Doomsday101
03-16-2005, 09:27 AM
East Rutherford, NJ - The Giants today released their second veteran defensive lineman in as many days when they let go Keith Washington, an end who played two years for the team.
Like tackle Norman Hand, who was released Monday, Washington is a 10-year veteran whose 2004 season was shortened by injury. Washington started the first eight games of the season before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament against the Chicago Bears on November 7, the same day fellow starting end Michael Strahan was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Washington finished his abbreviated season with 17 tackles (12 solo), a sack and a fumble recovery. In a career that has taken him to five teams, Washington played in 119 games with 31 starts and recorded 217 tackles (139 solo), 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 16 special teams tackles and two blocked field goals.
Washington joined the Giants as an unrestricted free agent on March 28, 2003. In his first season with the team he played in 14 games, including starts in the last six games at right end. He had 27 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries.
Washington, 6-4 and 275 pounds, joined the Giants after spending two seasons with the Denver Broncos. In 2002, Washington played in 10 games with no starts for the Broncos. He was inactive for the other six games. Washington finished with 13 tackles, including nine solos, and his first career interception. He had a season-high four tackles (three solo) at San Francisco on Sept. 15. His interception came in a season-opening victory over St. Louis, after teammate Kenoy Kennedy tipped a Kurt Warner pass.
Washington joined the Broncos as a free agent prior to the 2001 season and started all 16 games that year, posting career highs in tackles (60, including 44 solo) and sacks (four, for 29 yards).
From 1997-2000, Washington played for Baltimore. He signed with the Ravens on Oct. 15, 1997 and played in 10 games, with one start, that season. Washington finished with 24 tackles (17 solos) and two sacks and five special teams tackles.
In 1998, Washington began a streak of four consecutive seasons in which he played a full 16-game schedule. He had 15 tackles (13 solo), a sack and six special teams tackles. The following year he increased his tackles total to 26 (11 solo), with one sack and blocked two field goals. Washington also returned a kickoff for 12 yards at Jacksonville.
Washington was a key reserve for Baltimore in 2000, finishing the regular season with 29 tackles (14 solo) and recovering a fumble. He also played in all four postseason games and posted 10 tackles (seven solo), including a nine-yard sack of the Giants’ Kerry Collins in the Super Bowl. In the Ravens’ 24-10 AFC Divisional Playoff victory over Tennessee, Washington blocked two Al Del Greco field goal attempts, one of which was returned for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Washington entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Vikings in 1995. After being released in the final cutdown, he was on Minnesota’s practice squad for six weeks before his promotion to the active roster for four weeks. Washington did not play in a game before an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve.
The Vikings released Washington on Aug. 25, 1996, and he quickly signed with the Lions. That season, he played in 13 games for Detroit, finishing with six tackles (four solo) and five special teams tackles. The Lions released Washington at the end of training camp in 1997, and he was signed by Baltimore 1½ months later.
Like tackle Norman Hand, who was released Monday, Washington is a 10-year veteran whose 2004 season was shortened by injury. Washington started the first eight games of the season before tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament against the Chicago Bears on November 7, the same day fellow starting end Michael Strahan was lost for the season with a torn pectoral muscle.
Washington finished his abbreviated season with 17 tackles (12 solo), a sack and a fumble recovery. In a career that has taken him to five teams, Washington played in 119 games with 31 starts and recorded 217 tackles (139 solo), 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 16 special teams tackles and two blocked field goals.
Washington joined the Giants as an unrestricted free agent on March 28, 2003. In his first season with the team he played in 14 games, including starts in the last six games at right end. He had 27 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries.
Washington, 6-4 and 275 pounds, joined the Giants after spending two seasons with the Denver Broncos. In 2002, Washington played in 10 games with no starts for the Broncos. He was inactive for the other six games. Washington finished with 13 tackles, including nine solos, and his first career interception. He had a season-high four tackles (three solo) at San Francisco on Sept. 15. His interception came in a season-opening victory over St. Louis, after teammate Kenoy Kennedy tipped a Kurt Warner pass.
Washington joined the Broncos as a free agent prior to the 2001 season and started all 16 games that year, posting career highs in tackles (60, including 44 solo) and sacks (four, for 29 yards).
From 1997-2000, Washington played for Baltimore. He signed with the Ravens on Oct. 15, 1997 and played in 10 games, with one start, that season. Washington finished with 24 tackles (17 solos) and two sacks and five special teams tackles.
In 1998, Washington began a streak of four consecutive seasons in which he played a full 16-game schedule. He had 15 tackles (13 solo), a sack and six special teams tackles. The following year he increased his tackles total to 26 (11 solo), with one sack and blocked two field goals. Washington also returned a kickoff for 12 yards at Jacksonville.
Washington was a key reserve for Baltimore in 2000, finishing the regular season with 29 tackles (14 solo) and recovering a fumble. He also played in all four postseason games and posted 10 tackles (seven solo), including a nine-yard sack of the Giants’ Kerry Collins in the Super Bowl. In the Ravens’ 24-10 AFC Divisional Playoff victory over Tennessee, Washington blocked two Al Del Greco field goal attempts, one of which was returned for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Washington entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Vikings in 1995. After being released in the final cutdown, he was on Minnesota’s practice squad for six weeks before his promotion to the active roster for four weeks. Washington did not play in a game before an ankle injury sent him to injured reserve.
The Vikings released Washington on Aug. 25, 1996, and he quickly signed with the Lions. That season, he played in 13 games for Detroit, finishing with six tackles (four solo) and five special teams tackles. The Lions released Washington at the end of training camp in 1997, and he was signed by Baltimore 1½ months later.