Dante Wesley

Dante Wesley

Wesley at the Carolina Panthers 2008 Fan Fest
No. 29, 21, 23, 33
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1979-04-05) April 5, 1979
Place of birth:	St. Louis, Missouri
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:	Pine Bluff (AR) Watson Chapel
College:	Arkansas–Pine Bluff
NFL Draft:	2002 / Round: 4 / Pick: 100
Career history
Carolina Panthers (2002–2005) Chicago Bears (2006) New England Patriots (2007)* Carolina Panthers (2007–2009) Detroit Lions (2010)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
2x second-team All-SWAC (1999-2000) First-team All-SWAC (2001) All-American (2001)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Dante Julius Wesley (born April 5, 1979) is a retired American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

Wesley was also a member of the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions.

Professional career

First stint with Panthers

Wesley was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 4th round (100th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Chicago Bears

In March 2006 he signed a 2-year contract with the Chicago Bears.

New England Patriots

After one season with the Bears, Wesley was acquired by the New England Patriots for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Second stint with Panthers

On September 3, 2007, after being released by the Patriots, he signed again with the Carolina Panthers.

Wesley scored his first career touchdown on a 12-yard fumble return against the New Orleans Saints in the 2008 season finale.

Clifton Smith incident

In the 2009 NFL season, during a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Wesley hit the punt returner Clifton Smith, who had called for a fair catch but not yet received the ball. Wesley was assessed a 15-yard penalty. ^{[1] [2]}

Two days later, the NFL suspended Wesley for one game without pay. Wesley said he never meant to harm Smith, saying he merely mistimed his hit on him. He also said he wanted to apologize to Smith.^[3]

Detroit Lions

Wesley signed with the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent on April 3, 2010. Wesley was cut after the Lions had to go to the 53-man roster. He was re-signed by the Lions on September 30, 2010. He was released on October 19.

NFL stats

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Personal

The Role Model: The Dante and Renetta Wesley Story

Role Models. Often we look to the stars, the athletes, the musicians to find them. We model ourselves after their style, their cars, their clout. But often, lying in obscurity, are the true models of our culture, lost under the haze of celebrity. These are the humble, the patient, the forgiving. They know their place in the world and inhabit it with humility and grace. They understand their role and respect both the opportunity and responsibility that comes with the position.

Renetta Wesley is a role model and what I would consider the ideal model for all future players when considering a life partner.

Raised in a small country town by a family of God, Renetta Wesley is patient, she is kind, she does not envy or boast, she is not proud, not rude, not self-seeking or easily angered, she keeps no records of wrongs. She does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth, because she knows the truth always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

There are those who read poems while standing in pretty dresses and there are those, like Renetta, who live them while standing for purpose.

^[5]

References