Byron Parker
Lua error in Module:Infobox at line 271: malformed pattern (missing ']'). Byron Wesley Parker (born March 7, 1981 in Madisonville, Kentucky) is a gridiron football cornerback. Parker recently played for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football and college basketball at Tulane. On July 11, 2014, Parker signed a 1-day contract to retire with Toronto Argonauts.[1]
Parker has also been a member of the BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Contents
College career
Parker initially enrolled in Tulane on a college basketball scholarship and played on their team from 2001 to 2003. It was also in 2003 that Parker won the NCAA slam dunk competition. Winning the slam dunk competition drew the attention of Tulane's football head coach Chris Scelfo, as well as football scouts in the NFL. Later that same year, his senior year, Parker accepted Scelfo's invitation to play on the school's football team.[2] His slam dunking abilities were showcased in a 2005 CFL game at Molson Stadium against the Montreal Alouettes. Lined up as a wide receiver, Parker caught a 42-yard touchdown reception and celebrated by dunking the ball over the cross bar uprights. He also has a 43" vertical leap.
Professional career
Jacksonville Jaguars
On April 26, 2004, Parker was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was waived by the team following training camp on August 1.
Toronto Argonauts
After being cut by the Jaguars during training camp, Parker signed with the Argonauts on January 24, 2005, but played in only six games.
Dallas Cowboys
In 2006, Parker signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL but was cut by the team on July 31.
Toronto Argonauts (II)
Parker re-joined the Argonauts a week after being released by Dallas. Upon his return, he became their starting cornerback. On October 14, 2006, Parker broke a CFL record for most interception return yardage in a single season with a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown in Edmonton. He ended the season with a CFL record 348 interception return yards, surpassing Eric Carter's 2003 record of 300 yards. Parker was selected as a CFL All-Star in 2006 and 2007.
Philadelphia Eagles
On January 27, 2009, Parker was reported to have signed a reserve/future contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.[3][4] The signing was officially confirmed by the Eagles on February 3, 2009.[5] He was waived on August 14, thereby creating a roster spot for the signing of quarterback Michael Vick.[6]
Toronto Argonauts (III)
After his release from the Eagles, Parker returned to Toronto as the Argonauts deferred his contract when he signed with Philadelphia. The Eagles had him on a weight gain program and he bulked from his 2008 CFL weight of 193 to 227 and he found he had to re-adjust to the Canadian game; reducing his weight to 210 by the time he reported to practice on August 20, 2009, but still finding himself tired out by the longer, wider field. Parker reported that the Eagles offered him another opportunity to return on August 20 but he refused, feeling more comfortable with the Argonauts.[7][8][9][10]
Edmonton Eskimos
Parker was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos on September 28, 2009 for future considerations.
Toronto Argonauts (IV)
On February 16, 2010, Parker re-signed with the Argonauts as a free agent.
On October 28, 2011, Parker scored his 9th career interception return for a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Canad Inns Stadium, setting a new CFL record.[11]
BC Lions
Parker entered free agency on February 15, 2012 and was signed by the BC Lions on February 16, 2012.[12] Parker played one season with the BC Lions. On January 18, 2013 Parker was released by the BC Lions.[13]
Montreal Alouettes
Two days following his release by the Lions, Parker signed with the Montreal Alouettes for a contract worth one year plus an option.[14] On January 30, 2014, Parker was released from the Alouettes.
References
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External links
- Byron Parker on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Montreal Alouettes bio
- Tulane Green Wave basketball bio
- Tulane Green Wave football bio
- Byron Parker profile vignette on YouTube
- ↑ http://cfl.ca/article/parker-signs-1-day-contract-to-retire-with-argonauts
- ↑ http://bleacherreport.com/articles/186365-slam-dunk-champ-takes-another-shot-at-the-nfl
- ↑ [1]
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- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Roster Move: S Parker Released - Philadelphia Eagles
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=379141
- ↑ He will join an already dangerous defensive secondary that contains all-stars such as Korey Banks, Dante Marsh, Ryan Phillips and Lin-J Shell, his former teammate from the Argonauts. Lions add Stu Foord and Byron Parker to den
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- Pages with reference errors
- 1981 births
- African-American players of Canadian football
- American football cornerbacks
- American football safeties
- American players of Canadian football
- BC Lions players
- Canadian football defensive backs
- Dallas Cowboys players
- Edmonton Eskimos players
- Jacksonville Jaguars players
- Living people
- Montreal Alouettes players
- People from Madisonville, Kentucky
- Philadelphia Eagles players
- Players of American football from Kentucky
- Toronto Argonauts players
- Tulane Green Wave men's basketball players
- Tulane Green Wave football players
- Undrafted National Football League players