John Avery (American football)

Infobox Gridiron football person
Name=John Avery
team=


ImageWidth=
Caption=
status=Retired
import=Yes
Position=HB
number=20, 33
College=Ole Miss
DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1976|01|11
Birthplace=Richmond, Virginia
Height_ft=5
Height_in=10
Weight_lbs=192
NFLDraftedYear=1998
NFLDraftedRound=1
NFLDraftedPick=29
CFLAllStar=2002
Awards=2002 Eddie James Memorial Trophy
Honors=
Retired #s=
Records=
NFL=AVE509598
CFL=84
years=1998-1999
1999
2001
2002
2003
2004-2007
teams=Miami Dolphins
Denver Broncos
Chicago Enforcers
Edmonton Eskimos
Minnesota Vikings
Toronto Argonauts

John Edward Avery, Jr. (born January 11, 1976 in Richmond, Virginia) is a former professional Canadian football and American football player. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts but also played with the NFL's (Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings) and the XFL (Chicago Enforcers).

College career

Avery attended and played football at Asheville High School in Asheville, North Carolina and, following graduation, continued his playing career at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi.

After two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College, Avery enrolled at the University of Mississippi. In 1996, he started five games at running back, rushing 181 times for 788 yards and 5 touchdowns, 16 receptions for 99 yards and 17 kickoff returns for 473 yards and touchdowns. In 1997, Avery started nine games for the Rebels, including the Motor City Bowl. During his final season with the Rebels, Avery totaled 166 carries for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns, added 13 receptions for 113 yards, 8 punt returns for 46 yards, and returned 13 kickoffs for 315 yards and one touchdown. In 1997 he was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy.

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Avery was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 1st Round (29th Overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft. Despite his relatively small size (5'10" and 185 pounds), Avery set Miami's single season combined yards record for a rookie (1,655). This team record has since been eclipsed by Chris Chambers (1,683 in 2001) and Wes Welker (1,777 in 2004).

Denver Broncos

Avery was traded to the Denver Broncos from the Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Marcus Nash on September 21, 1999. Avery saw limited action with Denver and was released in training camp the following season.

Chicago Enforcers

In 2001, Avery started 10 games for the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL. He led the short-lived XFL in rushing with 800 yards (on 150 carries for a 5.3 yard average), rushed for five touchdowns, and also caught 17 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns. After the conclusion of the XFL's 2001 season, Avery attended the Dallas Cowboys training camp but suffered a hamstring injury and was subsequently released.

Edmonton Eskimos

Avery's most successful year in professional football, to date, was 2002. He signed with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos on April 26, 2002. Avery finished the season with 229 carries for 1,448 yards (6.3 yd. avg.) and nine touchdowns. He did not play in the first five games of the season, making his debut as a starter at running back in the Eskimos' sixth game of the season. He scored two touchdowns in the Western Division Finals, leading up to an Eskimos home appearance in the Grey Cup Championship at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The Eskimos came up short in the Grey Cup game at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes, losing 25-16, but Avery finished the season a winner of the Eddie James Memorial Trophy (as the Western Division's leading rusher) and a CFL All-Star.

Minnesota Vikings

Avery signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings on February 13, 2003. He played six games with one rush for 0 yards and 2 receptions, and returned 16 kickoffs for 346 yards, for a 21.6 yard average. Avery was placed on the Vikings injured reserved list with a knee injury on October 24, 2003.

Toronto Argonauts

Avery was signed by the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 2004. Avery did not play in the Argos' two pre-season games, but he made his Toronto debut in Week 1 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Avery rushed 8 times for 22 yards and caught 5 passes for 27 yards in that game. In Week 8, he met his former club, Edmonton, for the first time ever, and scored his first two touchdowns as an Argonaut. Avery started in the Labour Day Classic against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton in Week 12, and rushed for 110 yards (his first 100 yard running game as an Argonaut) on 17 carries and 1 touchdown, including his longest career CFL run - 74 yards. Avery did not suit up in Week 20 against Montreal because of a knee injury.

In the 2004 Eastern Division Semi-Final, Avery started at running back for the Argos, rushed 13 times for 32 yards (longest gain: 19 yards), and caught 1 pass for -5 yards against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto's SkyDome (won by Toronto, 24-6). In the Eastern Final at Montreal, Avery recorded his first career win against the Alouettes in a 26-18 Argos' triumph. Avery spent most of game blocking but was handed the ball 6 times in the second half and raced for 34 yards, including the game winning romp of 25 yards for an Argos' touchdown.

At the 92nd Grey Cup Championship, Avery started at running back for the Argonauts, rushed 11 times for 75 yards (longest gain: 26 yards), and caught 4 passes for 24 yards (longest gain: 10 yards) to help the Argos win their 15th Grey Cup Championship in team history with a 27-19 triumph over the British Columbia Lions. This Grey Cup championship also marked the first championship at any level for Avery.

In the 2005 season, Avery missed both Toronto pre-season games due to an adductor injury. Avery started 13 of 15 games at running back for the Argonauts before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 15. In Week 5 against the Alouettes, Avery caught the game-winning touchdown on a 14-yard reception from Argos' quarterback Damon Allen. The following week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Avery generated 148 all-purpose yards in 34-27 win. In the 2005 Labour Day classic against Hamilton, he generated 90 yards rushing. In Week 11, Avery started at running back and generated 123 all-purpose yards and 1 touchdown against Saskatchewan. In his season-ending game against the Blue Bombers, Avery caught the Argos’ first touchdown pass of the game before leaving in the second quarter with the hamstring injury.

The 2006 season began with former NFL running back Ricky Williams making a highly publicized move to the Argonauts as a result of an off-season signing (and Williams' NFL suspension for violating the league's drug policy). The star import's presence bumped Avery further down the Argos' running back depth chart, but Williams' broken arm in a July 22 win over Saskatchewan left the door open for Avery. Prior to his scheduled return to the starting lineup against the British Columbia Lions in Week 7, Avery suffered a leg injury in practice which delayed his comeback for another two weeks. On August 12, 2006, Avery made his 2006 debut against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries while also catching two receptions for 31 yards. The following week against the Montreal Alouettes at home, Avery ran for 94 yards on 21 carries while scoring a touchdown.

On January 31, 2008, Avery was released by the Argonauts.

Career statistics

Personal life

Avery (nicknamed, "Duna") is the proud father of John ("Trey") Avery, III. j Avery splits his time between Toronto, North Carolina, and Florida. Avery's wildly comedic personality has also inspired him to write two completed sitcom scripts which he hopes to sell to a production company to become a comedic screenwriter. He is also an amateur stand-up comic in his spare time. [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1145657412526&call_pageid=972053291757] [http://www.argonauts.ca/Argos/Images/Uploads/2006/OOTBPodcast1.mp3 (Audio download of his stand-up comedy)] Avery's pursuit of getting a sitcom on Canadian television is featured on an episode of "Punched Up", a television show on The Comedy Network. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNSYIvVNKwY] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw9lfLWstQs]

He now hosts a weekly podcast show on ThatRadio entitled "Avery Day Gossip".

He is a third cousin of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rashad McCants and Florida Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin. [http://www.ahsweb1973.com/Ahsweb/Special.aspx]

External links

* [http://argonauts.ca/Argos/Team/Roster/John_Avery.html Avery's bio on the Toronto Argonauts' Official Website]
* [http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/12193 Avery's NFL stats]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=AVERYJOH01 DatabaseFootball.com stats]