Dante Wesley
Encyclopedia
Dante Julius Wesley is an American football
cornerback
who is currently a free agent
. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers
in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Wesley has been a member of the Chicago Bears
, New England Patriots
and Detroit Lions
.
in the 4th round (100th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
.
he signed a 2-year contract with the Chicago Bears
.
for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
.
Wesley scored his first career touchdown on a 12 yard fumble return against the New Orleans Saints
in the 2008 season finale.
, Wesley launched himself (leaving his feet) into punt returner Clifton Smith
, who had not yet received the ball. Wesley was assessed a 15-yard penalty and ejected. Ordinarily, kick catch interference is only a 15-yard penalty, but the officials ejected him because they felt Wesley's actions were unnecessary; referee John Parry
explained the offense as "unnecessary roughness that was also a personal foul." Smith sustained a concussion and an injured throat and missed the remainder of the game.
Two days later, the NFL suspended Wesley for one game without pay. In a letter to Wesley, league disciplinarian Ray Anderson said that by leaving his feet and leading with his forearm, Wesley committed a "flagrant violation of player safety rules." Wesley said he never meant to harm Smith, saying he merely mistimed his hit on him. He also said he wanted to apologize to Smith.
as an unrestricted free agent on April 3, 2010. Wesley was cut after the Lions had to go to the 53-man roster. He was re-signed by the Lions on September 30, 2010. He was released on October 19.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Wesley has been a member of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
.
First stint with Panthers
Wesley was drafted by the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
in the 4th round (100th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
.
Chicago Bears
In March 20062006 Chicago Bears season
The 2006 Chicago Bears season was their 87th regular season and 25th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 13-3 regular season record, the best in the NFC, improving on their previous year’s record of 11-5...
he signed a 2-year contract with the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
New England Patriots
After one season with the Bears, Wesley was acquired by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
.
Second stint with Panthers
On September 3, 2007, after being released by the Patriots, he signed again with the Carolina Panthers.Wesley scored his first career touchdown on a 12 yard fumble return against the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in the 2008 season finale.
Clifton Smith incident
In the 2009 NFL season, during a game against the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, Wesley launched himself (leaving his feet) into punt returner Clifton Smith
Clifton Smith (running back)
Clifton Smith, Jr. is an American football running back and return specialist for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, who had not yet received the ball. Wesley was assessed a 15-yard penalty and ejected. Ordinarily, kick catch interference is only a 15-yard penalty, but the officials ejected him because they felt Wesley's actions were unnecessary; referee John Parry
John Parry
John Parry may refer to:*John Parry , Welsh harpist and composer, and father of John Orlando Parry*John Parry , Bishop of Ossory 1672–1677*John Parry Ddall John Parry may refer to:*John Parry (Bardd Alaw) (1776–1851), Welsh harpist and composer, and father of John Orlando Parry*John...
explained the offense as "unnecessary roughness that was also a personal foul." Smith sustained a concussion and an injured throat and missed the remainder of the game.
Two days later, the NFL suspended Wesley for one game without pay. In a letter to Wesley, league disciplinarian Ray Anderson said that by leaving his feet and leading with his forearm, Wesley committed a "flagrant violation of player safety rules." Wesley said he never meant to harm Smith, saying he merely mistimed his hit on him. He also said he wanted to apologize to Smith.
Detroit Lions
Wesley signed with the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
as an unrestricted free agent on April 3, 2010. Wesley was cut after the Lions had to go to the 53-man roster. He was re-signed by the Lions on September 30, 2010. He was released on October 19.