August 19, 2008
Author's Response:
Jack Thompson (born 18 May 1956 in American Samoa) was a quarterback in the National Football League. Known as "The Throwin' Samoan," a nickname bestowed on him by Spokesman-Review columnist Harry Missildine during Thompson's breakout sophomore season at Washington State University in 1976. He was a first-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1979 and played for Cincinnati from 1979-82. Considered by ESPN to be a bust of a draft pick (#26 worst- fellow WSU grad Ryan Leaf is considered #1). He went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1983 and became the team's starting quarterback, but was replaced the following year by Steve DeBerg.