[Wilson8]

News from Abilene, Texas on Tony Washington.

No teams have even called him.

It seems with all of the "good citizens" that KC has signed they could afford to risk bringing in Washington on a college free agent contract.

Ex-ACU lineman still waiting for call from pros

Tony Washington watched the NFL draft for three days, waiting for his name to be called.

It never happened.

The two-time NCAA Division II All-American at Abilene Christian offensive tackle at least expected the phone to ring soon after the draft, with an NFL team ready to offer him a free-agent deal. As of Tuesday, that call had yet to come.

Washington was diplomatic about the lack of interest. Well, at least at first.

"I understand, though," he said. "Some things people can't let go, you know?"

Those things that people can't let go involve his past. In May 2003, when he was 16, Washington was convicted of having sex with his 15-year-old biological sister. He said the sex was consensual. Washington, who grew up in New Orleans, didn't serve any jail time but he received five years probation.

He has to register as a sex offender wherever he lives for the rest of his life.

Washington believes that decision as a 16-year-old is the only reason NFL teams shied away from him

"Yeah, I do believe that's what it's all about," he said. "But I can't do anything about it. I'm just sitting around waiting on a phone call."

It seems hard to believe the 6-foot-7, 305-pound Washington still is waiting for that phone to ring. He did well enough at the NFL combine that some folks were talking about him being a second-round pick. Now, nothing.

West Texas A&M offensive tackle J'Marcus Webb didn't even get invited to the combine but he was taken in the seventh and final round by the Chicago Bears. By most accounts, Washington was considered the better prospect. But the 6-8, 328-pound Webb had less baggage.

Ironically, had Washington beaten somebody up, well, that would probably be OK. There are plenty of NFL athletes who had past histories of violence and questionable behavior. Yet they got a chance to play in the NFL.

Even Washington's former teammate at ACU, Bernard Scott, had minor run-ins with the law and once even got in an off-campus fight that led to his suspension from athletics at Vernon High School. Another fight got him kicked off the team at Central Arkansas.

But he made the most of a second chance at ACU, and his past didn't scare away the Cincinnati Bengals, who drafted him last season.

And yet what Washington did when he was 16 scared away 32 NFL teams? That is not to say what Washington did was OK, but he was just a kid at the time, and he hasn't shown any pattern of violence or bad behavior since. So what gives?

ACU coach Chris Thomsen believes it's all about appearances. He said NFL teams don't want to undergo the media scrutiny they'd get drafting or signing a convicted sex offender. Never mind that Washington isn't what most people would consider your typical sex offender.

"It's just purely a public relations issue," he said. "It had nothing to do with his ability. The teams don't want to have to deal with the scrutiny that comes with that from the media. We're living in a time where the media has to be in every facet of a public figure's life. Teams don't want to deal with that. They don't want to have to answer to why they have a registered sex offender on the team."

That's not to say NFL teams weren't interested in Washington. He said Buffalo had shown interest before the draft. The Bills, though, haven't called since. They ended up signing Texas A&M-Kingsville offensive lineman Jorge Guerra to a free-agent deal.

Midwestern State offensive lineman Mark Hanson also signed as a free agent deal with Minnesota. Neither Guerra nor Hanson were invited to the combine or were even mentioned as possible draft picks by reliable sources.

In fact, NFL scouting guru Gil Brandt listed 14 offensive linemen on his list of the best available players not drafted -- only three of them weren't offered free-agent deals, including Washington. And one of those guys was offered a tryout.

So you can understand why Washington feels like he was yanked around by the NFL.

"My whole thing was if you knew you weren't going to draft me, then don't bring me to the combine, don't invite me to all these all-star games, don't put so much into me," he said. "Now, all of a sudden all 32 teams aren't interested?"

Washington was certain he would be drafted -- or at least offered a free-agent deal. He couldn't believe that call hasn't come.

"I'm a whole lot surprised," he said. "I'm disappointed. God's going to take care of whatever He's going to take care. I believe he's going to take care of me. I have faith in him, and that's it. So I'm just sitting around, really. I can't feel anything right now. I just have to work hard and keep going."

Thomsen believes Washington will be playing football somewhere next season, though not likely in the NFL.

"It's unfortunate for him," he said. "But there's time for him to get an opportunity. There's other leagues in football. He's worked hard, and hopefully he'll get an opportunity to keep playing."

Washington's dream is to play in the NFL. He even has a NFL tattoo on one of his arms. But if the NFL doesn't come calling, he expects to get offers from both the United Football League and the Canadian Football League. And he's willing to go that route if that's what it takes to eventually get into the NFL.

"The NFL is my dream," he said. "If I have to take another long road to get there, then I have to take another long road to get there."