Shawn King (football)
Encyclopedia
Shawn King is a former National Football League
defensive end
who played for the Carolina Panthers
and Indianapolis Colts
. He is best remembered for his numerous suspensions due to violating the NFL's drug policy.
. King was first drug violation came in 1995 during his rookie training camp after testing positive for marijuana
. King played in 13 games his rookie season and in all 16 games the following season. However after testing positive again, King was suspended for the first six games of the 1997 season, only appearing in 9 games. After yet another positive test, King found himself suspended for the entire 1998 season. Prior to the 1999 season, King signed a three-year, $6 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts
and started 8 of the teams first 9 games, but was suspended again (along with teammate Tito Wooten
), this time for four games due to showing up late to a meeting. The Colts later cut King and he was suspended yet again by the league for 12 months for another drug violation and missed the entire 2000 season. Though he was reinstated in January 2001, King chose to retire from the NFL citing the league's drug policy as a reason. After four season of retirement, King signed on to play with the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm
for the 2004 AFL season
, after which he left pro football for good.
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...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
who played for 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...
and 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 ....
. He is best remembered for his numerous suspensions due to violating the NFL's drug policy.
NFL career
Shawn King was drafted in the second round of the 1995 draft by the Carolina PanthersCarolina 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...
. King was first drug violation came in 1995 during his rookie training camp after testing positive for marijuana
Cannabis (drug)
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana comes from the Mexican Spanish word marihuana...
. King played in 13 games his rookie season and in all 16 games the following season. However after testing positive again, King was suspended for the first six games of the 1997 season, only appearing in 9 games. After yet another positive test, King found himself suspended for the entire 1998 season. Prior to the 1999 season, King signed a three-year, $6 million contract with 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 ....
and started 8 of the teams first 9 games, but was suspended again (along with teammate Tito Wooten
Tito Wooten
Tito J. Wooten is a retired American football defensive back in the National Football League for the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts from 1994 to 1999. In the middle of the 1999 season, Wooten was suspended along with teammate Shawn King for missing bed check and showing up late to a team...
), this time for four games due to showing up late to a meeting. The Colts later cut King and he was suspended yet again by the league for 12 months for another drug violation and missed the entire 2000 season. Though he was reinstated in January 2001, King chose to retire from the NFL citing the league's drug policy as a reason. After four season of retirement, King signed on to play with the AFL's Tampa Bay Storm
Tampa Bay Storm
The Tampa Bay Storm are an Arena Football League team based in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. They play their home games in the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa....
for the 2004 AFL season
2004 AFL season
Results and statistics for the Australian Football League season of 2004.See List of Australian Football League premiers for a complete list.-Wizard Home Loans Cup:The Wizard Home Loans Cup Final saw St...
, after which he left pro football for good.
Suspensions
Shawn King was active in the NFL for six seasons from 1995 to 2000. However due to suspensions, King missed 42 games, including the entire 1998 and 2000 seasons. King retired from the NFL in January 2001 shortly after the league reinstated him due to his problems with the drug policy.- 1995 - Placed in the NFL's intervention program after violating the NFL's drug policy
- 1997 - Suspended for six games during the 1997 season due to violating the NFL's drug policy
- 1998 - Suspended for the entire 1998 season due to violating the NFL's drug policy
- 1999 - Suspended for four games during the 1999 season due after missing bed check and showing up late to a team meeting
- 2000 - Suspended for the entire 2000 season after violating NFL's drug policy