Patrick Ramsey

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Patrick Jones Ramsey (born February 14, 1979 in Ruston, Louisiana) is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins 32nd overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tulane.

Ramsey has also played for the New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans.

[edit] Early years

Ramsey was a two-year starter at quarterback for his Ruston High School football team. As a senior, he was the nation's top ranked high school javelin thrower and won a bronze medal at the 1997 Junior Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba.

[edit] College career

Ramsey attended Tulane University, and had an outstanding collegiate career as a "scholar athlete", being named five times to the Conference USA Commissioner's honor roll, and was the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete of the Year, in 2001.

During Ramsey's 1999 season, he set 20 Tulane passing records, including single season records for passing yards, attempts, and completions. In that season he threw for 25 touchdowns, the second-most ever for a Tulane player. However, he was also prone to questionable decisions, throwing 24 interceptions. In 2000, he led the third-best passing offense in the nation. He also made the All-Conference USA second-team, leading the conference in most meaningful passing statistics. In his senior season in 2001 he started 11 games and threw for 22 touchdowns. He set a school record, having at least one touchdown pass in 31 consecutive games. Upon graduating, he had the top five passing games in school history. His career totals at Tulane were surpassed only (in various individual statistics, none overall) by Shaun King, Mike McKay, Roch Hontas, and Terrence Jones.

Ramsey graduated with degrees in Accounting and Finance.

[edit] Professional career

[edit] Washington Redskins

Ramsey was drafted 32nd overall in the 2002 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins, to replace Tony Banks as quarterback. However, there were early difficulties with Steve Spurrier's "fun 'n' gun" offense, and Ramsey often split games with other quarterbacks. The 2003 season, Ramsey's first full season as a starter was even more difficult. He was one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the NFL that year, which was also Spurrier's last season as head coach. In 2004, Joe Gibbs returned to coach the team after a prolonged absence; he originally traded for Mark Brunell as the starting quarterback (and then quickly signed him to a long term extension) but replaced him with Ramsey in November. A month later, Gibbs named Ramsey as the starting quarterback for the 2005 season.

In the Redskins' first game against the Chicago Bears, Ramsey suffered a minor neck injury after a clothesline hit by Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs. Gibbs demoted Ramsey to the role of Brunell's back-up for the second game versus the Dallas Cowboys. It was reported that Ramsey requested a trade from the Redskins, following announcement of his demotion.^[1] This report was later claimed to be false by Ramsey and the Redskins organization.

[edit] New York Jets

In March 2006, Ramsey was traded to the New York Jets for a 6th round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. After failing to earn the starting quarterback position from incumbent Chad Pennington, he was cut after the 2006 season. He only threw a single pass for the Jets.

[edit] Denver Broncos

Following the season, Ramsey signed with the Denver Broncos, serving as the backup to starter Jay Cutler. He was released in the beginning of free agency in March 2009.

[edit] Tennessee Titans

Ramsey signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans on April 3, 2009, serving as the third quarterback on the depth chart after Kerry Collins and Vince Young.^[2] He was released on October 3 when cornerback Cary Williams was activated from the practice squad.^[3]

[edit] Detroit Lions

Ramsey was signed by the Detroit Lions on December 26, 2009 after quarterback Matthew Stafford was placed on injured reserve.

[edit] Personal

Ramsey married his wife, Virginia, on April 13, 2002, the week before the 2002 NFL Draft, the couple has a daughter, Virginia Ellen.^[4]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Denver Broncos bio
• New York Jets bio
• Tennessee Titans bio