Leon Washington Leon Washington ( born August 29 , 1982 ) is an American football running back and return specialist for the New England Patriots of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Florida State University . He was drafted by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft . He has also played for the Seattle Seahawks . Early years . At Andrew Jackson High School he won the " Mr . Football " Award in 2001 and later committed to Florida State . As a freshman at Florida State , he changed positions from cornerback to running back . Professional career . New York Jets . Washington was selected in the fourth round ( 117th overall ) of the 2006 NFL Draft . The pick used was obtained by the Jets from the Kansas City Chiefs , as compensation for the release of former Jets head coach Herman Edwards . Washington gained some attention in his second preseason game , returning a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown against the Washington Redskins . Nonetheless , he did not immediately get many carries in the first few weeks of the regular season . However , as the Jets running game struggled in the first few weeks , his role in the offense increased . He first showcased his ability on a 47 - yard reception Week 3 in Buffalo . Two weeks later in Jacksonville , he recorded his first 100 - yard rushing game , running for 101 yards in a Jets 41 – 0 loss . His breakout performance came on October 22 at home against Detroit in a game in which Leon ran for 129 yards for two touchdowns and led the Jets ' to a 31 – 24 win . In a game in Miami on Christmas night , Washington had 108 receiving yards including a 64 - yard reception to set up the game winning field goal in a 13 – 10 win . He helped the Jets clinch the fifth playoff spot in the AFC on New Years Eve , 2006 with a touchdown run that put that helped to seal a win against the Oakland Raiders in the final game of the 2006 regular season . He finished the regular season with 650 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 151 attempts . He averaged 4 . 3 yards - per - carry . In an AFC East game , he returned a kick 92 - yards for a touchdown against the New England Patriots in 2008 . Washington gained 2 , 317 all purpose yards in 2008 , more than any other running back in the NFL . Washington was selected as AFC Special teams Player of the Week for Week 11 of the 2008 season , the first such award in his career . His 92 - yard touchdown was the fourth kick return touchdown of his career , surpassing Justin Miller for the club record . He led the league in all - purpose yards in 2008 with 1606 yards . Washington was out for the 2009 season with a compound fracture to his fibula that he suffered in Week 7 in a 38 - 0 shutout win versus the Oakland Raiders . Prior to his season ending injury , Leon Washington had rushed for 331 yards on 72 carries , with a 4 . 6 yards per carry average . Washington had yet to score in 2009 prior to his injury . The Jets call their wildcat formation " Seminole " due to the fact that Washington lined up at quarterback , and was a Florida State Seminole . On April 15 , 2010 ( the NFL free agent deadline ) , Washington signed his tendered contract with the Jets at one - Year $ 1 . 759 million . Seattle Seahawks . On April 24 , 2010 Washington was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a fifth - round draft pick in the 2010 NFL Draft . He was assigned the number 33 on his new team ; 29 went to first - round draft pick Earl Thomas . During the September 26th , 2010 game against the San Diego Chargers , Washington set a Seahawks record with 2 kickoff return touchdowns . He returned the opening kickoff of the 2nd half for a team record 101yds , then in the 4th quarter he ran 99yds for his second kickoff TD of the game . On March 1 , 2011 Washington signed a four - year deal worth $ 12 . 5 million to stay with the Seattle Seahawks . Due to the signing of wide receiver Percy Harvin , Leon Washington was released by the Seahawks on March 12 , 2013 . New England Patriots . On March 14 , 2013 , Washington signed with the New England Patriots . Personal . Washington married Charity ( née Young ) on December 19 , 2008 . They have two sons , Noel and Nolen . Football card controversy . Washington ' s 2006 Bowman " Signs of the Future " card with the Jets caused a great deal of controversy during the third week of November , 2006 , in which it appears that he is making an obscene gesture . The card sold on eBay during that time for more than four times its book value . Washington insists his gesture is a popular hand gesture among his friends in his hometown .