John Avery ( American football ) John Edward Avery , Jr . ( born January 11 , 1976 ) is a former professional Canadian football and American football player . He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League , but also played with the National Football League ' s ( Miami Dolphins , Denver Broncos , Dallas Cowboys , and Minnesota Vikings ) and the XFL ( Chicago Enforcers ) . College career . Avery attended and played football at Asheville High School in Asheville , North Carolina and , following graduation , continued his playing career at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia , Mississippi . After two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College , Avery enrolled at the University of Mississippi . In 1996 , he started five games at running back , rushing 181 times for 788 yards and 5 touchdowns , 16 receptions for 99 yards and 17 kickoff returns for 473 yards and touchdowns . In 1997 , Avery started nine games for the Rebels , including the Motor City Bowl . During his final season with the Rebels , Avery totaled 166 carries for 862 yards and 7 touchdowns , added 13 receptions for 113 yards , 8 punt returns for 46 yards , and returned 13 kickoffs for 315 yards and one touchdown . In 1997 he was a finalist for the Conerly Trophy . Professional career . Miami Dolphins . Avery was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 1st Round ( 29th Overall ) of the 1998 NFL Draft . Denver Broncos . Avery was traded to the Denver Broncos from the Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver Marcus Nash on September 21 , 1999 . Avery saw limited action with Denver and was released in training camp the following season . Chicago Enforcers . In 2001 , Avery started 10 games for the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL . He led the short - lived XFL in rushing with 800 yards ( on 150 carries for a 5 . 3 yard average ) , rushed for five touchdowns , and also caught 17 passes for 297 yards and two touchdowns . Avery wore the No . 20 in the XFL , but in the Enforcers ' first game of the season against the Orlando Rage he was forced to wear No . 22 for the second half because his jersey was ripped early in the game . After the conclusion of the XFL ' s 2001 season , Avery attended the Dallas Cowboys training camp but suffered a hamstring injury and was subsequently released . Edmonton Eskimos . Avery ' s most successful year in professional football , to date , was 2002 . He signed with the Canadian Football League ' s Edmonton Eskimos on April 26 , 2002 . Avery finished the season with 229 carries for 1 , 448 yards ( 6 . 3 yd . avg . ) and nine touchdowns . Avery started the season as the second string running back behind incumbent starter Ronald Williams : as a result , he was used sparingly in the first four games of the season . When Williams was injured in a week 4 game in Saskatchewan , Avery assumed the starting halfback position . He never looked back , winning the CFL rushing title by almost 300 yards . He scored two touchdowns in the Western Division Finals , leading the Eskimos to a victory and setting the team up for a home appearance in the Grey Cup Championship at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton . However , Avery suffered a leg injury in the West Final , which limited his effectiveness in the Grey Cup despite his best efforts . The Eskimos came up short in the Grey Cup game at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes , losing 25 - 16 , but Avery finished the season a winner of the Eddie James Memorial Trophy ( as the Western Division ' s leading rusher ) and a CFL All - Star . Minnesota Vikings . Avery signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings on February 13 , 2003 . He played six games with one rush for 0 yards and 2 receptions , and returned 16 kickoffs for 346 yards , for a 21 . 6 yard average . Avery was placed on the Vikings injured reserved list with a knee injury on October 24 , 2003 . Toronto Argonauts . Avery was signed by the CFL ' s Toronto Argonauts in 2004 . Avery did not play in the Argos ' two pre - season games , but he made his Toronto debut in Week 1 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders . Avery rushed 8 times for 22 yards and caught 5 passes for 27 yards in that game . In Week 8 , he met his former club , Edmonton , for the first time ever , and scored his first two touchdowns as an Argonaut . Avery started in the Labour Day Classic against the Hamilton Tiger - Cats in Hamilton in Week 12 , and rushed for 110 yards ( his first 100 yard running game as an Argonaut ) on 17 carries and 1 touchdown , including his longest career CFL run - 74 yards . Avery did not suit up in Week 20 against Montreal because of a knee injury . In the 2004 Eastern Division Semi - Final , Avery started at running back for the Argos , rushed 13 times for 32 yards ( longest gain : 19 yards ) , and caught 1 pass for - 5 yards against the Hamilton Tiger - Cats at Toronto ' s SkyDome ( won by Toronto , 24 - 6 ) . In the Eastern Final at Montreal , Avery recorded his first career win against the Alouettes in a 26 - 18 Argos ' triumph . Avery spent most of game blocking but was handed the ball 6 times in the second half and raced for 34 yards , including the game winning romp of 25 yards for an Argos ' touchdown . At the 92nd Grey Cup Championship , Avery started at running back for the Argonauts , rushed 11 times for 75 yards ( longest gain : 26 yards ) , and caught 4 passes for 24 yards ( longest gain : 10 yards ) to help the Argos win their 15th Grey Cup Championship in team history with a 27 - 19 triumph over the BC Lions . This Grey Cup championship also marked the first championship at any level for Avery . In the 2005 season , Avery missed both Toronto pre - season games due to an adductor injury . Avery started 13 of 15 games at running back for the Argonauts before suffering a season - ending hamstring injury against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 15 . In Week 5 against the Alouettes , Avery caught the game - winning touchdown on a 14 - yard reception from Argos ' quarterback Damon Allen . The following week against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers , Avery generated 148 all - purpose yards in 34 - 27 win . In the 2005 Labour Day classic against Hamilton , he generated 90 yards rushing . In Week 11 , Avery started at running back and generated 123 all - purpose yards and 1 touchdown against Saskatchewan . In his season - ending game against the Blue Bombers , Avery caught the Argos ’ first touchdown pass of the game before leaving in the second quarter with the hamstring injury . The 2006 season began with former NFL running back Ricky Williams making a highly publicized move to the Argonauts as a result of an off - season signing ( and Williams ' NFL suspension for violating the league ' s drug policy ) . The star import ' s presence bumped Avery further down the Argos ' running back depth chart , but Williams ' broken arm in a July 22 win over Saskatchewan left the door open for Avery . Prior to his scheduled return to the starting lineup against the BC Lions in Week 7 , Avery suffered a leg injury in practice which delayed his comeback for another two weeks . On August 12 , 2006 , Avery made his 2006 debut against the Hamilton Tiger - Cats in Hamilton rushing for 74 yards on 13 carries while also catching two receptions for 31 yards . The following week against the Montreal Alouettes at home , Avery ran for 94 yards on 21 carries while scoring a touchdown . On January 31 , 2008 , contract ended with the Argonauts .