Athletes - Tom Tupa

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	Athletes - Tom Tupa

Thomas Joseph Tupa, Jr. (born February 6, 1966) is an American football punter and quarterback who plays for the Washington Redskins of the NFL. In February 2006, he was appointed as the recreation director of Brecksville, Ohio, his hometown.

Personal life & high school career

Perhaps in a sign of things to come, Tupa participated in the NFL's Punt, Pass & Kick contest, and was a semi-finalist three times, winning once. Tupa played mostly quarterback at Brecksville-Broadview Hts.high school in Cleveland, Ohio; he led his team to the state championship while also lettering in basketball (where he averaged 20.8 points per game) and baseball (where he was a pitcher and shortstop).

College career

Tupa attended Ohio State University, where he lettered four years between 1985 and 1989. He graduated as the team's all-time punting leader, with a 44.7 yards per punt average. In addition, he was the starting quarterback for all games in his senior year. He finished 171-of-304 for 2,252 yards, with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. During his tenure as a Buckeye, he played in the Rose Bowl, Florida Citrus Bowl, and Cotton Bowl, a rarity for one college player in four years.

Pro career

Tupa was drafted in the third round (68th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Phoenix (now Arizona) Cardinals. During his rookie year, he was used exclusively as a quarterback, playing in two games and completing 4-of-5 passes for 49 yards. His second season with the team saw an expanded role. He started two games at QB, while registering six punts for 46.7 yards per punt. After spending the entire 1990 season as strictly a holder on kicks, he was the primary quarterback for the Cardinals the following year, playing in 11 games and throwing six touchdowns. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts in 1992, playing as a backup quarterback to Jack Trudeau and Jeff George. That season also marked the last time Tupa was used regularly as a quarterback; since then he has almost exclusively punted, with only emergency occasions or trick plays making use of his throwing skills. Tupa sat out the 1993 NFL season, having been cut by the Cleveland Browns right before the season. However, he was re-signed by the Browns before the following year, and stayed with them for two seasons as their starting punter. He joined the New England Patriots in 1996, and played for them for three years. In 1999, Tupa signed with the New York Jets, and it was during this season that Tupa received his first invitation to the Pro Bowl. He also made his first pass attempt since 1996, and went 6-of-11 for 165 yards and two touchdowns. 2002 saw Tupa sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he was their punter on their road to Super Bowl XXXVII, where they defeated the Oakland Raiders. Before the start of the 2004 NFL season, Tupa signed with the Washington Redskins, where he plays today. In 2004, he was named as a Pro Bowl second alternate. He spent 2005 on the injured reserve list, and did not appear in a game.

Trivia

Tupa scored the first two-point conversion in NFL history, running in a faked extra point attempt for the Browns in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first week of the 1994 season. He subsequently earned the nickname "Two Point Tupa."

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