Cards:Action Packed Rookies 1992, ProSet 1991 League Leader
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Pro Football Hall of Fame
Sent: 3/21 Received: 4/16 (26 days)
One of the most dominant and complete defensive ends in NFL history, Bruce Smith holds the NFL career record for sacks with a flat 200 playing in 19 seasons for the Bills and Redskins. He is though most remembered as a key player for the Buffalo Bills tremendous SuperBowl runs during the 1990s and part of a stalwart defensive alignment that included Cornelius Bennett, Darryl Talley, and Shane Conlan. An 11 time Pro Bowl selection, 9 time first team all pro, a member of both the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Defensive Player of the year 1990 and 1996, and 1987 Pro Bowl MVP, Bruce amassed a tremendous amount of accolades over his playing time.
Highly decorated coming out of college at Virginia Tech, Bruce Smith was a shoe in #1 pick being named the Outland Trophy winner in 1984 and a 2 time All American in 1983, and 1984. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills, Bruce quickly established himself as an outside rushing force and within 5 seasons had become the all time sack leader of the franchise. In 1990 he made 19 sacks, and was named NFL defensive MVP. Bruce would lose his 1991 season to a knee injury but would return in full force by 1992. He would transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense successfully under then defensive coordinator Wade Phillips later in 1995, where he again would be named defensive MVP in 1996. He would be allowed to sign via Free Agency in 1999 where he became more of a designated pass rusher, and passed up Reggie White for the record in his final season in 2003. In 13 of his 19 seasons he made double digit sacks. Bruce was enshrined into the NFL HoF in his first year of eligibility in 2008 and also to the Bills Wall of Fame that same year. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame as well, he spends a good deal of his time working for charities.
I had heard that Bruce was a great TTM signer, but I couldn’t believe it till I tried it since he was the NFL’s career sack leader. He responded in very little time via the Pro Football HoF (Canton,OH) roughly in 30 days. Always well represented in Tecmo Super Bowls, Bruce when he was in excellent condition would dominate any offensive lineman and on occasion was so fast could cover wide receivers down the field, and 9 times out of 10 his quickness allowed him to be around any play with the computer.
G/Gs 279/267 Tac 1225 Sac 200 Fum 43 Int 2 Yds 0 Avg -.- Td 0
Andre’s career started off anonymously enough with a respectable rookie season lodging 637 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a meaty 13.3 yard per catch. Notably his yard per catch would become almost a signature of Reed’s career. Over a 16 year career- he’d only have 3 seasons under 13 yards a reception. (A particularly salivating number in today’s pass happy NFL world.) Andre would build off of his rookie season as his receptions and yards would increase through 1988, culminating in his first of 7 Pro Bowl appearances that would last through 1994. In 1989 he’d have a career high 1312 yards, and post career highs in touchdowns with 10 in 1991. Reed in 1993 would have a whopping 16.4 yards a catch and over that period would play in 3 SuperBowls, finishing 3rd in the big game in yards and 2nd in receptions. An injury would sideline him in 1995, but he’d make a full recovery in 1996, logging his 4th 1000 yard season. From 1997 through 2000, Reed’s career would slowly transition downwards, and in 2000 he signed with the Broncos. Unable to make a contribution to the team, he was released and played his final season with the Redskins before retiring.
Reed’s career statistics, when looking at them year over year can be deceptive. While not a perennial 1,000 yard receiver, Andre was an integral part of the no huddle Bills offense in conjunction with Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. His overall career numbers in yardage at the time of retirement were top 10 and his receptions were third all time. Andre Reed has been eligible for the Pro Football HoF since 2006, but has missed the final ballot on every shot. With a large group of receivers who are becoming eligible for the HoF nomination, it is cloudy to say whether or not Andre will get his true due as a member of the yellow jacket club. Andre was inducted in the meantime into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2006.
He’s also started his own line of BBQ sauce as previously mentioned, called “Over the Middle”. Part of the proceeds of the sale of his sauce go to impoverished children. I am told that it is quite good, and may give it a shot here in the near future. In addition Reed has done occasional commentary on NFL games for Fox and appeared in “Pros Versus Joes” on Spike TV. In 2011, he was honored with announcing the Buffalo Bills 2nd round pick.