Warrick Dunn

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Tampa Bay Buccaneers
currentnumber=28
currentposition=Running back
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|1|5
birthplace=Baton Rouge, Louisiana
heightft=5
heightin=9
weight=180
debutyear=1997
debutteam=Tampa Bay Buccaneers
college=Florida State
draftyear=1997
draftround=1
draftpick=12
pastteams=
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997-2001)
* Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007)
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1997)
* 3x Pro Bowl selection (1997, 2000, 2005)
* Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (2004)
statweek=4
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Rushing yards
statvalue1=10,378
statlabel2=Rushing average
statvalue2=4.1
statlabel3=Rushing TDs
statvalue3=48
nfl=DUN705495

Warrick De'Mon Dunn (born January 5, 1975 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an American football running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Buccaneers 12th overall in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.

In his career, Dunn has been named AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and has earned three Pro Bowl selections. He played for the Atlanta Falcons from 2002 to 2007 between stints in Tampa Bay.

Early years

At Catholic High in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dunn played quarterback, cornerback, and running back. During his junior year he helped lead Catholic High to the state 4A championship game for the first time in its history. He was an All-America honorable mention selection by USA Today as a senior.

On January 7 1993, Dunn's mother Betty Smothers, an off-duty police officer escorting a businesswoman to a bank, was ambushed and killed by armed robbers. Three men were sent to prison for the murder, and 2 remain on death row. Dunn, two days after his 18th birthday, became the head of his family and raised his siblings. In 2007, Dunn met with one of the convicted men at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. [cite news
url=http://www.sptimes.com/2007/12/16/Bucs/Confronting_his_pain.shtml
title=Confronting his pain
author=Gary Shelton
publisher=St. Petersburg Times
date=December 16 2007
accessdate=2007-12-17]

College career

Dunn enjoyed a successful college career at the Florida State University, graduating in 1997 with a bachelor's degree in information studies. He holds several Florida State rushing records including the marks for most career rushing yards (3,959) and most rushing yards in a season (1,418) set in 1995. Dunn is the only Seminole to rush for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons. He was a three time All-ACC selection.

Dunn's jersey, along with those of other Seminoles players such as Fred Biletnikoff, Ron Sellers, Ron Simmons, Charlie Ward, Deion Sanders, and Chris Weinke, has been retired by the university. His number, 28, may still be worn by Seminole players, but his jersey will be displayed in the Moore Athletic Center at FSU. He also won a National Championship in 1993 with Florida State. Dunn's number 28 is now worn by senior running back Pat Davis and freshman corner back Dionte Allen since a number can be worn by more than one player as long as they are never on the field at the same time.

Few are aware that Dunn was named as an Associated Press All-American as a member of Florida State's Men's 4x100m relay team. Dunn competed on the Seminoles' Track & Field team as a sprinter during all four years he was enrolled at Florida State. Beginnging with their days as freshman student-athletes Dunn has been closely tied to his former FSU track teammate and current sports attorney Don West, Jr.

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneeers

Dunn was selected in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft with the 12th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his rookie season Dunn made an immediate impact for the Buccaneers squad. As the year finished he was selected to the NFC Pro Bowl team and was named the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dunn spent the first five years of his career in Tampa Bay where he was named to the Pro Bowl twice (1997, 2000).

Atlanta Falcons

A free agent in the 2002 offseason, Dunn signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Once again, he made a positive impact on his team with 9 total TDs and in that year, he led the league with a 5.4 yards per carry average. Dunn scored the most rushing touchdowns in his career, 9, in the 2004 season despite splitting carries with T.J. Duckett and also led the team in rushing with 1,106 yards. Having led his team in rushing yards again in 2005, Dunn was named the NFC's Pro Bowl team, marking his third selection to the team. For his career, Dunn has only missed 10 games and has a total of 2,256 carries for 9,461 yards 43 touchdowns and a 4.2 average. During the 2007 season, with Falcons starting quarterback Byron Leftwich out with a high ankle sprain, Dunn served as the third string emergency quarterback behind Joey Harrington and Chris Redman, a position he played in high school. As of November 22, 2007 Dunn is one of only 10 running backs 5'11" and under to rush for 10,000 yards.

On March 3, 2008, the Falcons released Dunn per his request. This came a day after the Falcons signed former San Diego Chargers backup running back Michael Turner. [cite news|url=http://www.ajc.com/wireless/content/sports/falcons/stories/2008/03/03/dunn_0303.html|title= Falcons release Warrick Dunn|publisher="The Atlanta Journal-Constitution"|accessdate=2008-03-03|date=2008-03-03|author=Wyche, and all most got killed on them ballsSteve]

Return to Tampa Bay

On March 10, 2008, Dunn returned to the Buccaneers after signing a two-year, $6 million contract.

Charity

Dunn established the Warrick Dunn Foundation and the Homes for the Holidays program, which helps struggling single parents purchase homes. The program buys homes through a down payment provided by Dunn, who also worked with area sponsors to furnish and outfit the homes. The program, as of 2004, has assisted roughly 45 single parents and 120 children in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and Tampa, Florida. Dunn's goal is help these parents realize the dream that his mother was not able to give to him and his siblings, to own their own home. Dunn's achievements have been recognized over the years. He received a Giant Steps Award in civic leadership from former President Bill Clinton for his program. In 2005, Dunn was presented with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award; named after the Chicago Bears running back who died in 1999, the award is the only NFL award that recognizes a player for his community service as well as for his excellence on the field. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dunn challenged all NFL players, except for those who play for the New Orleans Saints, to donate at least $5,000 to the effort. Since forming his foundation, Dunn has received over $5,000,000 in contributions.

In 2007, Warrick Dunn along with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken, Jr. founded Athletes for Hope, a charitable organization, which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and inspires millions of non-athletes to volunteer and support the community. [ [http://www.athletesforhope.org/ Athletes for Hope] ]

Other business ventures

Dunn created a music production company in Atlanta, where he has signed several acts. His only major rule is that the music is not allowed to glorify violence. He is also the owner of two sporting goods stores, one in Tallahassee, the other in Atlanta.

Using Dunn's Name and Image on the Web

Dunn's agents and lawyers are looking to push the boundaries of American trademark laws by forcing websites to stop using his name and image on their website without their permission. TalkSports has received cease and desist orders [ [http://www.talk-sports.net/game/?guid=20080929012533 Talk-Sports Cease and Desist Orders] ] from CAA, Dunn's agents.

References

External links

* [http://www.warrickdunnfoundation.org/ The Warrick Dunn Foundation]
* [http://www.athletesforhope.org/ Athletes for Hope]