Name	Leonard Davis
Currentteam	Free Agent
Currentnumber	--
Currentpositionplain	Guard
Birth date	September 05, 1978
Birth place	Wortham, Texas
Heightft	6
Heightin	6
Weight	355
College	Texas
Draftyear	2001
Draftround	1
Draftpick	2
Debutyear	2001
Debutteam	Arizona Cardinals
Pastteams	Arizona Cardinals (–) Dallas Cowboys (–)
Highlights	3× Pro Bowl selection (2007, 2008, 2009) All-Pro selection (2007)
Statweek	15
Statseason	2010
Statlabel1	Games played
Statvalue1	153
Statlabel2	Games started
Statvalue2	153
Nfl	DAV527481 }}

Leonard Barnett Davis (born September 5, 1978) is an American football guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round (second overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas.

Davis has also played for the Dallas Cowboys.

Early years

Davis is the only child of L.A. and Sammie Lee Davis, but has 21 half-brothers and half-sisters (L.A. had 11 children from a previous marriage, while Sammie Lee had 10 children from a previous marriage).

After graduating from Wortham High School (where he led the school to the 1997 boy's basketball state championship), he signed with the University of Texas, where he achieved first team all-America honors as a senior and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy.

Professional career

Davis was selected 2nd overall in the 2001 NFL Draft by the Cardinals, and played guard his first three years in the NFL. In 2004, he was moved from guard to left tackle, where he played in 15 games. In 2005, he played in 15 games as well.

On February 17, 2007 the Arizona Cardinals told Leonard Davis that they would not name him a franchise or transition player, clearing the offensive tackle to become an unrestricted free agent. On March 4, 2007 he signed with the Dallas Cowboys for a seven year $49.6 million contract. $18.75 million of his contract is guaranteed. With the move to Dallas, Davis has also moved back to the guard position. He has had an exceptional year in 2007, as he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He also made the All-Pro second team along with ex-teammate Flozell Adams. Since 2005, Davis is the 5th most penalized player in the NFL with 42. His former teammate Alex Barron is the most penalized player since 2005 with 78 penalties called against him.

According to Forbes, Davis was the highest paid NFL player and 19th overall athlete in the 12 month period ending June 2007, earning $25.4 million.

He was released by the Cowboys on July 28, 2011, due to declining play and the Cowboys' lack of salary cap room.

Music

Davis is the bassist in the heavy metal band Free Reign with Cowboys' teammates Marc Colombo and ex-teammate Cory Procter with guitarist Justin Chapman.

References

External links

Official Website

Dallas Cowboys Bio

Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American football offensive guards Category:American football offensive tackles Category:Texas Longhorns football players Category:Arizona Cardinals players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players

it:Leonard Davis

Currentteam	Dallas Cowboys
Currentnumber	90
Currentposition	Nose Tackle
Birth date	August 29, 1981
Birth place	St. Petersburg, Florida
Heightft	6
Heightin	4
Weight	285
Debutyear	2005
Debutteam	Dallas Cowboys
College	Auburn
Draftyear	2005
Draftround	7
Draftpick	224
Highlights	3× Pro Bowl selection (2008, 2009, 2010) 1× First-team All-Pro selection (2009)
Pastteams	Dallas Cowboys (–present)
Statweek	16
Statseason	2009
Statlabel1	Tackles
Statvalue1	142
Statlabel2	Sacks
Statvalue2	21.5
Statlabel3	INTs
Statvalue3	0
Nfl	RAT586227 }}

Jeremiah "Jay" Ratliff (born August 29, 1981 in St. Petersburg, Florida) is an American football nose tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Auburn.

Early years

Ratliff attended Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia and was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. He earned All-State and honorable mention all-USA Today honors after catching 46 passes for 701 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior.

