Cornelius Bennett was a well decorated LB who played college ball at Alabama from 1984-’86.
Bennett recorded 287 tackles, 21.5 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries for the Tide.
Considered a part of one of the finest LB classes in 1987, Bennett was selected in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts.
Unable to come to a contract agreement with the Colts, he became embroiled in one of the NFL’s largest trades- as part of the Eric Dickerson trade.
In short with a slew of picks and players, Bennett would go to the Rams, Dickerson to the Colts, Greg Bell to the Rams, and Bennett to the Bills.
Cornelius’ impact was felt almost immediately for the Bills at the LOLB position.
He had 8.5 sacks, 5 FF, and 69 tackles in 8 contests.
His best season arguably came in 1991, with 107 tackles, 4 FF and 9 sacks- garnering him defensive player of the year attention.
Bennett tried his hand at RILB in 1995- recording a 65 yard interception for a TD against New England.
In 1996, Cornelius took his game back to his home state of Alabama playing for the Falcons at LLB.
He’d play there through 1998, helping them reach the Super Bowl.
Ironically he’d then play the final two years of his career for the Colts and retire after the 2000 season.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
Lombardi Award
Bills 50th Anniversary Team
NFL 1990s All Decade Time
All Pro 1988, ’91, ’92
Pro Bowl 1988, 1990-’93
NOTES:
Cornelius doesn’t sign TTM so I just went ahead and did a paid signing for him. At the time it knocked out my set needs, but now looking back I probably needed him on a few more sets. Cornelius has agreed to donate his brain to science after his death to study for CTE.
CARDS: Pro Set 1991 Lombardi Award Winner, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Gameday 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o The Zorich Group* SENT: 9/22 RECEIVED: 10/4 (12 days) FAILURE: TTM C/o Home, 2012, 2020, 2021 * Fee enclosed
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played for Notre Dame from 1988-90 at NT/DT.
Posted 219 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 6 fumble recoveries over college career.
Looking to reload an aging defensive line the Chicago Bears drafted Zorich during the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft.
Playing in a rotation, Chris didn’t see significant starting time until the following year, posting 53 tackles, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery.
Best year came in 1993, posting 121 combined tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries in first full 16 game slate.
Had 5.5 sacks and 72 total tackles in 1994.
In final full season in Chicago had 58 total tackles, and a sack.
Split final half year in 1997 between Chicago and Washington, retiring after season.
Action Packed Rookies 1991, #25Pro Set 1991, #33
ACCOLADES:
Lombardi Award 1991
Pro Bowl 1993
NOTES:
Well as you can see here, I tried Chris quite a few times. The first time I tried him back in 2012, I was unaware he’d just been sentenced for tax evasion to prison. I tried again when he resurfaced as an athletic director at Chicago State but again got burnt. Finally I closed in during 2021- where he sent a buckslip requesting a fee. I jumped at the shot to finally get Chris after 3 previously unsuccessful attempts and added him on pretty much all my set needs to close the book on this one. He got back all the cards to me at a quick clip, sent me a personal certification of his autograph, and typed form letter thanking me for being a fan.
Card: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011 Acquired: EBay, 2020
Tony Degrate was a monster at defensive tackle, for the Texas Longhorns from 1982 to 1984- and is considered one of the finest D-linemen to play at the school. In his 1984 campaign, he amassed a then school defensive lineman record 123 stops and 12 sacks to clench the Lombardi Award, given to the nation’s top lineman. All together, Tony had 47 career tackles for loss and 31 sacks.
The Tampa Bay Bandits made an offer to Degrate, which he turned down, but this ruffled the feathers of the concerned NFL who thought he had all but flown the coop. In the end, Tony was selected in the 5th round of the draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. After spending a season with the team, he saw time in camp with the Packers, and later the Bucs.
Tony’s story is a cautionary one, and I relate to him immensely. Degrate is a great talent who let those little nagging voices in his head get to him, and his confidence just kept slipping, and it affected him physically and mentally. Self doubt and guilt are terrible burdens to bear.
I can understand why he is a difficult autograph to get in any capacity, as he probably feels that he let a lot of people- and himself down. He went back to school and finished his art degree, but at one point I believe that he was a personal trainer in the Austin area.
Degrate’s first card came out in 2011 as part of the Upper Deck Texas set. There are 3 cards in the set of him, and he is very difficult to get an autograph from. He doesn’t sign TTM and when I attended an event at the UT Coop he was scheduled to be at, he cancelled at the last moment. I really liked this card of him leaping up and making a play, and I was more than happy to pick up this card via EBay at a reasonable price.
I hope Tony is doing well.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
