Todd Pinkston
Encyclopedia
Todd Pinkston is a former American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
. He played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles
where he caught 184 passes for 2,816 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Eagles went to the playoffs every year that he started, including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX
. He is the cousin of current Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Jason Pinkston.
fraternity. He graduated as the school's second all-time leading receiver with 149 catches for 2,366 yards and 22 touchdowns, including 48 receptions for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.
by the Philadelphia Eagles raised some eyebrows due to his slight build. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, Pinkston reportedly weighed only 167 pounds at the time of the draft.
After seeing only slight action in 2000
, Pinkston took over as a starter in 2001
following the release of Charles Johnson and Torrance Small
. Partnering with James Thrash
, Pinkston caught 42 balls for 586 yards and four touchdowns. In 2002
, Pinkston enjoyed his best year. He hauled in 60 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance that season earned him a five-year contract extension with the Eagles, which included a large signing bonus.
Pinkston's numbers dipped slightly in 2003
, but he was productive down the stretch and registered a key touchdown in a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers
. Unfortunately, the next week, Pinkston was held catchless by Carolina Panthers
cornerback, Ricky Manning Jr.. Manning snagged three interceptions, and the Eagles lost the 2003 NFC Championship
14–3, the third consecutive defeat suffered by the team in the conference title game.
Criticism of Pinkston turned particularly harsh after a game against the Washington Redskins
on December 12, 2004, when Pinkston was accused of giving up on a catchable pass across the middle. ESPN analyst Joe Theismann
commented "...this is a great way to lose your job as a receiver in the National Football League." However, later that half Pinkston was the recipient of an 80-yard pass from Donovan McNabb
, furthering the paradox between his big play potential and his reluctance to run routes in traffic.
This negative publicity notwithstanding, Pinkston's 18.8 yards-per-catch average for the 2004
regular season was exceeded by only one other NFL receiver with as many or more receptions than the 36 he recorded (Ashley Lelie
of the Denver Broncos
averaged 20.1), and his six catches gaining 40 or more yards was topped by only three other receivers (teammate Terrell Owens
, who had nine, and Javon Walker
of the Green Bay Packers
and Dennis Northcutt
of the Cleveland Browns
with seven each).
After having made four receptions for 82 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX
, Pinkston was forced to leave the game with leg cramps.
On August 5, 2005, Pinkston sustained a torn Achilles tendon
in training camp practice, putting him out for the 2005 season
.
During the 2006
pre-season, he was still hobbled from his Achilles injury, only catching one pass for four yards. On August 29, 2006, Pinkston was released by the Eagles following the acquisition of Donte Stallworth.
, whose head coach, Brad Childress
, was the former Eagles offensive coordinator
. Pinkston was cut six days later on September 9.
, but failed to make the team's final roster.
, as a coaching intern during training camp and the preseason in 2009. He assisted wide receiver
s coach David Culley
in coaching his unit. He currently serves as the receiver's coach at Petal High School localted in Petal, Mississippi, just across the Leaf River from Hattiesburg.
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...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He played five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
where he caught 184 passes for 2,816 yards and 14 touchdowns. The Eagles went to the playoffs every year that he started, including an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
. He is the cousin of current Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Jason Pinkston.
College career
At the University of Southern Mississippi, where joined the Theta Eta chapter of Phi Beta SigmaPhi Beta Sigma
Phi Beta Sigma is a predominantly African-American fraternity which was founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C. on January 9, 1914, by three young African-American male students. The founders A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I...
fraternity. He graduated as the school's second all-time leading receiver with 149 catches for 2,366 yards and 22 touchdowns, including 48 receptions for 977 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior.
Philadelphia Eagles
Despite his success in college, Pinkston's selection in the second round of the 2000 NFL Draft2000 NFL Draft
The 2000 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur U.S. college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 15–16, 2000...
by the Philadelphia Eagles raised some eyebrows due to his slight build. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, Pinkston reportedly weighed only 167 pounds at the time of the draft.
After seeing only slight action in 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
, Pinkston took over as a starter in 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
following the release of Charles Johnson and Torrance Small
Torrance Small
Torrance Ramon Small is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for ten seasons for the New Orleans Saints, the St. Louis Rams, the Indianapolis Colts, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the New England Patriots....
. Partnering with James Thrash
James Thrash
James Thrash is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Missouri Southern State....
, Pinkston caught 42 balls for 586 yards and four touchdowns. In 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, Pinkston enjoyed his best year. He hauled in 60 receptions for 798 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance that season earned him a five-year contract extension with the Eagles, which included a large signing bonus.
Pinkston's numbers dipped slightly in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
, but he was productive down the stretch and registered a key touchdown in a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. Unfortunately, the next week, Pinkston was held catchless by 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...
cornerback, Ricky Manning Jr.. Manning snagged three interceptions, and the Eagles lost the 2003 NFC Championship
NFL playoffs, 2003-04
The NFL playoffs following the 2003 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVIII.Beginning with the 2003–04 season, the NFL changed the selection procedures regarding officials for playoffs games. The league suspended the prior practice of assembling "all-star" officiating crews of highly-rated...
14–3, the third consecutive defeat suffered by the team in the conference title game.
Criticism of Pinkston turned particularly harsh after a game against the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on December 12, 2004, when Pinkston was accused of giving up on a catchable pass across the middle. ESPN analyst Joe Theismann
Joe Theismann
Joseph Robert "Joe" Theismann is a former quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League . He achieved his most enduring fame in his 12 seasons playing for the Washington Redskins, where he was a two-time Pro Bowler and quarterback of the winning team in Super Bowl XVII...
commented "...this is a great way to lose your job as a receiver in the National Football League." However, later that half Pinkston was the recipient of an 80-yard pass from Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
, furthering the paradox between his big play potential and his reluctance to run routes in traffic.
This negative publicity notwithstanding, Pinkston's 18.8 yards-per-catch average for the 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
regular season was exceeded by only one other NFL receiver with as many or more receptions than the 36 he recorded (Ashley Lelie
Ashley Lelie
Ashley Jovon Lelie [] is a retired American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos 19th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
of the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
averaged 20.1), and his six catches gaining 40 or more yards was topped by only three other receivers (teammate Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...
, who had nine, and Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Dennis Northcutt
Dennis Northcutt
Dennis LaMont Northcutt is an American football wide receiver and punt returner who last played for the Detroit Lions...
of the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
with seven each).
After having made four receptions for 82 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
, Pinkston was forced to leave the game with leg cramps.
On August 5, 2005, Pinkston sustained a torn Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
in training camp practice, putting him out for the 2005 season
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
.
During the 2006
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
pre-season, he was still hobbled from his Achilles injury, only catching one pass for four yards. On August 29, 2006, Pinkston was released by the Eagles following the acquisition of Donte Stallworth.
Minnesota Vikings
On September 3, 2006, Pinkston signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, whose head coach, Brad Childress
Brad Childress
Brad "Chilly" Childress is the former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He attended high school at the Marmion Academy in Aurora, Illinois...
, was the former Eagles offensive coordinator
Offensive coordinator
An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
. Pinkston was cut six days later on September 9.
Washington Redskins
On August 13, 2007, Pinkston, recovered from his Achilles injury, signed with the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, but failed to make the team's final roster.
Coaching career
Pinkston was hired by his former team, the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, as a coaching intern during training camp and the preseason in 2009. He assisted wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
s coach David Culley
David Culley
David Culley is currently a senior offensive assistant and wide receivers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.-External links:*...
in coaching his unit. He currently serves as the receiver's coach at Petal High School localted in Petal, Mississippi, just across the Leaf River from Hattiesburg.