College career

After moving from defensive end to defensive tackle in his senior season, Ratliff started all 13 games and tied his career high with 37 tackles. He also made four tackles for a loss and a sack. He tied a single game career high with seven tackles at Auburn to earn SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors. He helped the Tigers win the SEC Championship and finish 13-0 by defeating Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, in which he made three tackles. Auburn finished 2004 second behind USC in the final Associated Press poll. Ratliff played in nine games as a junior reserve defensive end, making seven tackles, including one for a loss. Before his sophomore year, Ratliff moved from tight end to defensive end during spring drills. He started eight of 12 games and tied a career high with 37 tackles, including a career-high 10 tackles for a loss. He also had two forced fumbles and a sack. As a freshman tight end, Ratliff played in all 12 games, including one start, and made three receptions for 38 yards. While at Auburn, "Ike" joined Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity during the Spring of 2002.

Professional career

Ratliff was drafted in the seventh round (224th overall pick) of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. He made his first NFL start on October 9, 2005.

Ratliff played his first NFL game at Oakland (10/2) and shared a sack with linebacker Scott Shanle. He made his first start the next week against Philadelphia (10/9) when the Cowboys opened in their nickel package. He was placed on injured reserve Nov. 1. In 2006 he played 15 games that season in the defensive line rotation. He made 10 tackles; four sacks, tied for third on the team; seven quarterback pressures, tied for the team lead; one pass breakup; and one forced fumble. He led the team with fumble recoveries, which tied for second in the NFL.

Ratliff became the starting nose tackle following an injury to Jason Ferguson early in the 2007 season. He was signed to a $20.5 million, five-year contract extension on December 14, 2007, to stay with the Cowboys through the 2012 season. The deal included an $8 million signing bonus.

Ratliff was voted to the starting lineup of the 2010 Pro Bowl, his second Pro Bowl appearance.

References

External links

Dallas Cowboys bio

ESPN Player Profile

Official Website

Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:American football defensive ends Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Auburn Tigers football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players

Name	Tashard Choice
Width	300
Currentteam	Dallas Cowboys
Currentnumber	23
Currentposition	Running back
|birth date	November 20, 1984
Birth place	Thomasville, Georgia
Heightft	5
Heightin	11
Weight	210
Debutyear	2008
Debutteam	Dallas Cowboys
College	Georgia Tech
Draftyear	2008
Draftround	4
Draftpick	122
Pastteams	Dallas Cowboys (2008-present)
Status	Active
Highlights	College awards and honors
Statweek	14
Statseason	2010
Statlabel1	Rushing yards
Statvalue1	975
Statlabel2	Rushing average
Statvalue2	5.0
Statlabel3	Rushing TDs
Statvalue3	7
Nfl	CHO431469 }}

Tashard J. Choice (born November 20, 1984 in Thomasville, Georgia ), is an American football running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played collegiately at Georgia Tech. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Choice began his collegiate career at The University of Oklahoma but transferred to Georgia Tech in 2005. Choice played high school football for Lovejoy High School, in Lovejoy, Georgia where he recorded for 40 career all-purpose touchdowns. Choice graduated with a degree in History, Technology and Society in December 2007, and earned All-Big 12 Academic Honor Roll in 2004 along with All-ACC Academic Honor Roll in 2005-2006.

College career

Redshirt freshman (2003)

Choice redshirted in 2003. Kejuan Jones and Renaldo Works led the Oklahoma rushing attack into the BCS National Championship Game. Oklahoma featured Heisman Trophy winner Jason White quarterbacking the high-powered Sooner offense, which scored over 42 points per game.

Freshman (2004)

In 2004, Choice served as a backup to true freshman Adrian Peterson. Peterson went on to be a Heisman Trophy finalist and Oklahoma found itself in the BCS title game once again. Choice only took 22 carries and gained 100 yards the entire year (all in two games). His best game at Oklahoma saw him garner 71 yards on 16 carries against Texas Tech. At the end of the season, his mother fell ill and Choice applied for a medical hardship to return home and play for Georgia Tech. His hardship was granted and he transferred to Tech by Spring 2005.

Sophomore (2005)

In 2005, Choice arrived at Georgia Tech and found himself behind P. J. Daniels on the depth chart. Daniels and Choice combined for over 150 all-purpose yards per game and 11 total touchdowns. Choice's most notable appearance occurred in the upset of then #3 Miami Hurricanes. P. J. Daniels was injured in practice so Choice was announced the starter for the game. He carried the football 29 times for 84 yards and a touchdown. The victory guaranteed Tech a bowl appearance and solidified Choice's role as a competent starter for the 2006 season.

