Byron Leftwich 1255983 225684111 2008-07-14T21:57:35Z MattieTK 434929 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/65.80.237.248|65.80.237.248]] to last version by Rajah (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{Infobox NFLactive |name=Byron Leftwich |image=Byron_Leftwich.jpg |width=250 |caption=Leftwich at an Atlanta Hawks game in May 2008<BR><small>''Photo by [[:en:User:Chrisjnelson|Chris Nelson]]''</small> |currentteam=Free-Agent |currentnumber=-- |currentpositionplain=[[Quarterback]] |birthdate={{birth date and age|1980|1|14}} |birthplace=Washington, D.C. |heightft=6 |heightin=5 |weight=240 |debutyear=2003 |debutteam=Jacksonville Jaguars |college=[[Marshall Thundering Herd#Football|Marshall]] |draftyear=2003 |draftround=1 |draftpick=7 |pastteams=<nowiki></nowiki> * [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] (2003-2006) * [[Atlanta Falcons]] (2007) |status= |highlights=<nowiki></nowiki> * No notable achievements |statweek=17 |statseason=2007 |statlabel1=[[Touchdown|TD]]-[[Interception (football)|INT]] |statvalue1=52-38 |statlabel2=Passing yards |statvalue2=9,321 |statlabel3=[[Passer rating|QB Rating]] |statvalue3=79.7 |nfl=LEF677964 }} '''Byron Anton Leftwich''' (Born [[January 14]], [[1980]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]) is an [[American football]] [[quarterback]] who is currently a [[free agent]]. He was originally drafted by the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] seventh overall in the [[2003 NFL Draft]]. He played [[college football]] at [[Marshall Thundering Herd#Football|Marshall]]. ==Early years== Leftwich attended H.D. Woodson High School in Washington, D.C. and was a letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. He garnered an honorable mention on the Washington Post's All-Met football team in 1997 as a senior. He was also first team All-[[DCIAA]] East in basketball his senior year. Nicknamed "SqueE" for his loud, casual footwear. ==College career== Leftwich starred at [[Marshall University]] in [[West Virginia]]. He gained notability after quarterbacking a 64-61 overtime victory over [[East Carolina University]] in the 2001 [[GMAC Bowl]] (in which he took on future teammate [[David Garrard]]). He is also remembered for being carried by linemen [[Steve Sciullo]] and [[Steve Perretta]], after breaking his shin and returning to the game, down the field on multiple series as he rallied his team to a 17 point comeback against [[Akron University|Akron]] in November 2002. The image of Leftwich being carried after a completion has become iconic for compassion teammates show.<ref>[http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/features/the100?index=100 ESPN.com - NCAA College Football - The 100<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Leftwich, along with fellow Marshall Alumni [[Chad Pennington]] and [[Randy Moss]] is also credited for helping the [[Mid-American Conference]] (MAC) gain more national attention (Marshall has since joined [[Conference USA]]). He was the MVP of the 2000 [[Motor City Bowl]]. Leftwich, for his career at Marshall completed 939 of 1,442 passes (65.1 percent) for 11,903 yards, 89 touchdowns and only 28 interceptions. He amassed 12,090 yards of total offense on 1,632 plays, ranking second on the school’s all-time record lists behind Chad Pennington. ==Professional career== ===2003 NFL Draft=== At the [[2003 NFL Draft]], the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and [[Baltimore Ravens]] agreed to a trade to move the Ravens into position to take Leftwich. However, one of the teams had second thoughts at the last minute and the Vikings missed their pick. The Jaguars took Leftwich with the 7th overall pick. ===Jacksonville Jaguars=== Leftwich took over as the Jaguars starting quarterback in game four of his rookie year after [[Mark Brunell]] was injured in the previous week's matchup against the [[Indianapolis Colts]]. For the first 11 games of the 2005 regular season, Leftwich was developing into the quarterback the Jaguars believed he would become when they picked him in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He obtained a passer rating of 89.3, ninth-best in the NFL, and a 3:1 touchdown:interception ratio (15:5). However in the regular season against the [[Arizona Cardinals]], Leftwich suffered a broken ankle after being sacked by Cardinals' safety [[Adrian Wilson]] on the first play of the game. Leftwich missed the remaining five games of the regular season. He returned against the [[New England Patriots]] in the AFC Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Patriots won 28-3. Leftwich entered his fourth NFL season as the Jaguars starting quarterback. He entered the season without veteran wide receiver [[Jimmy Smith (football)|Jimmy