Laveranues Coles

Infobox NFLactive
currentteam=New York Jets


width=150
Caption=
country=USA
currentnumber=87
currentposition=Wide receiver
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|12|29
birthplace=Jacksonville, Florida
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=193
debutyear=2000
debutteam=New York Jets
highlights=
* Pro Bowl 2004
college=Florida State
draftyear=2000
draftround=3
draftpick=78
pastteams=
*New York Jets (2000-2002)
*Washington Redskins (2003-2004)
* New York Jets (2005-present)
statweek=1
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Receptions
statvalue1=562
statlabel2=Receiving Yards
statvalue2=7,250
statlabel3=Receiving TDs
statvalue3=37
nfl=COL366580

Laveranues Leon Coles (pronEng|la-VERN-ee-us) (born December 29, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American football wide receiver who was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Florida State University.

High school career

While attending Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida, Coles played football, basketball, and ran track. In football, he rushed for nearly 5,000 yards in his career, was named to the Blue Chip Dream Team, and was a first team Class 4A All-State selection. In basketball, he was a member of a state championship team as a senior. In track, he recorded a time of 10.6 seconds in the 100 meter dash and 21.8 seconds in the 200-meter dash. Due to a scandal at Florida State which resulted in Coles's dismissal from the team, he often refers to his high school when introducing himself on Monday Night Football.

College career

Coles attended Florida State University and he wore the number 7.

Dillard's department store incident

On September 29 1999, during his senior season at Florida State, Coles and teammate Peter Warrick went to a Tallahassee, Florida Dillard's department store and, with the aid of a cashier with whom they were friendly, purchased $412.38 worth of clothing and were charged only $21.40—a discount so large that it is considered shoplifting under Florida law. An off-duty officer saw the event through a surveillance camera, according to police. Coles, Warrick, and the clerk, Rachel Myrtil, were arrested for grand theft. On October 22, Coles pleaded guilty to misdemeanor petty theft and was dismissed from the team.citeweb|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4459202|title=Top bizarre sports scandals of all-time|publisher=NBC Sports|author= Concha, Joe|date=2004-03-08|accessdate=2007-10-19] At that year's rivalry game at Florida, Gators fans brought Dillard's bags to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium to mock the team. Florida State won the game, and Seminole fans returned the mocking by requesting the bags as souvenirs.

Coles childhood nickname was "Trouble",citeweb|url=http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030500/jag_2333069.html|title=The only trouble Coles wants to cause is for Jaguars opponents|publisher=The Florida Times-Union|author=Prisco, Pete|date=2000-03-05|accessdate=2007-10-19] and seemingly for good reason: In addition to the Dillard's debacle, Coles was arrested in 1998 for simple battery. He was suspended for the Seminoles' 1999 season opener versus Louisiana Tech for academic reasons, and was discovered to have accepted a plane ticket from a sports agent's representative in 1999.

NFL career

Coles was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round (78th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. Coles's first career touchdown catch came in the Jets' "Monday Night Miracle" victory against the Miami Dolphins on October 23, 2000. After a spectacular 2002 season, Coles signed with the Washington Redskins in the 2002 offseason and admitted that he left the Jets because the Redskins offered him more money. He made the Pro Bowl for the Redskins in 2003. At the end of the 2004 season, Coles left the Redskins because of a lack of a deep passing game from Joe Gibbs's conservative 2004-2005 offense. He was traded back to the Jets in 2005 for Santana Moss. After a disappointing season in 2005, Coles enjoyed a rebirth in 2006, directly due to the good health of his friend and favorite quarterback, Chad Pennington. On December 26, 2005 he caught the last touchdown in Monday Night Football's last game on ABC.

Personal

In September of 2005, Coles disclosed in a "New York Times" interview that he was molested by his stepfather between the ages of 10 to 13. Eventually the court became involved and football was a refuge for him throughout his pain. "Even if it's one kid who I can help," Coles said, "who my story gives him the strength to come out and say something, I feel like it's worth it." On October 18, 2005, his story was aired on "The Oprah Winfrey Show". He is an avid collector of movies on DVD with a collection he estimates at more than 2,000 discs.

Coles ran a 4.31 40-yard dash. He has two sons, Trilion and Landon, and a daughter, Taylor.

External links

* [http://profootballreference.com/players/ColeLa00.htm Current Stats]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=COLESLAV01 More Current Stats]
* [http://www.newyorkjets.com/team/player/161-laveranues-coles Jets Player Profile]

References