Junior (2006)

Choice led the Yellow Jacket rushing attack in 2006, becoming the first Yellow Jacket to rush for 1,000 yards since P. J. Daniels' in 2003. Choice set several Tech records in 2006. He rushed for over 100 yards 9 times and had 7 straight 100 yard efforts, both Tech records. Choice accounted for 12 of Tech's 42 offensive touchdowns. Choice along with All-American Calvin Johnson and senior quarterback Reggie Ball took Tech to the Atlantic Coast Conference Title Game as the Coastal Division Champions. Choice would also lead Tech to its tenth straight bowl game against West Virginia in the 2007 Gator Bowl. Choice sliced and diced his way through opponents in 2006 and worked his way towards becoming a preseason pick on several 2007 Heisman Trophy lists.

Senior (2007)

Choice led the Yellow Jackets powerful ground game behind four returning starters on the offensive line and veteran fullback Mike Cox. As the reigning ACC Rushing Champion, Choice looked to improve upon 2006's 9-win season with new offensive coordinator John Bond featuring the single back formation. Choice had 1,310 yards rushing on 249 attempts and 10 touchdowns even with injuries to his hamstring and to his knee. Choice concluded his NCAA career on the "Smurf Turf" of Boise against the Fresno State Bulldogs in the Humanitarian Bowl. He was used in a limited role in Georgia Tech's 40-28 defeat. His best statistical game was against the University of Miami, posting 204 yards rushing with a sore hamstring. he also recorded his first passing touchdown of his career to Taylor Bennett.

Awards and honors

The accolades Choice picked up during his college career include: 2006 Second Team All-ACC 2006 ESPN All-Bowl Team 2007 �ACC All-Academic Team 2007 First Team All-ACC by league's 73-member media association and Rivals.com 2007 Honorable Mention All-America by ''Sports Illustrated''

Professional career

2008

Choice was selected in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. His first career carry came in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, where he had 5 carries for 26 yards. He was used primarily on special teams during his rookie season. He did not receive another carry until week 7 against the St. Louis Rams, where he had 2 attempts for 13 yards. After injuries to Marion Barber and Felix Jones, Choice had his largest workload of the year against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had the league’s best rushing defense. Choice amassed 23 carries for 88 yards, and caught 5 passes for 78 yards. The following week against the New York Giants, Choice scored his first career touchdown. He finished his rookie campaign with 472 yards rushing, 185 yards receiving, and 2 touchdowns.

2009

Choice began the season behind Marion Barber and Felix Jones on the depth chart, but injuries gave Choice more playing time in week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. Choice had 18 carries for 82 yards and one touchdown in a Dallas win. Choice was used by the Dallas Cowboys mostly in what they called the Razorback formation, a variation of the Wildcat offense. Choice finished the season with 349 yards rushing, 132 yards receiving, and 3 touchdowns.

Notes

Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:People from Clayton County, Georgia Category:People from Atlanta, Georgia Category:African American players of American football Category:American football running backs Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)

pt:Tashard Choice

Name	Andre Gurode
Width	200px
Currentteam	Free Agent
Currentnumber	--
Currentpositionplain	Center
Birth date	March 06, 1978
Birth place	Houston, Texas
Heightft	6
Heightin	4
Weight	318
Debutyear	2002
Debutteam	Dallas Cowboys
College	Colorado
Draftyear	2002
Draftround	2
Draftpick	37
Pastteams	Dallas Cowboys (–)
Highlights	5× Pro Bowl selection (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) 2× All-Pro selection (2007, 2009) Ranked 57 on NFL Network's NFL's Top 100 Players of 2011
Statweek	17
Statseason	2009
Statlabel1	Games played
Statvalue1	122
Statlabel2	Games started
Statvalue2	106
Nfl	GUR332232 }}

Andre Bernard Gurode (; born March 6, 1978) is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys with the fifth pick of the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft out of the University of Colorado.

Early years

Gurode played high school football at North Shore High School in Houston, Texas.

