William Green ( American football ) William Green ( born December 17 , 1979 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League ( NFL ) for four seasons during the early 2000s . He played college football for Boston College , and received All - American honors . The Cleveland Browns chose him in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft , and he played for the Browns for his entire pro career . Early years . Green was born in Atlantic City , New Jersey . His early life was fraught with problems . His father was a heroin addict who died of AIDS when William was 12 . His mother died of the disease a year later . Green attended Holy Spirit High School in Absecon , New Jersey , where he played for the Holy Spirit Spartans high school football team and received multiple high school All - American honors . College career . Green received an athletic scholarship to attend Boston College , and played for the Boston College Eagles football team from 1998 to 2001 . In two years as a starting running back , he compiled over 2 , 700 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns . He was a first - team All - Big East Conference selection in 2000 and 2001 , was honored as the Big East Offensive Player of the Year , and was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American in 2001 . Professional career . Cleveland Browns . In the 2002 NFL Draft , Green was a top - rated player . However , two college suspensions for marijuana use hurt his stock on draft day . Cleveland selected him as 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft . As a rookie in 2002 , Green appeared in all 16 regular season games and started ten of them , gaining 887 yards and scoring six touchdowns . His 2003 season , however , was fraught with turmoil . After a good start with 559 yards , Green was arrested for drunk driving and marijuana possession . Green was also notoriously seen wearing one shoe and one sock during the arrest The arrest led to a four - game suspension under the league ' s substance abuse policy . While under suspension , Green ' s fiancee , Asia Gray , stabbed him in the back during a domestic dispute . The league extended his suspension through the end of the 2003 season " for treatment purposes . " Green tried to get back on track in 2004 , but gained only 585 yards . That year he was also ejected prior to a game with the Pittsburgh Steelers for fighting with linebacker Joey Porter . Around this time , he had disclosed that he was having a child with a woman other than his wife . His final season in Cleveland was an injury - plagued 2005 campaign where he appeared in eight games and gained only 78 yards . The Browns placed him on injured reserve at the end of training camp in 2006 and reached an injury settlement with Green allowing them to release him . Comeback attempt . In March 2008 , it was reported that Green would attempt to play in the NFL again after two seasons out of the league . He worked out at his alma mater Boston College ' s Pro Day on March 19 , showing up in " great shape , " bench - pressing 225 pounds 25 times and posting a 42 - inch vertical leap , but also ran a 4 . 85 forty yard dash . As of 2013 , he has not returned to the league . NFL stats . Rushing Stats Receiving Stats