William Green (American football)

Infobox NFLactive


name=William Green
|caption=
currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Running back
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|12|17
birthplace=Atlantic City, New Jersey
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=217
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Cleveland Browns
college=Boston College
draftyear=2002
draftround=1
draftpick=16
pastteams=
* Cleveland Browns (2002-2005)
status=Active
highlights=
* 2x First-team All-Big East (2000-2001)
* Co-Big East Offensive P.O.Y. (2001)
* Consensus All-American (2001)
nfl=GRE380646

William Green (born December 17, 1979 in Atlantic City, New Jersey) is an American football running back who currently is a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns 16th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College.

Early years

Green's early life was fought with problems. His father was a heroin addict who died of AIDS when William was 12. His mother died of the disease a year later.

Green played high school football at Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey, where he received multiple All-American honors. [ [http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=32992 William green player profile] , National Football League Players Association. Accessed July 23, 2007. "Hometown: Atlantic City, NJ... Earned All-America honors from Super Prep, Tom Lemming, National Recruiting Advisor, RivalNet, Prep Star, Parade and Blue Chip Illustrated and was rated among Super Prep’s National Top 50 (third-rated running back on the magazine’s dream team), in addition to being a consensus all-state selection at Holy Spirit (Atlantic City, N.J.) High School."]

College career

He put up strong numbers in two years at Boston College with over 2,700 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns.

Professional career

Cleveland Browns

In the 2002 NFL Draft, Green was a top-rated player. However, two suspensions for marijuana use hurt his stock on draft day. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1665738 "Fiancee held for stabbing Green in back", Associated Press, Accessed on ESPN.com, 11/21/03] ]

Cleveland selected him 16th in the first round and Green started every game his rookie season, gaining 887 yards and scoring six touchdowns. His 2003 season, however, was fraught with turmoil. After a good start with 559 yards, Green was arrested for drunk driving and marijuana possession. Green was also notoriously seen wearing one shoe and one sock during the arrest [ [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2003/10/29/greenbrowns031029.html "Browns Green pleads not guilty to driving, drug charges", CBC Sports, 11/29/03] ] The arrest led to a four-game suspension under the league's substance abuse policy. While under suspension, Green's fiancee, Asia Gray, stabbed him in the back during a domestic dispute. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1665738 "Fiancee held for stabbing Green in back", Associated Press, Accessed on ESPN.com, 11/21/03] ] The league extended his suspension through the end of the 2003 season "for treatment purposes." [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/us_sport/3287251.stm "Green ban goes on", BBC Sport, 12/3/03] ]

Green tried to get back on track in 2004, but gained only 585 yards. That year he was also ejected prior to a game with the Pittsburgh Steelers for fighting with linebacker Joey Porter. [cite news|author=Alan Robinson|first=Alan|last=Robinson|title=Cowher wants to rein in Porter - Fight draws $10,000 fine|work=The Cincinnati Post (Associated Press)|publisher=E. W. Scripps Company|date=2004-11-17|page=B3|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CNPB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10673283EDD235FA&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB579A3BDA420 ] Around this time, he had disclosed that he is having a child with a woman other than his wife. [http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-greencomeback031708&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Jason Cole, "Former Browns RB Green attempting comeback", Yahoo! Sports, 3,17,08] ]

His final season in Cleveland was an injury-plagued 2005 campaign where he appeared in eight games and gained only 78 yards. The Browns placed him on injured reserve at the end of training camp in 2006 and reached an injury settlement with Green allowing them to release him. [ [http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=5660 Zac Jackson, "Browns, Green part ways", Cleveland Browns.com, 9,8,06] ]

Comeback attempt

In March 2008, it was reported that Green would attempt to play in the NFL again after two seasons out of the league. He is scheduled to work out at his alma mater Boston College's Pro Day on March 19.

Green showed up to the Boston College Pro Day in "great shape," bench-pressing 225 pounds 25 times and posting a 42-inch vertical leap, however he also ran a disappointing 4.85 forty yard dash.

References

External links

* [http://bceagles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/green_william00.html Boston College Eagles bio]