Todd Carney
Encyclopedia
Todd Carney is an Australian professional rugby league
football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country
New South Wales
and, in the National Rugby League
, the Canberra Raiders
between 2003 and 2008, and the Sydney Roosters
between 2010 and 2011. Effective 2012, Carney will play with the Cronulla Sharks
, signed under a two-year contract, estimated to be worth A$
700,000. In 2010, Carney was awarded the Dally M Medal
for player of the year.
A goal-kicking backline player, in 2008 Carney was de-registered as a player by the NRL for off-field misbehaviour. After a year living and playing in Far North Queensland
, Carney returned to play in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters. Yet by mid-2011, Carney's alcohol-related off-field misbehaviours became widely known and he was released from his contract a year early, in September 2011.
to parents Daryl "Darky" and Leanne Carney, and he has two sisters Krysten and Melinda.
After playing junior football in Goulburn, Carney was recruited to the Canberra Raiders junior academy at age twelve. Playing in the Jersey Flegg
Championship, Carney's team were premier champions in 2003. He made his first grade debut the following year, at the age of 17 and, after a handful of appearances, he was named the Canberra Raiders' rookie of the year
.
Canberra Raiders had signed Jason Smith and Sam Peez who, in 2005, helped shape Carney's game. Despite only playing 11 games with a single try, Carney was rewarded with a starting position in the Junior Kangaroos annual fixture against Papua New Guinea
, where he tallied a record 20 points.
, he was the Raiders' leading try-scorer for 2006. His long range kicking also became a feature of his game, forcing numerous 40-20s. Carney won three games in extra time off 40 metre drop goals as Canberra finished in the Top 8. He was again selected in the Junior Kangaroos squad, where he was appointed captain.
After an incident on 16 December 2006 in Goulburn, Carney was charged with drink driving and reckless driving
. Following legal proceedings, in February 2007 Carney was suspended from driving a motor vehicle for five years.
. Police began to pursue the vehicle after noticing the wheels of the ute momentarily lose traction
as it went around a corner. Despite the police car having its sirens sounding and lights flashing, Carney refused to stop his speeding vehicle, leading police on a high-speed chase through the back streets of the Canberra
suburb of Bruce
. After turning into a dead-end street, Carney stopped the car and fled the scene on foot, leaving Irwin in the passenger seat. Irwin told police Carney was the driver. Police went to Carney's house, but he was not there, instead the police found 23 year old room mate Tom Witcombe who claimed he had not seen Carney since earlier that afternoon. The next morning, Carney turned himself in.
On Tuesday 12 June 2007, Carney appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court
, pleading guilty to the charges of failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified. He escaped jail, but the Court placed Carney on a 12-month good behaviour order, banned him from driving until 2012, and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service. The Magistrate warned Carney that if he commits another offence he would "undoubtedly go to jail." Controversially, the Canberra Raiders club sacked Irwin (who was not charged with any offences) over the incident, but retained Carney. Carney was the Raiders' top try-scorer for the 2007 season.
in a bid to play representative football and was being personally coached by his life and childhood hero, Laurie Daley
. His 2008 pre-season was eventful as he became the subject of a three way battle between Canberra, Manly and Penrith
. Eventually he re-signed with the Raiders until 2010 with an option for a further two years.
Off-field misbehaviour continued to plague Carney's playing career and, on 20 July 2008, it was alleged he urinated on a man at a Canberra nightclub. The man had to undertake counseling to overcome the trauma of the incident. Carney was suspended from participating in league matches and training while the allegations were investigated. The complaint was withdrawn two days later but Carney remained suspended for the round 21 match against the Gold Coast Titans
. The nightclub allegations sparked renewed interest in Carney's 2007 negligent driving charges when Steve Irwin claimed that Carney was intoxicated whilst driving at the time of the 2007 incident but he had been pressured by the club to remain quiet in an attempt to avoid a jail sentence for Carney. The incident led to the club imposing an ultimatum on Carney which included a five point plan, whereby Carney would have to stand down from training and matches for the rest of the season; go on an alcohol ban until the end of 2012; undergo counselling; complete a community service program; and pay a $20,000 fine. The NRL threatened to de-register his contract for two years if Carney did not accept this plan in order to protect the Raiders from losing him to another club. Carney asked for a variation of the plan where he could avoid points one and two. This was unacceptable to the club board.