Smith]], who retired suddenly in May 2006. Leftwich led the Jaguars to victories on national television in consecutive weeks against the favored [[Dallas Cowboys]] and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] to begin the 2006 season. After this win streak, he won national acclaim for being the first quarterback to wear loafers in an NFL game. This resulted in an ankle injury. Leftwich sustained an injury to his [[ankle]] after 5 games and has yet to return to the Jaguars lineup. In November, Leftwich had surgery on the injured ankle. The surgery forced the Jaguars to move Leftwich to their injured reserves, effectively ending his season. In February 2007, the Jaguars decided to formally name Leftwich the team's starter, favoring him instead of [[David Garrard]] or [[Quinn Gray]]. The decision was speculated to be due to the infusion of a heavy play-action offense for the 2007 season, which suits Leftwich's passing abilities greatly. After a highly successful training camp but disappointing pre-season during which his backup excelled, Leftwich was displaced from the Jaguars roster before the first game of 2007. Garrard was named the starting quarterback for the Jaguars on August 31, 2007, with the team stating that Leftwich would be either cut or traded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jaguars.com/News/Article.aspx?id=6273|title=Jags trying to move Leftwich|first=Vic|last=Ketchman|publisher=[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]|date=2007-08-31|accessdate=2007-09-01}}</ref> Leftwich was cut on September 1, 2007, making him a free agent. ===Atlanta Falcons=== On September 17, Leftwich was flown out to [[Atlanta]] to meet with [[Atlanta Falcons]] officials, citing a possible signing with the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jaguars.com/News/Article.aspx?id=6280|title=Jaguars Trim Roster to 53|publisher=[[Jacksonville Jaguars]]|date=2007-09-01|accessdate=2007-09-02}}</ref> On September 18, Leftwich signed a two year deal with the Falcons with escalators attached that could make the deal worth up to $7 million. Leftwich entered the season as a backup to starter [[Joey Harrington]]. After replacing Harrington late in Week 5, Leftwich got the start in Week 7 and played very well, before having to leave the game with an ankle sprain. He got the start again in Week 11 after returning from his injury. Harrington regained his starting position and Leftwich did not play again. On February 15, 2008, he was released by the Falcons<ref>[http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d806b3ace&template=with-video&confirm=true Falcons release Crumpler, Leftwich, five others<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> ==In the media== *In college he starred in MTV's [[True Life]] : I'm a Heisman Trophy candidate. *During the 2003 season, Leftwich was featured on "Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL", an [[ESPN]] documentary profiling the life of a few select NFL first-year players. *Leftwich appeared on ''[[Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith]]'' hosted by [[Stephen A. Smith]] on ESPN in the spring of [[2006]]. *A [[1967]] [[Lincoln Continental]] owned by Leftwich was featured on an episode of the show [[Unique Whips]] on [[Speed Channel]]. *Leftwich and fellow NFL player [[Michael Strahan]] were interviewed by [[NBC]] during coverage of the [[Kentucky Derby]] in May 2007. *Leftwich is a frequent guest on the [[NFL Total Access]], the flagship show of the [[NFL Network]]. On multiple appearances, host [[Rich Eisen]] has drawn comparisons between Leftwich and actor [[Gary Coleman]]. *In the ending clip montage of the 2006 film [[We Are Marshall]], Leftwich can be seen throwing a deep pass and being carried down field by two of his offensive lineman. ==References== {{reflist}} {{start box}} {{succession box | title=Jacksonville Jaguars Starting Quarterbacks | before=[[Mark Brunell]]| years=2003-2006| after=[[David Garrard]]| years=2003-2007}} {{end box}} {{2003 NFL Draft}} {{JaguarsFirstPick}} {{JaguarsQuarterbacks}} {{FalconsQuarterback}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME= Leftwich, Byron |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Leftwich, Byron Anton |SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[American football]] [[quarterback]] |DATE OF BIRTH=1980-1-14 |PLACE OF BIRTH=Washington, D.C. |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Leftwich, Byron}} [[Category:1980 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:American football quarterbacks]] [[Category:Marshall Thundering Herd football players]] [[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]] [[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]] [[fr:Byron Leftwich]]