John Avery

John Edward Avery, Jr. (born January 11, 1976) is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL).

At the 92nd Grey Cup Championship, Avery started at running back for the Argonauts, rushed 11 times for 75 yards (longest gain: 26 yards), and caught 4 passes for 24 yards (longest gain: 10 yards) to help the Argos win their 15th Grey Cup Championship in team history with a 27–19 triumph over the BC Lions.

In 1996, he started five games at running back, rushing 181 times for 788 yards and 5 touchdowns, 16 receptions for 99 yards and 17 kickoff returns for 473 yards and touchdowns.

In 1997, Avery started nine games for the Rebels, including the Motor City Bowl.

During his final season with the Rebels, Avery totaled 166 carries for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns, added 13 receptions for 113 yards, 8 punt returns for 46 yards, and returned 13 kickoffs for 315 yards and one touchdown.

In 1997, he was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy.

He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft with the 29th overall pick.

Avery played in the NFL for the Dolphins, Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings.

He played in the CFL for the Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts.

He was also in the XFL with the Chicago Enforcers.

Avery attended and played football at Asheville High School in Asheville, North Carolina and, following graduation, continued his playing career at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi.

After two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College, Avery enrolled at the University of Mississippi.

Avery was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft with the 29th overall pick.

Avery was traded to the Denver Broncos from the Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Marcus Nash on September 21, 1999.

Avery saw limited action with Denver and was released in training camp the following season.

In 2001, Avery started 10 games for the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL.

He led the short-lived XFL in rushing with 800 yards (on 150 carries for a 5.3 yard average), rushed for five touchdowns, and also caught 17 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns.

Avery wore the No. 20 in the XFL, but in the Enforcers' first game of the season against the Orlando Rage he was forced to wear No. 22 for the second half because his jersey was ripped early in the game.

After the conclusion of the XFL's 2001 season, Avery attended the Dallas Cowboys training camp but suffered a hamstring injury and was subsequently released.

Avery's most successful year in professional football, to date, was 2002.

He signed with the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos on April 26, 2002.

Avery finished the season with 229 carries for 1,448 yards (6.3 yd. avg.) and nine touchdowns.

Avery started the season as the second string running back behind incumbent starter Ronald Williams: as a result, he was used sparingly in the first four games of the season.

When Williams was injured in a week 4 game in Saskatchewan, Avery assumed the starting halfback position.

He never looked back, winning the CFL rushing title by almost 300 yards.

He scored two touchdowns in the Western Division Finals, leading the Eskimos to a victory and setting the team up for a home appearance in the Grey Cup Championship at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.

However, Avery suffered a leg injury in the West Final, which limited his effectiveness in the Grey Cup despite his best efforts.

The Eskimos came up short in the Grey Cup game at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes, losing 25–16, but Avery finished the season a winner of the Eddie James Memorial Trophy (as the Western Division's leading rusher) and a CFL All-Star.

Avery signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings on February 13, 2003.

He played six games with one rush for 0 yards and 2 receptions, and returned 16 kickoffs for 346 yards, for a 21.6 yard average.

Avery was placed on the Vikings injured reserved list with a knee injury on October 24, 2003.

Avery was signed by the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 2004.

Avery did not play in the Argos' two pre-season games, but he made his Toronto debut in Week 1 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Avery rushed 8 times for 22 yards and caught 5 passes for 27 yards in that game.

In Week 8, he met his former club, Edmonton, for the first time ever, and scored his first two touchdowns as an Argonaut.

Avery started in the Labour Day Classic against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton in Week 12, and rushed for 110 yards (his first 100-yard running game as an Argonaut) on 17 carries and 1 touchdown, including his longest career CFL run – 74 yards.

Avery did not suit up in Week 20 against Montreal because of a knee injury.

In the 2004 Eastern Division Semi-Final, Avery started at running back for the Argos, rushed 13 times for 32 yards (longest gain: 19 yards), and caught 1 pass for −5 yards against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto's SkyDome (won by Toronto, 24–6).

In the Eastern Final at Montreal, Avery recorded his first career win against the Alouettes in a 26–18 Argos' triumph.

Avery spent most of game blocking but was handed the ball 6 times in the second half and raced for 34 yards, including the game winning romp of 25 yards for an Argos' touchdown.