On 7 August 2008, the Canberra club sacked Carney and terminated his $400,000 a season contract. Carney was de-registered by the NRL and would not be eligible to compete in the competition until 2010.
Carney attempted to follow ex-Dragon's coach Nathan Brown to Huddersfield on a one year deal, but was unable to obtain a visa in late 2008 due to the drink driving offences.
, jumping on a car bonnet and damaging the entrance to a Fone Zone
store. He received a 12-month suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to undertake alcohol counselling.
In March 2009, the Canberra Raiders agreed to release Carney to play for the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition, in Far North Queensland
. Carney was assaulted by four men in Atherton on 10 May 2009.
for the 2010 NRL season
. He played his first game for the club against his old team the Atherton Roosters in a pre-season trial in Atherton. After playing all of his football at Canberra in the halves he was shifted to fullback by Roosters coach Brian Smith
. After his debut against South Sydney in a 36–10 victory, Carney was kept at fullback, only shifting into the halves to cover injuries or representative absentees until round 14 against the Melbourne Storm, when he was permanently switched to five-eighth, displacing captain Braith Anasta
to lock.
His switch to the halves was very successful, with the Roosters undertaking a five game winning streak soon after the move. Carney has formed an incisive attacking combination with his halves partner Mitchell Pearce
and has also been a facilitator to his outside backs, with Anthony Minichiello
and Shaun Kenny Dowall in particular showing increased productivity. In addition, he has taken on the kicking duties for the Roosters scoring over 200 points.
In the regular season, Carney finished second on the top point scorers and goal kickers lists. He was named as the season's Dally M Medallist
for the NRL's best player. He also won five-eighth of the year and the Provan-Summons (Peoples Choice) award. Todd Carney was named international player of the year for 2010.
In December 2010, it was reported that Carney had injured himself after falling from his balcony while trying to gain entry to the building after locking himself out. He suffered no serious injuries. Carney dated Seven Network
television presenter Liz Cantor; however, they broke up in January after 4 weeks.
when he was drinking on 16 April 2011. Following the second incident in three months, NRL management stood Carney down from Roosters indefinitely. Carney returned to the NRL with the round 10 clash against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Park, and was required to receive treatment for his behavioural issues. However in early August, Carney together with Nate Myles
and Frank-Paul Nuuausala
broke a team agreement to not touch alcohol for two weeks and all three players were subject to disciplinary hearings. On 8 September 2011 it was announced that the Sydney Roosters would release Carney from the final year of his contract, following a request from Carney's management.
Denied a working visa in the UK
due to his criminal conviction, Carney's management was reportedly considering a contract with the French-based European Super League team, the Catalans, or current NRL side, North Queensland Cowboys. However, by 9 September 2011, both the Catalans and Cowboys had ruled out making a move to sign the controversial playmaker. By mid-October, there was further media speculation that Carney would be signed by the Cronulla Sharks
or the St George Illawarra Dragons
. On 26 October 2011 it was announced that Carney had accepted a two-year contract with the Cronulla Sharks, estimated to be worth A$700,000.
In late 2011, Carney started a relationship with Jennie Pickett, an FHM swimsuit model.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football player. Carney has represented Australia, Country
Country Origin Team
The Country Origin Team is a representative rugby league team consisting of players formerly of the New South Wales Country Rugby League competition, one of two federations in the state of New South Wales. City annually play in the City vs Country Origin competition against the representative team...
New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and, in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
, the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
between 2003 and 2008, and the Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
between 2010 and 2011. Effective 2012, Carney will play with the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
, signed under a two-year contract, estimated to be worth A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
700,000. In 2010, Carney was awarded the Dally M Medal
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
for player of the year.
