restructures deal with Als; team retains WR Eugene Lewis |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/12/16/adams-jr-restructures-deal-als-team-retains-wr-eugene-lewis/ |website=CFL.ca |date=December 16, 2020 |access-date=December 17, 2020}}
The Edmonton Elks announced that they had traded for Washington on January 14, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.goelks.com/2022/01/14/elks-acquire-tony-washington-and-martese-jackson/ |title=Elks acquire Tony Washington and Martese Jackson |publisher=Edmonton Elks |date=January 14, 2022 |access-date=January 26, 2022}} He was released on December 1, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2022/12/01/decoud-carter-washington-among-elks-cuts/ |title=Decoud, Carter, Washington among Elks cuts |date=December 1, 2022 |publisher=cfl.ca}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140617215628/http://esks.com/roster/show/id/4509 Edmonton Eskimos bio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140327015100/http://argonauts.ca/roster/show/id/4509 Toronto Argonauts bio]
{{103rd Grey Cup}}
{{100th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, Tony}}
Category:Alcee Fortier High School alumni
Category:Abilene Christian Wildcats football players
Category:Allen Wranglers players
Category:American football offensive linemen
Category:Calgary Stampeders players
Category:Canadian football offensive linemen
Category:Dallas Vigilantes players
Category:Edmonton Elks players
Category:Trinity Valley Cardinals football players
Category:Players of American football from New Orleans
Category:Players of Canadian football from New Orleans
Category:Toronto Argonauts players
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats players