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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1968-05-19)May 19, 1968 (age 57) Schaumburg, Illinois, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 211 lb (96 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Schaumburg | ||||||||||||
| College | Arizona St. | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1991: 7th round, 190th overall pick | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Career Arena League statistics | |||||||||||||
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Paul Donald Justin (born May 19, 1968) is an American former professionalfootball player who was aquarterback in theNational Football League (NFL). He was selected by theChicago Bears in the seventh round of the1991 NFL draft. He playedcollege football for theArizona State Sun Devils. He primarily played in the NFL with theIndianapolis Colts, adding brief stints with theCincinnati Bengals andSt. Louis Rams. Prior to his time in the NFL, he was thestarting quarterback for theArizona Rattlers of theArena Football League (AFL) and theFrankfurt Galaxy of theWorld League of American Football (WLAF).
Justin attendedSchaumburg High School, before moving on toArizona State University.
He became the starter atquarterback in the seventh game of his sophomore season in 1988, after passing Daniel Ford on the depth chart. He completed 56% (84 of 150) of his passes, threw for 1,063 yards, 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, while helping the team post a 6–5 record.[1]
In 1989, he completed 33 of 47 passes for 534 yards (school-record) and 4 touchdowns in a 44–39 upset of No. 23 rankedWashington State University.[2] He finished the season with a 6–4–1 record, 2,591 yards, 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
In 1990, the Sun Devils opened the season with victories overBaylor University andColorado State University, but would lose 4 consecutive games, 3 of them while Justin was out with a dislocated left shoulder suffered during a 30–9 loss against theUniversity of Missouri. He also spent two days in a hospital with a probable case ofappendicitis, that was later diagnosed as a gastrointestinal problem and caused him to lose 17 pounds.[3] He posted a 4–7 record, 1,876 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Justin was selected by theChicago Bears in the seventh round (190th overall) of the1991 NFL draft.[4] He was waived on August 26 and later signed to thepractice squad.[5] He was cut on August 31,1992.[6]
Justin playedflag football, before signing with theArizona Rattlers of theArena Football League (AFL) in1993. He completed 226 of 404 passes, for 2,846 yards, 45 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
On April 11,1994, he signed with theIndianapolis Colts, but was released on August 28.
He was re-signed in1995 and was allocated to theFrankfurt Galaxy of theWorld League of American Football, after being out of football for two years. He led his team to theWorld Bowl III championship.
In1995, he started one game and also shared playing time withJim Harbaugh against theNew Orleans Saints. He also played a brief time against theBuffalo Bills on November 5.[7] The next year, he started 2 games, winning both of them.
In1997, he started 4 games, while Harbaugh recovered from a fractured right hand he suffered when he scuffled with NBC sportscasterJim Kelly. Against theBuffalo Bills, he was winning 26–0 in the first half, but the lead disappeared after the Bills outscored the Colts 30–3, Justin made it close again at 37–35 with 14 seconds remaining, but could not complete the potential game-tying two-point conversion. The Bills recovery from a 26-point deficit at the time was the second-largest comeback inNFL history. Coming in with an 0–10 record against the defendingSuper Bowl championsGreen Bay Packers, he led the team to a 41–38 win, completing 24-of-30 attempts for 340 passing yards.[8] On December 5, he was placed on theinjured reserve list.
On March 26,1998, he was traded theCincinnati Bengals in exchange for a fifth round draft choice (#135-Antony Jordan).
TheCincinnati Bengals acquired Justin after the retirement ofBoomer Esiason to compete withJeff Blake for the starting job. He appeared in 5 games with 3 starts, before being cut on April 20,1999.[9]
On August 18,1999, he was signed as afree agent by theOakland Raiders. On August 30, he was traded to theSt. Louis Rams in exchange for a seven-round draft choice (#238-Rodregis Brooks).[10]
TheSt. Louis Rams acquired Justin to provide depth at quarterback, afterTrent Green suffered a serious left knee injury in the last preseason game andKurt Warner was named the new starter. He was a part of theSuper Bowl XXXIV winning team.
On March 30,2000, he was signed as afree agent by theDallas Cowboys, to replace the departedJason Garrett as the backup quarterback.[11] After struggling in preseason (he accounted for 6 critical turnovers in the first two games) and the signing ofRandall Cunningham, he was waived injured on August 24.[12]
On May 1,2001, he signed with theSt. Louis Rams. On August 10, he was placed on theinjured reserve list with a tornanterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.[13]