Cornelius Bennett
Five time N.F.L. All-Pro
As a linebacker at the University of Alabama, Bennett was named to the Sporting
News All-American team three consecutive years, 1984 through 1986. In his senior
season, he was a consensus All-American and he won the Lombardi Award as the outstanding
college lineman of the year, even though he was primarily a linebacker.
The 6-foot-2, 238-pound Bennett was the first draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts,
the second choice overall, but he refused to sign a contract and the Colts traded
his rights to the Buffalo Bills in a complex three-team deal that brought running
back Eric Dickerson to Indianapolis from the Los Angeles Rams.
Bennett immediately became a star in the NFL. Because of his holdout, he played in
only 8 games as a rookie, but he recorded 8 1/2 sacks.
In 1988, Bennett had 9 1/2 sacks during the regular season and his fumble recovery
in overtime set up the winning field goal in a game against the New York Jets that
clinched the AFC title for the Bills.
Bennett played in the Pro Bowl in 1988 and each year from 1990 through 1993. He helped
lead the Bills to four consecutive AFC championships, also from 1990 through 1993.
However, they lost all four Super Bowls.
In 1996, Bennett went to the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent. He started slowly with
Atlanta and was held back by injury for a good part of the season. He came back in
1997 with 7 sacks and 115 tackles and in 1998 he was an important player on the defensive
unit that helped take the Falcons into the Super Bowl for the first time in history.
Through the 1998 season, Bennett has 63 1/2 sacks and 7 interceptions, which he returned
for a total of 112 yards, including one touchdown. He has also recovered 24 fumbles,
1 for a touchdown, and he scored a touchdown on an 80-yard return of a blocked field
goal.
| EVENT |
PLACE |
POINTS |
MONEY |
EVENT WINS |
| 1988 Preliminary 2 |
8 |
14 |
$1,400 |
None |
| 1990 Preliminary 1 |
4 |
24 |
$2,400 |
None |
| 1990 Final |
8 |
13 |
$1,300 |
None |
| TOTALS |
51 |
$5,100 |
0 |