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Donald Lee (football player)
Encyclopedia
Donald Tywon Lee is an American football
tight end
for the Cincinnati Bengals
of the National Football League
. He played college football
for the Mississippi State Bulldogs
before he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
and spent two seasons with the team. He played for the Green Bay Packers
from 2005–2010 and was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles
in the 2011 offseason.
, where he lettered in football
, track, and basketball
.
from 1999 to 2002.
in the fifth round, 156th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft
. He went on to play two years for the Dolphins.
, Lee was signed by the Green Bay Packers
in free agency
.
After the injury of Bubba Franks
, Lee gained more playing time. He finished the season fourth in receiving
(1st among tight ends) for the Packers.
In November 2007, Lee signed a four-year contract extension with the Packers for $12 million. On November 18, 2007, Lee had the first multi-touchdown
game of his career as he caught two touchdown passes from Brett Favre
in a 31–17 victory over the Carolina Panthers
. Lee also found the end zone
in Favre's record setting day for "most passing yards" on December 16, 2007 vs. the St. Louis Rams
. Lee finished the 2007 season
with 48 receptions for 575 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught Favre's final touchdown pass as a Packer during the NFC Championship Game
against the New York Giants
on January 20, 2008.
On March 2, 2011, Lee was released by the Packers.
. He was released during final roster cuts 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...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
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 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...
for the Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
before he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
and spent two seasons with the team. He played for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
from 2005–2010 and was a member of 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...
in the 2011 offseason.
Early years
Lee attended Maben High School in MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, where he lettered in football
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....
, track, and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
.
College career
Before his professional career, Lee was a four-year letterman at Mississippi StateMississippi State Bulldogs football
The Mississippi State Bulldogs football program represents Mississippi State University in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing as a member of the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference. Mississippi State has produced 38 All-Americans, 171 All-SEC selections, and 124...
from 1999 to 2002.
Miami Dolphins
Lee was drafted by the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the fifth round, 156th overall in the 2003 NFL Draft
2003 NFL Draft
The 2003 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft was held April 26–27, 2003 at the Theatre at...
. He went on to play two years for the Dolphins.
Green Bay Packers
In the 2005 NFL season2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, Lee was signed by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in free agency
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
After the injury of Bubba Franks
Bubba Franks
Daniel Lamont "Bubba" Franks is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 14th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
, Lee gained more playing time. He finished the season fourth in receiving
Reception (American football)
In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received by a player in bounds, who, after the catch, proceeds to either score a touchdown or be downed. Yards gained from the receiving play are credited to the player as receiving...
(1st among tight ends) for the Packers.
In November 2007, Lee signed a four-year contract extension with the Packers for $12 million. On November 18, 2007, Lee had the first multi-touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
game of his career as he caught two touchdown passes from Brett Favre
Brett Favre
Brett Lorenzo Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was a 20-year veteran of the NFL, having played quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons , Green Bay Packers , New York Jets and Minnesota...
in a 31–17 victory over 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...
. Lee also found the end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
in Favre's record setting day for "most passing yards" on December 16, 2007 vs. the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. Lee finished the 2007 season
2007 Green Bay Packers season
The 2007 Green Bay Packers season was the franchise's 89th overall and 87th season in the National Football League. The Packers finished the regular season with an impressive 13-3 record. They received a bye for the first round of the playoffs, won their divisional round playoff game, and lost in...
with 48 receptions for 575 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught Favre's final touchdown pass as a Packer during the NFC Championship Game
NFC Championship Game
The National Football Conference Championship Game is one of the two semi-final playoff matches of the National Football League, the largest professional American football league in the United States. The game is played on the penultimate Sunday in January and determines the champion of the...
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 January 20, 2008.
On March 2, 2011, Lee was released by the Packers.
Philadelphia Eagles
On July 29, 2011, Lee was signed to a one-year contract with 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...
. He was released during final roster cuts on September 3.
Regular season statistics
| Year | | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | G | Rec | Yds | TD | Avg | |
| 2003 | MIA | 16 | 7 | 110 | 1 | 15.7 |
| 2004 | MIA | 16 | 13 | 110 | 1 | 8.5 |
| 2005 | GB | 15 | 33 | 294 | 2 | 8.9 |
| 2006 | GB | 15 | 10 | 150 | 0 | 15.0 |
| 2007 | GB | 15 | 48 | 575 | 6 | 12.0 |
| 2008 | GB | 16 | 39 | 303 | 5 | 7.8 |
| 2009 | GB | 16 | 37 | 260 | 1 | 7.0 |
| 2010 | GB | 15 | 11 | 73 | 0 | 6.6 |
| Total | 109 | 187 | 1802 | 16 | 9.6 | |
Post-season statistics
| Year | | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | G | Rec | Yds | TD | Avg | |
| 2007 | GB | 2 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 10.2 |
| 2009 | GB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | GB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 5 | 51 | 1 | 10.2 | |