[zdoppiklonikaa]

he mustn't have been that good, since he still hasnt signed

[Reafnartefs]

Forgive me if this was already posted somewhere but I couldnt find it

Some one is going to take him, but can you imagine the stigma

An offensive tackle from a small Division II Christian school, Tony Washington went to Indianapolis virtually unknown. After top performances at the NFL Combine, the Abilene Christian standout has seen his draft stock climb as high as the second round. But he bears the burden of a troubled past – one that’s causing some NFL teams to think twice.

Washington is a registered sex offender.

Until now, he has not publicly addressed the specifics of his situation, but in a statement provided exclusively to SportsFanLive.com, he confirmed what is likely to haunt him for the rest of his life.

“I made a mistake at the age of 16, and for that, I am deeply sorry,” Washington said. “I will not try and excuse or justify anything. I have worked extremely hard to do everything right so that I might have an opportunity to give back. I only hope that someone in the NFL will give me the same opportunity that Abilene Christian and Trinity Valley gave me.”

In May 2003, Washington was convicted of having sex with a relative that multiple NFL and college sources say was his 15-year old biological sister. The act was consensual, according to his college coaches and two NFL scouts, who spoke to him about the incident. The sister does not wish to speak publicly on the case, according to Washington’s agent, who added that the siblings are now on good terms and talk often. Washington received five years probation and did not serve jail time.

Due to the nature of the crime and Washington’s status as a juvenile, records specifically related to the crime itself could not be obtained in requests made to both the Texas Department of Public Safety and the New Orleans Police Department. But if this had been "sexual assault," Washington’s report on the sex-offender registry would have listed a different offense.

Inside the interview rooms at the Combine, scouts questioned him at length about his past. Some are willing to give him a chance. After all, Washington had the best broad jump among offensive lineman at 9 feet, 6 inches and the sixth-best time in the three-cone drill. Despite that talent, other scouts may not be so forgiving.

Trinity Valley Community College coach Mark Sartain faced the same challenge back in 2005, when he met Washington, then a high school senior.

“He e-mailed me several times asking for an opportunity to play and finally sent me a grainy tape,” Sartain said. “You could barely see him in it.”

The only evidence of his potential as a football player was the massive 6-7, 300-pound frame he carried. Everything else, including his home, was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

“Katrina was a total disruption of his life and his high school career,” said Sartain, a coaching veteran of 26 years and father of two, who now heads up the football program at East Texas Baptist University.

Then Washington told him: “Coach, there’s something you need to know.”

Although it was unsettling, Washington’s confession did not cause Sartain to shy away from his young recruit. In fact, because Washington volunteered the information, Sartain realized “this young man deserves a second chance.”

The product of what Sartain calls a “dysfunctional” family, Washington arrived in Athens, Texas, with emotional needs that had long been neglected. “I don’t want to say he was emotionally ‘crippled,’ but with that traumatic time in his life, he skipped a phase, so to speak, in his emotional development,” the coach said.

His unique situation required authorities in both New Orleans and Texas to accept his transfer of residence, something law enforcement officials in his home state of Louisiana initially refused to do. It meant Sartain and his staff had to jump through hoops to get Tony into their program.

“They were ignoring him and not returning calls because they didn’t want to deal with him,” Sartain said. “We had to fight for a couple weeks to get that whole thing done.”
http://www.sportsfanlive.com/sflrepo...sive_lineman_s

[dfuzioniag]

depends on situation. I think I would

[Cerilopasei]

sex offender? fine.

dude that fucked his sister? no way.

[qzgCVHex]

sex offender? fine.

dude that fucked his sister? no way.

while gross, at least she was only year younger and it wasnt rape....just gross.

[Noilemaillilm]

Definitely gross, but based on the circumstances of this crime, I wouldn't avoid drafting him if I thought he could help my team.

[hubua990]

America, the land of 2nd chances. If this has not kept him from playing ball all these years and helps him get over a youthful discretion, why not.

[XzBZB2UV]

sex offender? fine.

dude that fucked his sister? no way.

I'd prefer this to a dog killer, to be honest.

[Shootohoist]

I'd prefer this to a dog killer, to be honest.

Me too.

This sounds wrong even when I think it, but even though it was sick, fucked up, gross, etc., it was still consensual. I obviously don't condone it, but I can forgive this being someone's only red flag much easier than a violent act.

[Cydayshosse]

this a known quantity, and by knowing it it can be handled....Im sure there are worse secrets in professional locker rooms all over the world.....just they are unknown....

[Yswxomvy]

Just as long as the team he is playing for never ends a game in a tie. You know what they say about a tie in sports right....

[lollypop]

Just as long as the team he is playing for never ends a game in a tie. You know what they say about a tie in sports right....

LMAO!

[Hpdovoxm]

I doubt an NFL exec needing an o-tackle and to keep his job secure will let this get in the way of drafting him. I can only imagine what opposing players in the trenches will be saying to him though.

[rfceicizgm]

I doubt an NFL exec needing an o-tackle and to keep his job secure will let this get in the way of drafting him. I can only imagine what opposing players in the trenches will be saying to him though.

"You can have your sister again when I'm done with her."

[michael247]

"You can have your sister again when I'm done with her."

"Heads up you got some of your sisters pubic hair in your teeth"