Byron Parker

Last updated
Byron Parker
Born: (1981-03-07) March 7, 1981 (age 42)
Madisonville, Kentucky, U.S.
Career information
CFL status American
Position(s) CB
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight193 lb (88 kg)
College Tulane
Career history
As player
2004 Jacksonville Jaguars*
2005 Toronto Argonauts
2006 Dallas Cowboys*
20062008 Toronto Argonauts
2009 Philadelphia Eagles*
2009 Toronto Argonauts
2009 Edmonton Eskimos
20102011 Toronto Argonauts
2012 BC Lions
2013 Montreal Alouettes
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star 2006, 2007, 2011
CFL East All-Star 2006, 2007, 2011
Career stats

Byron Wesley Parker (born March 7, 1981) is a former gridiron football cornerback. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football and college basketball at Tulane.

Contents

Parker was also a member of the Montreal Alouettes, BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Edmonton Eskimos, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles.

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. [1] 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. [2] [3] The signing was officially confirmed by the Eagles on February 3, 2009.[ citation needed ] He was waived on August 14, thereby creating a roster spot for the signing of quarterback Michael Vick. [4]

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. [5] [6] [7] [8]

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. [9]

BC Lions

Parker entered free agency on February 15, 2012, and was signed by the BC Lions on February 16, 2012. [10] Parker played one season with the BC Lions. On January 18, 2013, Parker was released by the BC Lions. [11]

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. [12] On January 30, 2014, Parker was released from the Alouettes.

On July 11, 2014, Parker signed a 1-day contract to retire with Toronto Argonauts. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Ray</span> American gridiron football player (born 1979)

Ricky Ray is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. Ray spent the majority of his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He also briefly spent time in the af2, as well as with the San Francisco 49ers and New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Ray is the all-time leader in passing yardage, pass completions, and passing touchdowns for both the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts. He won a Grey Cup championship four times as a starter, in 2003, 2005, 2012, and 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cody Pickett</span> American gridiron football player (born 1980)

Cody J. Pickett is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies andwas selected in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

The 2006 CFL season is considered to be the 53rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 49th Canadian Football League season.

Jonathan Bernard Brown is a former professional American, Canadian and Arena football defensive end, who last played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has also played for the Toronto Argonauts. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. He was formerly the head coach for his high school alma mater, Booker T. Washington High School.

DeVier Stewart Posey is an American former professional gridiron football wide receiver. He most recently played for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State. He was also a member of the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Toronto Argonauts, Baltimore Ravens, Montreal Alouettes, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Toronto Argonauts season</span> CFL team season

The 2006 Toronto Argonauts season was the 49th season for the team in the Canadian Football League and 134th season overall. The Argonauts finished the regular season 10–8 and finished in second place in the East Division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drew Willy</span> American gridiron football player (born 1986)

Drew Willy is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Buffalo. Willy has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Locomotives, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, and most notably the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khalif Mitchell</span> American gridiron football player (born 1985)

Khalif Quadree Mitchell is a professional Canadian football and American Football defensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He has played for the B.C. Lions, Toronto Argonauts in the CFL and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. In 2011, he won a Grey Cup with the BC Lions. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and released in 2010.

The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern-day Canadian football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the Canadian Football League. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on Thursday, June 30, 2011. The season was among the most notable in the modern era for the competitiveness of the teams; going into the final week, five teams were tied for first place in the league, a first in modern CFL history. It was also the first time since 1982 that all teams finished with fewer than 12 wins in the regular season. As well, for the first time since 1950, the start of the modern era, all four teams competing in the division finals were different from the four teams that had competed in the division finals the previous year. Newly renovated BC Place Stadium in Vancouver hosted the 99th Grey Cup on November 27, with the hometown Lions defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34–23 in front of a sold-out crowd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassius Vaughn</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

Cassius M. Vaughn is a former Canadian football defensive back. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Ole Miss. Vaughn has also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League (NFL). He made his CFL debut in 2016 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bear Woods</span> American gridiron football player (born 1987)

