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Tony Graziani
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Anthony Robert Graziani (born December 23, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) is a current Arena Football League quarterback for the Philadelphia Soul. He previously played in the National Football League from 1997-2000 and NFL Europe in 2000.
iani attended Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, California. As a quarterback, he passed for 3,956 yards and 35 touchdowns in his prep career while leading his team to a share of the Central California Conference title.
iani was a four-year letterman the University of Oregon, playing in 28 games in his collegiate football career.
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Encyclopedia
Anthony Robert Graziani (born December 23, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States) is a current Arena Football League quarterback for the Philadelphia Soul. He previously played in the National Football League from 1997-2000 and NFL Europe in 2000.
High school career
Graziani attended Thomas Downey High School in Modesto, California. As a quarterback, he passed for 3,956 yards and 35 touchdowns in his prep career while leading his team to a share of the Central California Conference title.
College career
Graziani was a four-year letterman the University of Oregon, playing in 28 games in his collegiate football career. At Oregon he majored in political science. He accumulated the following stats:
- Completed 362-of-670 for 4,498 yards and 25 touchdowns
- Was 92-of-171 for 1,353 yards and eight touchdowns during an injury-plagued senior season in 1996
- As a junior, led the Ducks to the Cotton Bowl, completing 231-of-426 passes for 2,604 yards and 13 touchdowns
- Passed for 287 yards in Oregon’s first victory over USC at the Coliseum in 23 years in 1994
- Was on the Ducks team that went to the 1995 Rose Bowl
Professional career
National Football League
Graziani was a seventh round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1997 NFL Draft. He played for the Falcons for three seasons. During his NFL career, he threw for 999 yards, two touchdowns with eight interceptions. He also had 16 carries for 51 yards. Also, during his one-year tenure with the Cleveland Browns, he played for the Barcelona Dragons, of NFL Europe, in 2000.
Arena Football career
Los Angeles Avengers
Graziani signed with the Los Angeles Avengers prior to the 2001 season. He completed 23 out of 37 passes that season for 262 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He became the starter in 2002 as he completed 282 out of 467 passes for 3,568 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 1 interception. In 2003, he completed 304 of 495 passes for 4,290 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. In 2004, he had his finest season as he completed 333 of 510 passes for 4,265 yards, 99 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Philadelphia Soul
Prior to the 2005 season, Graziani signed with the Philadelphia Soul and became the highest-paid player in the league. He completed 328 out of 555 passes that year for 4,272 yards, 90 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions as Philadelphia had a disappointing 6-10 season. In an injury-riddled 2006, he completed 232 of 389 passes for 2,981 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, but Philadelphia went 9-7 and made the playoffs for the first time ever. Through Week 4 of the 2007 Arena Football League season, Graziani has completed 75 of 116 passes for 1,041 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only three interceptions and the Soul are undefeated at 5-0. In Graziani's third start against the Colorado Crush he threw for eight touchdowns topping out over 300 yards and only one interception. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6, and remained out of the game through the next five weeks. He came back in week 12 against the New Orleans VooDoo and went seven-of-15 for 81 yards and four touchdowns. The soul won the game 78-34.
During Week 1 of the 2008 season Graziani set the Soul franchise single game record for most touchdown passes in a game (nine). In Week 3, he suffered a sprained ankle. He was scheduled to return Week 7 against the San Jose SaberCats, but before the game it was decided he wouldn't play. He returned Week 8 against the Columbus Destroyers, but left the game with an injury. He briefly returned against the Dallas Desperados, but left the game with a concussion.
Interesting Facts
Graziani is related to Rodolfo Graziani, an Italian military officer who led expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.
In 2006, he was the highest paid Arena Football League player. He signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Soul for about $160,000 per season. NFL rookies receive a minimum salary of $235,000 for the 2007 season.
During the AFL offseason, Graziani works as an analyst on the Sports USA Radio Network.
See also
External links
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