As a senior, USA Today selected him as an honorable mention All-America. He was a PrepStar and SuperPrep All-America.

He was also named to the prestigious Houston Chronicle Top 100 List and made the Austin American-Statesman "Fab 55" team. He earned all-area honors as a senior (second team honors as a junior), and was all-district and all-Greater Houston as a junior and senior (when he also was his team's most outstanding offensive lineman).

Gurode lettered three times in basketball and four times in track with personal bests of 186-0 in the discus and 54-1 in the shot put.

College career

A four-year starter for the Colorado Buffaloes, Gurode played both center and guard on the offensive line, and was an All-Big 12 choice as both a junior and senior.

Gurode allowed just 7.5 sacks in 2,653 plays over three-plus years as a starter for the Buffaloes at guard and center. He started his first two and a half seasons at center for Colorado before moving to guard in the middle of his junior year. As a senior, he was named to the 2001 College Football All-America Team after starting every game at right guard. He was also a unanimous All-Big 12 selection.

As a junior, Gurode earned All-Big 12 honors and the John Mack Award, as selected by the coaches for being CU's most outstanding offensive player. Gurode started the first six games of the year at center and the final five games at guard.

As a sophomore, Gurode earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors while helping the Buffaloes to a 7-5 record and a win over Boston College in the Insight.com Bowl. He was the starter all season at center, playing the second-most snaps from scrimmage on the team.

He earned a degree in ethnic studies at Colorado, where he was a member of the school's "Academic Starters" team.

Professional career

2002 NFL Draft

Gurode initially projected as a guard and was ranked the best available in the 2002 NFL Draft, along with Kendall Simmons. He was regarded as an early second round pick, and was eventually selected 37th overall by the Dallas Cowboys.

{{nfl predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 4¼ | weight = 316 | dash = 5.34 | ten split = 1.89 | twenty split = 3.14 | shuttle = 5.05 | cone drill = 8.15 | vertical = 30½ | broad ft = 8 | broad in = 4 | bench = | wonderlic = | arm span = | hand span = | note = All values from NFL Combine }}

Dallas Cowboys

Gurode was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft as a center.

Gurode was selected to help shore up the center position and started fast by becoming the first rookie in club history to start at center on opening day.

In 2002 he also became part of history as the starting center on the Cowboys offensive line that helped Emmitt Smith eclipse Walter Payton as the NFL's all-time leading rusher, playing against the Seattle Seahawks on October 27.

While he started the first six games of the 2002 season at center, Gurode was moved to guard to help compensate for the number of injuries along the offensive line, compiling another eight starts at right guard.

In 2003, Bill Parcells was hired as the Cowboys head coach and decided that Gurode's best position was at guard.

Gurode started 15 games at guard in 2003 and 13 games in 2004 with mixed results, before getting benched for the final two games.

At the start of the 2005 season, Parcells accepted he made a misjudgment by moving Gurode to guard and switched him back to center. The Cowboys also signed Marco Rivera to start at right guard. Gurode became a versatile backup, playing behind Al Johnson at center and Rivera at right guard.

In 2006, he rededicated himself to football and won the starting center job again, over Al Johnson.

On October 1, 2006, in the third quarter of a game against the Tennessee Titans, Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth stomped on Gurode's head. Haynesworth's cleats caused a laceration requiring thirty stitches. Haynesworth was ejected, and subsequently suspended by the NFL for five games without pay.

Following the 2006 season, Gurode was named to his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement. Prior to that, Gurode had been considered a "pro-bowl snub" after not originally being selected.

On February 20, 2007, the Cowboys re-signed Gurode to a six-year contract worth US$30 million including a $10 million signing bonus.

Gurode has developed into one of the league's most respected centers since returning to being a full-time starter in 2006, and has been selected to the NFL All-Pro Team (2007, 2009), as well as to five straight Pro Bowls (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

On August 29, 2011, he was released after failing to reach an agreement on a restructured contract.

References

External links

Dallas Cowboys bio

Category:1978 births Category:American football centers Category:American football offensive guards Category:Colorado Buffaloes football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:Living people Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players Category:People from Houston, Texas Category:Violence in sports

de:Andre Gurode