News-Record.com

The long, winding - and often very bumpy - road of former N.C. State wide receiver Richard Washington has brought him back to his old stomping grounds, according to this article in the Fort Myers News-Press.

Here's the five-second bio on Washington. Originally comitted to Ohio State before detouring to N.C. State, where he was ineligible his freshman season. After two seasons at State, he was booted off the team for marijuana use. Tried to transfer to Ole Miss but had difficulty transferring credits. Wound up at D-II Valdosta State, but apparently doesn't have enough credits to be academically eligible for football this year. Threw his hat into the NFL supplemental draft, but didn't get picked. Now back home, training at his high school gym, hoping for a shot as a free-agent at an NFL camp.

Whew! That was more like five minutes, actually.

All that since 2001. Much of it since 2004. I can't imagine Washington's chances of latching on with an NFL team are good. Not many are in the market for an undersized wideout who hasn't played in over a year and has a history of drug use. But, the guy has speed and was a play-maker when he was at the top of the game. And even though he's created much of the trouble he's had, there's something in his infectious personality that makes you root for him to somehow stick with an NFL team. Or maybe get a shot in NFL Europe.