Chris Canty (defensive lineman)

Christopher Lee Canty (born November 10, 1982, in The Bronx, New York) is an American football defensive tackle for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.

Early years
Born in The Bronx, New York, Canty attended Charlotte Latin School in Charlotte, North Carolina. He did not play football until his junior year. Canty helped lead his team to the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association State Championship in 1999 on his way to earning All-Conference and All-State honors as a senior tight end and defensive end after recording 20 receptions for 400 yards and 89 tackles and seven sacks.

He finished his prep career with 161 tackles, 12 sacks and two fumble recoveries. He was also a two-year letterman and all-conference honoree for the basketball team.

College career
While at Virginia, Canty was a two-time second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. He led all conference defensive linemen in tackles as a sophomore and junior.

Sophomore (2002)
In 2002, despite missing three games due to injury, Canty finished his sophomore season with 86 tackles, four tackles for losses, four pass deflections, three quarterback pressures, three fumble recoveries and two sacks while starting eight-of-11 games.

Junior (2003)
In 2003, Canty was named second-team All-ACC, Lineman of the Year in Virginia and recipient of the Ned McDonald Award as UVA's Most Outstanding Defensive Player after registering a career-high 104 tackles, 12 tackles for losses, 12 pressures and four sacks. He became only the second down lineman in school history to record more than 100 tackles in a season. His schoolwork also helped him earn All-ACC Academic honors.

Senior (2004)
In 2004, Canty received his bachelor's degree in African American studies in May 2004 and took graduate course work in secondary education during his senior season.

In 2004, Canty's season was cut short in the fourth game of the season when he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL in his left knee. At the time, he had posted 30 tackles, seven tackles for losses, a sack and a forced fumble.

Eye injury
Canty suffered a serious eye injury at a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona, in late January 2005. While Canty said he was nothing more than a bystander in an altercation, he evidently was hit with a glass bottle in left eye, forcing him to have immediate surgery to repair a detached retina.

Dallas Cowboys
Canty was drafted in the fourth round (132nd overall pick) of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. After entering his senior season as a potential first round draft choice, Canty fell into the fourth round because of the knee injury during his senior season as well as a detached retina in his left eye, suffered in the spring prior to the draft. After trading a fifth round pick in 2005 and a fourth rounder in 2006 to the Philadelphia Eagles for their fourth round choice, allowing the Cowboys to draft Canty. Canty signed a three-year, $1.3 million contract with the Cowboys.

After working throughout the spring and summer to rehabilitate his knee and recover from injured retina, Canty was on the field one week into training camp. He split time with Greg Ellis at right defensive end and led all defensive linemen with 43 tackles. He was also second on the team with five tackles behind the line of scrimmage and tied for fourth on the club with 2.5 sacks.

Canty played in the season opener at the San Diego Chargers and recorded his first NFL tackle along with a quarterback pressure. Against the Washington Redskins he added his first career sack with a third-quarter tackle of Mark Brunell. He was third on the team, first among linemen with a season-high six tackles at the Oakland Raiders. He also added a half sack and a tackle for a loss. Canty had two tackles against the Eagles as the defense limited the Eagles to 129 total yards, including just 19 on the ground, the fourth lowest rushing total in franchise history. Canty had a season-high two quarterback pressures against the Arizona Cardinals as well as a tackle and a tackle for a loss. At Philadelphia, he played mostly on first and second downs, recorded two tackles, a tackle for a loss and a forced fumble. Canty led all linemen with three tackles and added his second sack of the season against the Denver Broncos. At the New York Giants, he earned his first NFL start, replacing (Greg) Ellis at right end, and recorded four tackles. He started, again, the next week against the Kansas City Chiefs and led all defensive linemen with five tackles despite suffering a sprained ankle during the game. He did not start but did play at Washington after missing two days of practice due to the injured ankle. He recorded two tackles and a tackle for a loss at the Carolina Panthers. In the season finale against the St. Louis Rams, Canty led all defensive linemen with five tackles and also had a tackle for a loss.

As a rookie, Canty was a member of the Cowboys 2005 Rookie Club, a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area which included work with The Salvation Army, Children's Medical Center and Meals on Wheels. He also participated in the 2006 Stars of Texas Racing Against the Odds event hosted by local newspaper columnist and radio personality Randy Galloway that raised over $300,000 for the American Diabetes Association.

In 2006, Canty earned the starting role at defensive end and went on to start all 16 regular season games and Dallas's lone playoff game.

In 2007, Canty started all 16 games of the season and Dallas' lone playoff game. On the season, he recorded 43 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two passes defensed.

In the Cowboys lone playoff game, their third game against the New York Giants on the season, Canty recorded three tackles (two solo), one sack, and one pass defensed.

On June 11, 2008, Canty signed a one-year tender offer worth $2.017 million to remain with the Cowboys for the 2008 season. He ended the 2008 season with 3 sacks, 5 passes deflected and 37 tackles.

New York Giants
On March 1, 2009 Canty signed with the New York Giants; the six-year contract is worth $42 million, with $17.25 million guaranteed. In 2011, Canty registered career-high marks in tackles (47) and sacks (4).

Statistics
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Personal
Canty's mother, Shirley, is an ordained United Methodist minister, his father, Joseph, Sr., is a major contractor, and one of his brothers is the president of his own graphic design company and the other lives in Maryland and works as a contractor.