Tony Graziani
Encyclopedia
Anthony Robert Graziani (born December 23, 1973, in Las Vegas, Nevada
, United States
) was an American football
quarterback
who played for the Atlanta Falcons
in the National Football League
, and the Los Angeles Avengers
and Philadelphia Soul
of the Arena Football League
. Graziani played college football
at the University of Oregon
. Currently in retirement, Graziani is a political operative for California State Assemblyman
Brian Nestande
.
in Modesto, California
. As a quarterback, he passed for 3,956 yards and 35 touchdowns in his prep career
while leading his team to a share of the Central California Conference title.
, playing in 28 games in his collegiate football
career. At Oregon he majored in political science
. He accumulated the following stats:
in the 1997 NFL Draft
. He played for the Falcons for three seasons. During his NFL career, he threw for 999 yards, two touchdowns with eight interceptions. He also had 16 carries for 51 yards. Also, during his one-year tenure with the Cleveland Browns
, he played for the Barcelona Dragons
, of NFL Europe, in 2000.
prior to the 2001 season
. He completed 23 out of 37 passes that season for 262 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He became the starter
in 2002
as he completed 282 out of 467 passes for 3,568 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 1 interception. In 2003
, he completed 304 of 495 passes for 4,290 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. In 2004
, he had his finest season as he completed 333 of 510 passes for 4,265 yards, 99 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
, Graziani signed with the Philadelphia Soul
and became the highest-paid player in the league. He completed 328 out of 555 passes that year for 4,272 yards, 90 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions as Philadelphia had a disappointing 6-10 season. In an injury-riddled 2006, he completed 232 of 389 passes for 2,981 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, but Philadelphia went 9-7 and made the playoffs for the first time ever. Through Week 4 of the 2007 Arena Football League season
, Graziani has completed 75 of 116 passes for 1,041 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only three interceptions and the Soul are undefeated at 5-0. In Graziani's third start against the Colorado Crush
he threw for eight touchdowns topping out over 300 yards and only one interception. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6, and remained out of the game through the next five weeks. He came back in week 12 against the New Orleans VooDoo
and went seven-of-15 for 81 yards and four touchdowns. The soul won the game 78-34.
During Week 1 of the 2008 season
Graziani set the Soul franchise single game record for most touchdown passes in a game (nine). In Week 3, he suffered a sprained ankle. He was scheduled to return Week 7 against the San Jose SaberCats
, but before the game it was decided he wouldn't play. He returned Week 8 against the Columbus Destroyers, but left the game with an injury. He briefly returned against the Dallas Desperados
, but left the game with a concussion. He did not play in the AFL after that.
family of networks. He is the co-founder of TD Desert Properties. In 2011, he was named field representative for Assemblyman Brian Nestande, who represents portions of the Inland Empire
and Coachella Valley
. He makes his home in the Coachella Valley.
, an Italian
military officer who led expeditions in Africa
before and during World War II
.
In 2006, he was the highest paid Arena Football League player. He signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Soul for about $160,000 per season. NFL rookies receive a minimum salary of $235,000 for the 2007 season
.
During the AFL offseason, Graziani works as an analyst on the Sports USA Radio Network
.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
) was an American football
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...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
who played for the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 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...
, and the Los Angeles Avengers
Los Angeles Avengers
The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
and Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
of the Arena Football League
Arena Football League
The Arena Football League is the highest level of professional indoor American football in the United States. It is currently the second longest running professional football league in the United States, after the National Football League. It was founded in 1987 by Jim Foster...
. Graziani 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 the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
. Currently in retirement, Graziani is a political operative for California State Assemblyman
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
Brian Nestande
Brian Nestande
Brian Nestande is the Republican California State Assemblyman for the 64th District and was elected to the post in 2008. He is the son of former Assemblyman Bruce Nestande, who was the Republican nominee for Secretary of State in 1986....
.
High school career
Graziani attended Thomas Downey High SchoolThomas Downey High School
Thomas Downey High School is a High School in Modesto, California. It is one of the seven high schools in Modesto. George Lucas, Tony Graziani, Laci Peterson and Olympian and American Discus Record Holder Suzy Powell, are some of its notable graduates....
in Modesto, California
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
. As a quarterback, he passed for 3,956 yards and 35 touchdowns in his prep career
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
while leading his team to a share of the Central California Conference title.
College career
Graziani was a four-year letterman the University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, playing in 28 games in his collegiate 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...
career. At Oregon he majored in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He accumulated the following stats:
- Completed 362-of-670 for 4,498 yards and 25 touchdowns
- Was 92-of-171 for 1,353 yards and eight touchdowns during an injury-plagued senior season in 1996
- As a junior, led the Ducks to the Cotton Bowl Classic, completing 231-of-426 passes for 2,604 yards and 13 touchdowns
- Passed for 287 yards in Oregon’s first victory over USCUniversity of Southern CaliforniaThe University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
at the ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
in 23 years in 1994 - Was on the Ducks team that went to the 1995 Rose Bowl
National Football League
Graziani was a seventh round pick of the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 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 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
. He played for the Falcons for three seasons. During his NFL career, he threw for 999 yards, two touchdowns with eight interceptions. He also had 16 carries for 51 yards. Also, during his one-year tenure with the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he played for the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
, of NFL Europe, in 2000.