A goal-kicking backline player, in 2008 Carney was de-registered as a player by the NRL for off-field misbehaviour. After a year living and playing in Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
, Carney returned to play in the NRL for the Sydney Roosters. Yet by mid-2011, Carney's alcohol-related off-field misbehaviours became widely known and he was released from his contract a year early, in September 2011.
Early life
Carney was born in GoulburnGoulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
to parents Daryl "Darky" and Leanne Carney, and he has two sisters Krysten and Melinda.
After playing junior football in Goulburn, Carney was recruited to the Canberra Raiders junior academy at age twelve. Playing in the Jersey Flegg
Jersey Flegg
Henry Harry "Jersey" Flegg was an English-Australian rugby league identity. Both a player and administrator, he was a leading figure in the birth of the sport in Australia....
Championship, Carney's team were premier champions in 2003. He made his first grade debut the following year, at the age of 17 and, after a handful of appearances, he was named the Canberra Raiders' rookie of the year
Rookie of the Year
The Rookie of the Year award is given by a number of sports leagues, mainly in North America, to the top first-time professional athlete of a season. -Principal sports making award:...
.
Canberra Raiders had signed Jason Smith and Sam Peez who, in 2005, helped shape Carney's game. Despite only playing 11 games with a single try, Carney was rewarded with a starting position in the Junior Kangaroos annual fixture against Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea national rugby league team
The Papua New Guinea national rugby league team represents Papua New Guinea internationally in the sport of rugby league football.In Papua New Guinea, Rugby league is highly popular and is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls...
, where he tallied a record 20 points.
2006
2006 was Carney's breakthrough year where he cemented his position in first grade, scoring 12 tries in 18 games. Alongside Adam MoggAdam Mogg
Adam Mogg is an Australian rugby league coach and former footballer.-Playing career:Mogg spent five years with the Redcliffe Dolphins, participating in four grand finals in the Queensland Cup and winning the club's player of the year award in 2001, before being scouted in 2002 by the Parramatta...
, he was the Raiders' leading try-scorer for 2006. His long range kicking also became a feature of his game, forcing numerous 40-20s. Carney won three games in extra time off 40 metre drop goals as Canberra finished in the Top 8. He was again selected in the Junior Kangaroos squad, where he was appointed captain.
After an incident on 16 December 2006 in Goulburn, Carney was charged with drink driving and reckless driving
Reckless driving
Reckless driving is a major moving traffic violation. As a legal term, it is used within the United States. This offence has been abolished in the United Kingdom and replaced...
. Following legal proceedings, in February 2007 Carney was suspended from driving a motor vehicle for five years.
2007
Taking on the role of in 2007, Carney earned three Man of the Match awards from seven games. However his selection chances in the NSW Country Origin team were laid to rest due to another driving-related off-field misbehaviour. On 18 May 2007, despite being disqualified from driving, Carney drove a ute belonging to teammate Steve IrwinSteve Irwin (rugby league)
Steve Irwin is an Australian professional rugby league footballer.-Career:While attending St. Lukes Anglican School, Irwin played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2000....
. Police began to pursue the vehicle after noticing the wheels of the ute momentarily lose traction
Traction (engineering)
Traction refers to the maximum frictional force that can be produced between surfaces without slipping.The units of traction are those of force, or if expressed as a coefficient of traction a ratio.-Traction:...
as it went around a corner. Despite the police car having its sirens sounding and lights flashing, Carney refused to stop his speeding vehicle, leading police on a high-speed chase through the back streets of the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
suburb of Bruce
Bruce, Australian Capital Territory
Bruce is a suburb of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. Bruce was gazetted as a division on 6 June 1968 in recognition of Viscount Stanley Melbourne Bruce, the first Chancellor of the Australian National University and eighth Prime Minister of Australia. S. M. Bruce served as...
. After turning into a dead-end street, Carney stopped the car and fled the scene on foot, leaving Irwin in the passenger seat. Irwin told police Carney was the driver. Police went to Carney's house, but he was not there, instead the police found 23 year old room mate Tom Witcombe who claimed he had not seen Carney since earlier that afternoon. The next morning, Carney turned himself in.