Jonathan "Bear" Woods is a former professional Canadian football linebacker of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL) as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He made his professional debut for the Montreal Alouettes (CFL) in 2013 and won a Grey Cup championship with the Toronto Argonauts in 2017. He played college football at Troy University. In January 2022, he was named head football coach at Wetumpka High School in Wetumpka, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hénoc Muamba</span> Congolese-Canadian gridiron football player (born 1989)

Hénoc Muamba is a Congolese-Canadian football player for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was selected first overall by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 2011 CFL Draft, becoming the first player from St. Francis Xavier University to be chosen first overall in the draft. In 2022, he won the Grey Cup with the Argonauts and was named the game's most valuable player (MVP) and Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian; the 2nd player in history to ever earn both awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McLeod Bethel-Thompson</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

McLeod John Baltazar Bethel-Thompson is an American professional football quarterback for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a member of the Toronto Argonauts, winning two Grey Cup championships with the team: one as a back-up quarterback in 2017, another as the team's starter in 2022. He played college football at UCLA and Sacramento State. He is the grandson of the 1948 Olympic shot put champion Wilbur 'Moose' Thompson. Bethel-Thompson is a journeyman quarterback having been a member of five different NFL teams, three CFL teams, and one team in the Arena Football League (AFL), United Football League (UFL), and United States Football League (USFL).

Lee Anthony Heath Jr. is a former American football cornerback. Heath was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2011 in the NFL, where he played for several years before playing Canadian football for the final 3 years of his career. He played college football for Jacksonville State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boseko Lokombo</span> American football player (born 1990)

Boseko Lokombo is a Congolese-Canadian professional Canadian football linebacker for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Oregon. Lokombo has also been a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Montreal Alouettes, and Toronto Argonauts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawn Lemon</span> American gridiron football player (born 1988)

Shawn Lemon is a professional gridiron football defensive lineman who is currently a member of the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at the University of Akron and attended Westlake High School in Waldorf, Maryland. He has also been a member of eight CFL teams three arena football teams and two NFL teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Evans</span> American gridiron football player (born 1993)

Stephen Dane Evans is an American former professional gridiron football quarterback who played for six seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and BC Lions. He played college football at Tulsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew Shiltz</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

Matthew Shiltz is a gridiron football quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played NCAA football for the Butler Bulldogs. Shiltz made his professional debut for the Montreal Alouettes in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antonio Pipkin</span> American gridiron football player (born 1995)

Antonio Pipkin is a Canadian football quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Tiffin. Pipkin has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL), and the Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Football Team, Toronto Argonauts, BC Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Edwards (Canadian football)</span> American gridiron football player (born 1992)

Christopher Edwards is a retired professional Canadian football defensive back, who most recently played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

References

  1. "Byron Parker: Slam Dunk Champ Takes Another Shot at the NFL". Bleacher Report .
  2. "CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - CFL - Toronto: Argos lose two players, gain coach". Archived from the original on 2009-03-07. Retrieved 2009-01-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. "Argos lose Parker, Sam to NFL". CBC News. January 27, 2009.
  4. Roster Move: S Parker Released - Philadelphia Eagles [ permanent dead link ]
  5. Zicarelli, Frank (2009-08-21). "Talented Parker returns". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2009-08-21.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. Fitz-Gerald, Sean (2009-08-21). "Parker back to Argos after Eagles release". National Post. Archived from the original on 2009-08-25. Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  7. Parker, Byron (2009-08-20). "Byron Parker twitter status" . Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  8. Fitz-Gerald, Sean (2009-08-20). "Sean Fitz-Gerald twitter status" . Retrieved 2009-08-21.
  9. https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=379141 [ dead link ]
  10. 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 Archived 2012-02-24 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Parker released by the BC Lions". CFL.ca. 2013-01-18. Archived from the original on 2013-01-21. Retrieved 2013-01-19.
  12. "Parker signs with the Alouettes". tsn.ca. 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  13. "Parker signs 1-day contract to retire with Argonauts | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League". Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-12.