Peerless Price

Peerless Price
No. 81
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1976-10-27) October 27, 1976
Dayton, Ohio
Height: 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight: 194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Meadowdale
(Dayton, Ohio)
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft: 1999 / Round: 2 / Pick: 53
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 403
Receiving yards: 5,281
Receiving average: 13.1
Receiving touchdowns: 31
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Peerless LeCross Price (born October 27, 1976) is a former American football wide receiver who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Tennessee and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Price also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys.

Early years

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Price's name was inspired by the name of a local moving company.[1] His mother explained that he was given the name because she liked it, and also because she hoped that her son, who grew up in a rough neighborhood, would not fall victim to the life of crime that others in the neighborhood did.[1]

Price was recruited heavily out of Meadowdale High School in Dayton, Ohio. He was a high school All-American and was considered a major athlete when he enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1995 because he was a three sport star in High School. He played college football under head coach Phillip Fulmer.

College career

1995 season

As a freshman in the 1995 season, Price appeared in eight games in a backup role and showed glimpses of the potential that first attracted the Vols' interest.[2]

1996 season

During his 1996 sophomore campaign, Price recorded 32 receptions for three touchdowns and 609 yards[3]; he excelled in a 35–29 loss to the University of Florida early in the season.[4] In addition to gaining attention for his play on the field, Price was named to the Academic All-SEC team.

1997 season

When Joey Kent moved on following the 1996 season, Price stepped into the starting lineup full-time as a junior, where Peyton Manning found Price to be a dependable target. In the 1997 season, he started every game and emerged as a legitimate deep threat. He finished with 48 receptions, netting 698 yards and six touchdowns[5] and helped guide the Vols to an SEC Championship.[6] He also was, for the second consecutive year, named an Academic All-SEC pick.

1998 season

After Marcus Nash graduated, Price stepped into the top spot on the Vols' receiving corps for the 1998 season. In spite of the top two statistical receivers in school history being gone, Price ensured that the adjustment period would be minimal. In a tight game against Alabama, Price tied a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that sparked a Vols' victory and continued their success.[7] Tennessee finished the regular season 11–0 and faced Mississippi State in the SEC Championship Game. With the Vols trailing by four points in the fourth quarter, Price pulled in a spectacular pass over the shoulder for a 41-yard touchdown. Tennessee won the game by score of 24–14[8], and earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Florida State to decide the national champion for the 1998 season.

In the final game of his career with Tennessee, Price showed a national audience what he could do. Although he caught only four of quarterback Tee Martin's passes the entire game, he made them count. Those four catches went for a total of 199 yards and the deciding touchdown en route to a 23–16 victory and the school's first consensus national championship in 47 years. For his performance, Price was named the game's co-MVP with cornerback Dwayne Goodrich.[9]

Professional career

In spite of his successful career in college, Price still fell to the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft, where he was drafted 53rd overall by the Buffalo Bills. He was the fifth wide receiver to be selected in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Buffalo Bills

Price enjoyed his greatest success as the secondary receiver for the Buffalo Bills. In the 2002 season, he caught 94 passes for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns.[10] His best game came on September 15, 2002, when he caught 13 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, including a 48-yard score in overtime, during a 45–39 victory against Minnesota.[11] After the season, the Bills could not afford Price, but did not want to lose him without compensation. They used the Franchise Tag to ensure that Price would be unable to sign elsewhere without the Bills receiving two first round draft picks, a price they knew that no one was willing to pay. Price was given permission to seek a trade, and the Atlanta Falcons were willing to give up a first round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft for Price.[12] The Bills used it to select running back Willis McGahee.[13]

Atlanta Falcons

Price was supposed to be the great receiver that the Falcons needed to excel. He was regarded as a disappointment, as during his two-year stint in Atlanta, Price was unable to produce any breakthrough numbers, and was considered a great bust. The Falcons earned the NFC South division title and a bye in the playoffs relying on great defense and the rushing game. He was released during the 2005 offseason.[14]

Dallas Cowboys

In 2005, Price signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys to be the third receiver and punt returner. Price was also reunited with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, with whom he had shared so much success in Buffalo and who actively lobbied for his signing. He was released on December 3 after catching only six passes for 96 yards, of which one was 58 yards on a single pass play.[15][16]

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

Price re-signed with the Bills and regained his #2 wide receiver role. In the 2006 season, he caught a game-winning touchdown against the Houston Texans[17] and a crucial touchdown in a low-scoring game against the Minnesota Vikings.[18]

Price was placed on injured reserve on October 19, 2007 after having season-ending neck surgery.[19]

On February 14, 2008, the Bills released Price.[20]

After his release from the Bills, Price did not sign with another NFL team.

NFL statistics

YearTeamGamesReceptionsYardsYards per ReceptionLongest ReceptionTouchdownsFirst DownsFumblesFumbles Lost
1999BUF163139312.74531900
2000BUF165276214.74233433
2001BUF165589516.37073710
2002BUF16941,25213.37395721
2003ATL166483813.14934000
2004ATL164557512.85032800
2005DAL769616.0580400
2006BUF16494028.22532011
2007BUF47689.7220500
Career1234035,28113.1733124475

[21]

References

  1. 1 2 "Price Is Rising", Sports Illustrated, December 14, 1998 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1014788/index.htm
  2. ↑ "1995 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "1996 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "1996 Tennessee Volunteers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  5. ↑ "1997 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  6. ↑ Sallee, Barrett. "Classic SEC Football: Tennessee Tops Auburn in the 1997 SEC Championship Game". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  7. ↑ "Tennessee Vols 1998 Season". Smokey's Trail. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Tennessee vs. Miss. State - SEC Championship 1998 Season". Smokey's Trail. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "28th Annual Fiesta Bowl - Fiesta Bowl". Fiesta Bowl. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Peerless Price 2002 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings - September 15th, 2002". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  12. ↑ "Price is right: Falcons trade for Peerless". Savannah Morning News. March 8, 2003. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  13. ↑ Wawrow, John (April 25, 2003). "Bills Take a Chance on Miami RB McGahee". Midland Daily News. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  14. ↑ Pasquarelli, Len (August 31, 2005). "Falcons release receiver Price". ESPN.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  15. ↑ "Report: Cowboys release receiver Price". USA Today. December 4, 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  16. ↑ "Peerless Price 2005 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  17. ↑ "Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans - November 19th, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  18. ↑ "Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills - October 1st, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  19. ↑ "Price becomes ninth Bills player to be placed on injured reserve". ESPN.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  20. ↑ "Bills Release WR Peerless Price, Two Others". Buffalo Rumblings. February 14, 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  21. ↑ "Peerless Price Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
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