On Tuesday 12 June 2007, Carney appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court
Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory
The Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory is a court of summary jurisdiction in Canberra, Australia. The court deals with the majority of less serious criminal cases and the majority of small civil cases in that territory. The court is located on London Circuit, Canberra at Civic...
, pleading guilty to the charges of failing to stop when directed by police, negligent driving and driving while disqualified. He escaped jail, but the Court placed Carney on a 12-month good behaviour order, banned him from driving until 2012, and sentenced him to 200 hours of community service. The Magistrate warned Carney that if he commits another offence he would "undoubtedly go to jail." Controversially, the Canberra Raiders club sacked Irwin (who was not charged with any offences) over the incident, but retained Carney. Carney was the Raiders' top try-scorer for the 2007 season.
2008
Before the 2008 season, Carney began modelling his game on Johnathan ThurstonJohnathan Thurston
Johnathan Dean Thurston is an Indigenous Australian professional rugby league footballer in the NRL with the North Queensland Cowboys whom he co-captains...
in a bid to play representative football and was being personally coached by his life and childhood hero, Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley
Laurie Daley OA is an Australian rugby league football commentator and former player of Indigenous Australian descent. He represented Australia on 26 occasions and has since been named as one of the nation's finest players of the 20th century...
. His 2008 pre-season was eventful as he became the subject of a three way battle between Canberra, Manly and Penrith
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
. Eventually he re-signed with the Raiders until 2010 with an option for a further two years.
Off-field misbehaviour continued to plague Carney's playing career and, on 20 July 2008, it was alleged he urinated on a man at a Canberra nightclub. The man had to undertake counseling to overcome the trauma of the incident. Carney was suspended from participating in league matches and training while the allegations were investigated. The complaint was withdrawn two days later but Carney remained suspended for the round 21 match against the Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans
Gold Coast Titans are an Australian professional rugby league football club, based in the Gold Coast, Queensland. The club competes in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership. It is the newest of the sixteen clubs in the league, having commenced its...
. The nightclub allegations sparked renewed interest in Carney's 2007 negligent driving charges when Steve Irwin claimed that Carney was intoxicated whilst driving at the time of the 2007 incident but he had been pressured by the club to remain quiet in an attempt to avoid a jail sentence for Carney. The incident led to the club imposing an ultimatum on Carney which included a five point plan, whereby Carney would have to stand down from training and matches for the rest of the season; go on an alcohol ban until the end of 2012; undergo counselling; complete a community service program; and pay a $20,000 fine. The NRL threatened to de-register his contract for two years if Carney did not accept this plan in order to protect the Raiders from losing him to another club. Carney asked for a variation of the plan where he could avoid points one and two. This was unacceptable to the club board.
On 7 August 2008, the Canberra club sacked Carney and terminated his $400,000 a season contract. Carney was de-registered by the NRL and would not be eligible to compete in the competition until 2010.
Carney attempted to follow ex-Dragon's coach Nathan Brown to Huddersfield on a one year deal, but was unable to obtain a visa in late 2008 due to the drink driving offences.
2009
Carney applied to the NRL in an effort to play for an Australian club in the 2009 season but in January the NRL stated that they would not accept registration of a contract for Todd Carney for that season. In February 2009, Carney went on a vandalism spree in GoulburnGoulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
, jumping on a car bonnet and damaging the entrance to a Fone Zone
Fone Zone
The Fone Zone Group is Australia's largest independent retailer of mobile communications. The business has grown from a single Gold Coast store in 1995 to 150 outlets under the Fone Zone branding, a One Zero dealer network of more than 40 sites, 19 Next Byte stores and six Telstra Licensed...
store. He received a 12-month suspended jail sentence, and was ordered to undertake alcohol counselling.
In March 2009, the Canberra Raiders agreed to release Carney to play for the Atherton Roosters in the Cairns competition, in Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
. Carney was assaulted by four men in Atherton on 10 May 2009.
