Tory James
Encyclopedia
Tory James is a former American football
cornerback
in the National Football League
.
James attended Archbishop Shaw High School
before going to college at Louisiana State University
, and was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos
in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft
. His career was endangered by a serious knee injury suffered in the first preseason game of the 1997 season
. James tore the patellar tendon
in his right knee and missed the entire season. The Broncos were the NFL champions of the 1998 season after winning Super Bowl XXXIII
against the Atlanta Falcons
.
In 2000, after he accumulated 65 tackles and seven interceptions, the Broncos made no effort to resign James. He then signed with the Oakland Raiders
as an unrestricted free agent, signing a five-year, $18 million contract. However, after the 2002 season, the Raiders (after eight interceptions in three years) left James unprotected again, and he signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals
.
On January 6, 2001, during the Raiders' divisional playoff game against the Miami Dolphins
, James made a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown, and the Raiders beat the Dolphins 27-0 in Oakland.
2004 proved to be James' best professional season, as he intercepted eight passes, notched 56 tackles, and forced two fumbles. He was voted onto the AFC
Pro Bowl
squad.
On February 9, 2007 Bengals coach Marvin Lewis
indicated that James will not be resigned. He was signed by the New England Patriots on April 17, 2007. James was cut by the Patriots on September 9, 2007.
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...
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...
.
James attended Archbishop Shaw High School
Archbishop Shaw High School
Archbishop Shaw High School is an Archdiocesan school administered under the Salesians of St. John Bosco. It is approved by the Louisiana State Department of Education and the Southern Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges. Founded in 1962, it is located in Marrero, Louisiana...
before going to college at Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
, and was originally drafted by 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...
in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft
1996 NFL Draft
The 1996 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 20–21, 1996...
. His career was endangered by a serious knee injury suffered in the first preseason game of the 1997 season
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
. James tore the patellar tendon
Patellar ligament
The patellar ligament is the central portion of the common tendon of the Quadriceps femoris, which is continued from the patella to the tuberosity of the tibia.-Anatomy:It is a strong, flat, ligament, about 10 cm...
in his right knee and missed the entire season. The Broncos were the NFL champions of the 1998 season after winning Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...
against the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
In 2000, after he accumulated 65 tackles and seven interceptions, the Broncos made no effort to resign James. He then signed with the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an unrestricted free agent, signing a five-year, $18 million contract. However, after the 2002 season, the Raiders (after eight interceptions in three years) left James unprotected again, and he signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
.
On January 6, 2001, during the Raiders' divisional playoff game against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, James made a 90-yard interception return for a touchdown, and the Raiders beat the Dolphins 27-0 in Oakland.
2004 proved to be James' best professional season, as he intercepted eight passes, notched 56 tackles, and forced two fumbles. He was voted onto the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
squad.
On February 9, 2007 Bengals coach Marvin Lewis
Marvin Lewis
Marvin Ronald Lewis is the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League, a position he has held since January 14, 2003...
indicated that James will not be resigned. He was signed by the New England Patriots on April 17, 2007. James was cut by the Patriots on September 9, 2007.
External links
- Tory James - NFL All-Time Players - Profile
- Tory James - Sports Illustrated Player's Page
- Cincinnati Bengal's Official Site
- Oakland Raider's Official Site
- Denver Bronco's Official Site'
- Tory James - New England Patriot's Profile'
- Tory James - Sports Illustrated Injuries
- Tory James' career statistics at DatabaseFootball.com