Los Angeles Avengers
Graziani signed with the Los Angeles AvengersLos Angeles Avengers
The Los Angeles Avengers was an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.-History:...
prior to the 2001 season
2001 Arena Football League season
The 2001 Arena Football League season was the 15th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Grand Rapids Rampage, who defeated the Nashville Kats in ArenaBowl XV.-Standings:* Green indicates clinched playoff berth...
. He completed 23 out of 37 passes that season for 262 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. He became the starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
in 2002
2002 Arena Football League season
The 2002 Arena Football League season was the 16th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVI...
as he completed 282 out of 467 passes for 3,568 yards, 67 touchdowns, and 1 interception. In 2003
2003 Arena Football League season
The 2003 Arena Football League season was the 17th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Tampa Bay Storm, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVII. The AFL expanded its season to a 16-game schedule...
, he completed 304 of 495 passes for 4,290 yards, 96 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. In 2004
2004 Arena Football League season
The 2004 Arena Football League season was the 18th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the San Jose SaberCats, who defeated the Arizona Rattlers in ArenaBowl XVIII...
, he had his finest season as he completed 333 of 510 passes for 4,265 yards, 99 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Philadelphia Soul
Prior to the 2005 season2005 Arena Football League season
The 2005 Arena Football League season was the 19th season of the Arena Football League. The league champions were the Colorado Crush, who defeated the Georgia Force in ArenaBowl XIX. The AFL changed its playoff format to allow the top four teams per conference to make the playoffs. Previously, the...
, Graziani signed with the Philadelphia Soul
Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
and became the highest-paid player in the league. He completed 328 out of 555 passes that year for 4,272 yards, 90 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions as Philadelphia had a disappointing 6-10 season. In an injury-riddled 2006, he completed 232 of 389 passes for 2,981 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, but Philadelphia went 9-7 and made the playoffs for the first time ever. Through Week 4 of the 2007 Arena Football League season
2007 Arena Football League season
The 2007 Arena Football League season was the 21st season of the Arena Football League. The regular season began play on March 1, 2007 and concluded on June 25...
, Graziani has completed 75 of 116 passes for 1,041 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only three interceptions and the Soul are undefeated at 5-0. In Graziani's third start against the Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush
Colorado Crush were an Arena Football League team that began play as a 2003 expansion team. The Crush played in the Central Division of the American Conference until the Arena Football League suspended operations in 2009...
he threw for eight touchdowns topping out over 300 yards and only one interception. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 6, and remained out of the game through the next five weeks. He came back in week 12 against the New Orleans VooDoo
New Orleans VooDoo
The New Orleans VooDoo are an Arena Football League team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They play their home games in New Orleans Arena....
and went seven-of-15 for 81 yards and four touchdowns. The soul won the game 78-34.
During Week 1 of the 2008 season
2008 Arena Football League season
The 2008 Arena Football League season was the 22nd season of the Arena Football League and final season before the 2009 cancellation. The regular season began play on February 29, 2008 and concluded on June 22...
Graziani set the Soul franchise single game record for most touchdown passes in a game (nine). In Week 3, he suffered a sprained ankle. He was scheduled to return Week 7 against the San Jose SaberCats
San Jose SaberCats
The San Jose SaberCats are a professional arena football team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 1995 expansion team. They played in the Western Division of the American Conference. Their final coach in the original Arena Football League was Darren Arbet, who will be a part of the...
, but before the game it was decided he wouldn't play. He returned Week 8 against the Columbus Destroyers, but left the game with an injury. He briefly returned against the Dallas Desperados
Dallas Desperados
The Dallas Desperados were a professional Arena Football team. The Desperados played in the Southern Division of the now-defunct Arena Football League from 2002 to 2008....
, but left the game with a concussion. He did not play in the AFL after that.
Post-football career
Graziani is a real estate agent and occasional football analyst for the 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....
family of networks. He is the co-founder of TD Desert Properties. In 2011, he was named field representative for Assemblyman Brian Nestande, who represents portions of the Inland Empire
Inland Empire
Inland Empire may refer to:In geography:* Inland Empire , a geographic region in Southern California* Inland Empire , a geographic region encompassing Eastern Washington and North IdahoIn entertainment:...
and Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley is a large valley landform in Southern California. The valley extends for approximately 45 miles in Riverside County southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the saltwater Salton Sea, the largest lake in California...
. He makes his home in the Coachella Valley.
Interesting facts
Graziani is related to Rodolfo GrazianiRodolfo Graziani
Rodolfo Graziani, 1st Marquis of Neghelli , was an officer in the Italian Regio Esercito who led military expeditions in Africa before and during World War II.-Rise to prominence:...
, an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
military officer who led expeditions in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
before and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
In 2006, he was the highest paid Arena Football League player. He signed a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Soul for about $160,000 per season. NFL rookies receive a minimum salary of $235,000 for the 2007 season
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
.
During the AFL offseason, Graziani works as an analyst on the Sports USA Radio Network
Sports USA Radio Network
The Sports USA Radio Network is the largest independent nationwide sports broadcasting radio network, specializing in live broadcasts of American football, specifically of the NCAA football Division I-A and National Football League...
.
See also
- List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a passer rating of zero
- List of Arena Football League and National Football League players