2010
After his season-long ban from the NRL expired, Carney joined the Sydney RoostersSydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. The club competes in the National Rugby League and is one of the oldest and most successful clubs in Australian rugby league history, having won twelve New South Wales Rugby League...
for the 2010 NRL season
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
. He played his first game for the club against his old team the Atherton Roosters in a pre-season trial in Atherton. After playing all of his football at Canberra in the halves he was shifted to fullback by Roosters coach Brian Smith
Brian Smith (rugby league)
Brian Smith is an Australian coach and former player of rugby league football. He is the current head coach at the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. Smith played for St. George and South Sydney Rabbitohs , appearing in a total of 31 first grade games...
. After his debut against South Sydney in a 36–10 victory, Carney was kept at fullback, only shifting into the halves to cover injuries or representative absentees until round 14 against the Melbourne Storm, when he was permanently switched to five-eighth, displacing captain Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta
Braith Anasta is a Greek-Australian professional rugby league footballer who captains the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League...
to lock.
His switch to the halves was very successful, with the Roosters undertaking a five game winning streak soon after the move. Carney has formed an incisive attacking combination with his halves partner Mitchell Pearce
Mitchell Pearce
Mitchell Pearce is an Australian rugby league footballer currently playing for the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League...
and has also been a facilitator to his outside backs, with Anthony Minichiello
Anthony Minichiello
Anthony Minichiello is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who, to date, has played his entire career for the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League. He plays at fullback and on the Wing. Minichiello has represented New South Wales and Australia...
and Shaun Kenny Dowall in particular showing increased productivity. In addition, he has taken on the kicking duties for the Roosters scoring over 200 points.
In the regular season, Carney finished second on the top point scorers and goal kickers lists. He was named as the season's Dally M Medallist
Dally M Awards
The Dally M Awards are the official annual player awards for the National Rugby League competition. The most prestigious of these awards is the Dally M Medal which is only ever awarded to Australian born Players...
for the NRL's best player. He also won five-eighth of the year and the Provan-Summons (Peoples Choice) award. Todd Carney was named international player of the year for 2010.
In December 2010, it was reported that Carney had injured himself after falling from his balcony while trying to gain entry to the building after locking himself out. He suffered no serious injuries. Carney dated Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
television presenter Liz Cantor; however, they broke up in January after 4 weeks.
2011
On 26 February 2011 it was reported that Carney will face a low-range drink driving charge. The Sydney Roosters confirmed that they would stand by him through this indiscretion. Just over a month later Carney was found to be involved with Anthony WattsAnthony Watts (rugby league)
Anthony Watts born 12 September 1986 in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia is a rugby league player for the Widnes Vikings in the Super League.Anthony Watts' position of choice is as a half-back and he can also play as a hooker...
when he was drinking on 16 April 2011. Following the second incident in three months, NRL management stood Carney down from Roosters indefinitely. Carney returned to the NRL with the round 10 clash against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Park, and was required to receive treatment for his behavioural issues. However in early August, Carney together with Nate Myles
Nate Myles
Nate Myles is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Sydney Roosters of the NRL. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative forward, he previously played for the Bulldogs club...
and Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Frank-Paul Nuuausala
Frank-Paul Nu'uausala is a professional rugby league player from New Zealand who currently plays for the Sydney Roosters.-Playing career:...
broke a team agreement to not touch alcohol for two weeks and all three players were subject to disciplinary hearings. On 8 September 2011 it was announced that the Sydney Roosters would release Carney from the final year of his contract, following a request from Carney's management.
Denied a working visa in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
due to his criminal conviction, Carney's management was reportedly considering a contract with the French-based European Super League team, the Catalans, or current NRL side, North Queensland Cowboys. However, by 9 September 2011, both the Catalans and Cowboys had ruled out making a move to sign the controversial playmaker. By mid-October, there was further media speculation that Carney would be signed by the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
or the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
. On 26 October 2011 it was announced that Carney had accepted a two-year contract with the Cronulla Sharks, estimated to be worth A$700,000.
In late 2011, Carney started a relationship with Jennie Pickett, an FHM swimsuit model.