Winston Justice
Encyclopedia
Winston Frederick Justice (born September 14, 1984) is an American football
offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
of the National Football League
(NFL). He was drafted
by the Eagles in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at USC.
in Long Beach, California
.
at the University of Southern California
. He was regarded as one of the best tackles to come out of USC. Justice blocked for three Heisman Trophy
winners (quarterbacks Carson Palmer
and Matt Leinart
, and running back Reggie Bush
).
in the 2006 NFL Draft
. However, the Eagles did consider using their first round draft pick on him. Many considered him a first round pick because of his athleticism and other abilities, but his character concerns scared teams away from him.
His first NFL start
came against the New York Giants
on September 30, 2007. In the Eagles' 16-3 loss, Justice allowed four sacks
. Justice was outmatched by defensive end Osi Umenyiora
of the Giants in his first appearance in the NFL. In May 2008, former Eagles star Hugh Douglas had commented on Justice by saying, "if they don't bite when they're a puppy they won't bite when they're a grown dog. To me he's not even a football player."
However, Umenyiora himself was quoted in the Philadelphia Daily News
saying "(Justice) is a good offensive tackle, man. He’s not a bad football player. I hate the fact that when people mention his name right now, they just associate him with having given up those sacks." Justice made his second career start against the Carolina Panthers
on September 13, 2009 and played well against star defensive end Julius Peppers
.
After starting right tackle Shawn Andrews
was placed on injured reserve
due to a back injury on September 15, 2009, Justice became the full-time starter at the position. Justice started all sixteen games in 2009.
Justice was given a four-year contract extension, which puts him under contract until the end of the 2013 season, on November 24, 2009.
Justice was placed on the active/physically unable to perform
list on July 28, 2011, due to a knee injury. He was activated on September 3.
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 tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National 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...
(NFL). He was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Eagles in the second round (39th overall pick) of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. 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 USC.
Early years
Justice attended Long Beach Polytechnic High SchoolLong Beach Polytechnic High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School, founded in 1895 as Long Beach High School, is a High school located at 1600 Atlantic Avenue in Long Beach, California, United States....
in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
.
College career
Justice played college footballCollege 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 Southern California
University of Southern California
The 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...
. He was regarded as one of the best tackles to come out of USC. Justice blocked for three Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winners (quarterbacks Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer is an American professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002...
and Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart
Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...
, and running back Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
).
Philadelphia Eagles
Justice was selected in the second round with the 39th overall pick by the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. However, the Eagles did consider using their first round draft pick on him. Many considered him a first round pick because of his athleticism and other abilities, but his character concerns scared teams away from him.
His first NFL start
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...
came against the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 30, 2007. In the Eagles' 16-3 loss, Justice allowed four sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. Justice was outmatched by defensive end Osi Umenyiora
Osi Umenyiora
-2003:Umenyiora was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the New York Giants out of Troy State University, now Troy University. He was number 72. As a rookie in 2003, he played in 13 games with one start.-2005:...
of the Giants in his first appearance in the NFL. In May 2008, former Eagles star Hugh Douglas had commented on Justice by saying, "if they don't bite when they're a puppy they won't bite when they're a grown dog. To me he's not even a football player."
However, Umenyiora himself was quoted in the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
saying "(Justice) is a good offensive tackle, man. He’s not a bad football player. I hate the fact that when people mention his name right now, they just associate him with having given up those sacks." Justice made his second career start against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on September 13, 2009 and played well against star defensive end Julius Peppers
Julius Peppers
Julius Frazier Peppers is an American football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. Nicknamed The Freak of Nature, he was drafted by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
.
After starting right tackle Shawn Andrews
Shawn Andrews
-Philadelphia Eagles:Andrews was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 16th overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, after trading up with the San Francisco 49ers. The day after selecting Andrews, the Eagles traded John Welbourn to the Kansas City Chiefs, officially making Andrews the team's starting...
was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
due to a back injury on September 15, 2009, Justice became the full-time starter at the position. Justice started all sixteen games in 2009.
Justice was given a four-year contract extension, which puts him under contract until the end of the 2013 season, on November 24, 2009.
Justice was placed on the active/physically unable to perform
Physically Unable to Perform
Players can be labeled Physically Unable to Perform in the National Football League if they suffer from football-related injuries during the preseason...
list on July 28, 2011, due to a knee injury. He was activated on September 3.