Damien Woody
Encyclopedia
Damien Michael Woody is a former American football
offensive lineman who played for the New England Patriots
, Detroit Lions
and New York Jets
of the National Football League
. He has played every position on the offensive line except left tackle; he was originally drafted as a center
by the Patriots in the first round, 17th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Boston College
.
A Pro Bowl
selection in 2002
, Woody won two Super Bowl ring
s with the Patriots.
in Ashland, Va., where he teamed with Erron Kinney
and helped the Patrick Henry Patriots to the 1994 State Football Championship.
Woody was known to struggle with delivering the snap in the shotgun formation. When a play was called that required a shotgun snap to the quarterback, Woody would rotate to the guard position.
As the anchor of a tough and effective New England offensive line, Woody was a member of two Super-Bowl-winning teams, in 2001 and 2003. He did not play in Super Bowl XXXVIII
against the Carolina Panthers because of a knee injury.
in March 2004 and started every game in the 2004 and 2005 seasons before missing most of 2006 on injured reserve. His play earned him a selection as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2004.
During the Jets' post-season run, Woody suffered a torn achilles tendon against a victory over the Indianapolis Colts
on January 8, 2011. Woody was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list on January 12, 2011. Following the injury, Woody was released by the Jets on February 28, 2011.
as an NFL analyst.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman who played for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He has played every position on the offensive line except left tackle; he was originally drafted as a center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
by the Patriots in the first round, 17th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boston College
Boston College Eagles football
The Boston College Eagles football team is the collegiate football program of Boston College. The team is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, a Division I Bowl Subdivision league governed by the NCAA. Within the ACC, the Eagles are one of six teams in the Atlantic Division...
.
A Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection in 2002
2003 Pro Bowl
The 2003 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 2003 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 45, NFC 20. Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
, Woody won two Super Bowl ring
Super Bowl ring
The Super Bowl ring is an award in the National Football League given to the winners of the league's annual championship game, the Super Bowl...
s with the Patriots.
Early years
He went to Patrick Henry High SchoolPatrick Henry High School (Ashland, Virginia)
Patrick Henry High School is a high school in Ashland, Virginia in Hanover County. Patrick Henry has an International Baccalaureate program, as well as a NJROTC program. Patrick Henry is one of four high schools in Hanover County, and the only High school in the western half of the county. ...
in Ashland, Va., where he teamed with Erron Kinney
Erron Kinney
Erron Quincy Kinney is a former American college and professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League for seven seasons during the early 2000s...
and helped the Patrick Henry Patriots to the 1994 State Football Championship.
New England Patriots
The Patriots selected him 17th overall in the first round of the 1999 draft. Woody would go on to start 76 games with the Patriots, mostly at center.Woody was known to struggle with delivering the snap in the shotgun formation. When a play was called that required a shotgun snap to the quarterback, Woody would rotate to the guard position.
As the anchor of a tough and effective New England offensive line, Woody was a member of two Super-Bowl-winning teams, in 2001 and 2003. He did not play in Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
against the Carolina Panthers because of a knee injury.
Detroit Lions
Woody signed as a free agent with the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
in March 2004 and started every game in the 2004 and 2005 seasons before missing most of 2006 on injured reserve. His play earned him a selection as a Pro Bowl alternate in 2004.
New York Jets
On March 2, 2008, Woody and the Jets agreed to a five-year, $25 million contract with $11 million in guaranteed money.During the Jets' post-season run, Woody suffered a torn achilles tendon against a victory over the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
on January 8, 2011. Woody was subsequently placed on the injured reserve list on January 12, 2011. Following the injury, Woody was released by the Jets on February 28, 2011.
Retirement
Woody announced his retirement on July 26, 2011. On August 5, he joined ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as an NFL analyst.