Isaac Bruce: Biography from Answers.com

football player

Personal Information

Born Isaac Isidore Bruce on November 10, 1972, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Education: attended West Los Angeles and Santa Monica Junior College; graduated from Memphis State University, Memphis, TN, with a degree in physical education.
Religion: Church of God in Christ.

Career

Professional football player; star player in collegiate career at Memphis State; drafted in second round by Los Angeles Rams, 1994; followed team to St. Louis; set record as all-time leading gainer among wide receivers (record eclipsed at season's end by another player) in second year, 1995; led the NFL in yardage gained, 1996; plagued by injuries, 1997 and 1998; recovered from injuries and led the Rams to the NFL championship, 1999.

Life's Work

"Guys look at me and think I'm too skinny," Isaac Bruce told Sports Illustrated for Kids in the early years of his career. "They probably ask what I'm doing playing in the NFL. So I always try to make a big play. And when I block, I try to knock the defender on his butt." That determination allowed the six-foot-tall Bruce, who at 185 pounds may not fit the image many people have of a professional football player, to emerge as one of the brightest new stars in the game of football during the late 1990s.

Nicknamed "Reverend Ike" because of his plans to enter the ministry after the end of his playing career, Isaac Isidore Bruce was born on November 10, 1972, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 13th of 15 children, he attended Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. He is a cousin of Derrick Moore, a running back who played for the Detroit Lions and the Carolina Panthers during the mid-1990s. During his senior year in high school in 1989, Bruce gave an indication of his emerging talent on the gridiron. He was named to Fort Lauderdale's All-City squad, and led Dillard to a Florida state championship in the school's division.

Starred at Memphis State

Following his graduation from high school, Bruce moved to California and attended West Los Angeles and Santa Monica Junior College. In 1992, he transferred to Memphis State University in Tennessee. Bruce majored in physical education at Memphis State, and enjoyed a fine collegiate football career. He graduated from Memphis State with a total of 113 pass receptions, 15 touchdowns, and 1,586 total yards.

Bruce's abilities on the football field caught the attention of pro scouts, and he was highly regarded as the 1994 NFL draft approached. Selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Rams, he quickly fulfilled the team's high expectations. Bruce's first pass reception in the NFL came on September 11, 1994, during a game against the Atlanta Falcons, and it marked the beginning of a rapid rise to fame. Despite missing the last four games of his rookie season due to a sprained right knee, Bruce ranked seventh on the team in yardage gained, and was named Rams Rookie of the Year by several Southern California sports journalists' groups.

As his second professional season approached, Bruce became one of the NFL's most closely watched young players. He began to flash his characteristic wit when he recalled a pregame kiss from Rams owner Georgia Frontiere in an interview with the Sporting News, saying it was the "[f]irst time I ever smelled money on someone's breath." Following the team's relocation to St. Louis, Bruce became the starting wide receiver. He compiled 119 receptions for 1,781 yards and 13 touchdowns. The 1,781-yard total briefly made Bruce the NFL's all-time leading gainer among wide receivers. However, he was edged out at the season's end by Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers.

Led League in Yardage Gained

During the 1996 season, Bruce again served notice that his name would be showing up frequently in the record books. With 84 receptions for an NFL-league-leading 1,338 yards, he set a record for most pass receptions (224) in a player's first three NFL seasons. Rounding out the 1996 campaign with seven receptions for 104 yards in the postseason Pro Bowl all-star game, Bruce seemed firmly ensconced as a celebrity star and as one of the greatest wide receivers ever to play the game. However, the next two seasons would threaten to ground Bruce's high-flying career.

St. Louis Rams coach Dick Vermeil told Sports Illustrated that Bruce was the best player he had ever coached, "a complex, gifted athlete, probably the best vertical, one-on-one, bursting-type receiver in the league." For his own part, Bruce told the magazine, "I don't think I'm the best, I know I am." During the 1997 and 1998 seasons, however, Bruce appeared to be another example of a young athlete who had pushed too hard and burned out too fast. In the first game of the 1997 season against the Denver Broncos, Bruce had to leave the field without catching a pass due to a hamstring injury. He missed the rest of the game and the next four games as well.

Bruce returned to the lineup later in the season, and at times his raw ability showed through. In a game against the Atlanta Falcons, he recorded ten receptions for a career-high 233 yards, the best performance by an NFL receiver that season. In 1998, Bruce suffered a recurrence of the hamstring injury that had plagued him during the previous season. He missed eight games and was finally placed on the injured reserve list early in December. The Rams management grumbled about his Bruce's proneness to injury, and it became clear just how much the team's fortunes depended on those of its star wide receiver. During the 1997 and 1998 seasons, the Rams' compiled a dismal 9-23 record.

Bounced Back from Injuries

Bruce bounced back strongly in 1999, played in all 16 games, and caught 77 passes. His offensive reliability led the Rams to the NFL playoffs and to a divisional championship win over the Minnesota Vikings. Against the Vikings, Bruce had four receptions for a total of 133 yards. Another pivotal event of the 1999 season occurred off the field. Bruce's car flipped over on a Missouri interstate highway when a tire blew out as he returned from a basketball game with his girlfriend. Bruce and his girlfriend were unhurt, and he credited divine intervention for their good fortune.

"Y'all are afraid to write the word Jesus," Bruce told Sports Illustrated after the accident. Notable among athletes for his strong and publicly expressed religious faith, he also attributed his successful 1999 season to his religious activities. Bruce had fallen behind on tithe contributions to his church, Memphis's Bountiful Blessings Cathedral of Deliverance Church of God in Christ. However, after he wrote a check in a six-figure amount to cover the balance, he returned to peak form. Whatever the source of his inspiration on the playing field, Bruce entered the 21st century as one of professional football's rising stars.

**Isaac Bruce**
Bruce on the field prior to a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 12, 2008
No. 88 San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: November 10, 1972 (1972-11-10) (age 37)
Place of birth: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	Weight: 188 lb (85 kg)
Career information
College: Memphis
NFL Draft: 1994 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33
Debuted in 1994 for the Los Angeles Rams

Career history
As player: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1994-2007) San Francisco 49ers (2008-present)
Roster status: Inactive
Career highlights and awards
1× All-Pro selection (1999) 4× Pro Bowl selection (1996, 1999, 2000, 2001) 1× Pro Bowl Alternate (1995) Super Bowl champion (XXXIV)
Career NFL statistics as of week 6, 2009
Receptions	1,018
Receiving Yards	15,134
Receiving TDs	91
Stats at NFL.com

Early years

Bruce was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He attended Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale. As a senior, he caught 39 passes for 644 yards (16.5 yards per rec. avg.), was an All-City selection, and led his team to the 1989 Florida State 5-A Championship.

College career

Bruce went to West Los Angeles College, then to Santa Monica College before transferring to the University of Memphis in 1992, where he finished his college football career with 113 receptions for 1,586 yards (14.0 yards per rec. avg.) and 15 touchdowns. He earned a degree in physical education.

Professional career

St. Louis Rams

Bruce was drafted in the 2nd round (33rd overall) by the Los Angeles Rams. He signed a 3-year $1.75 million contract with the Rams on July 14, 1994. He earned the 1994 Carroll Rosenbloom Award, given to the team rookie of the year. He was also voted Rams Rookie of the Year by Orange County Sports Association and the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association. His first NFL reception was a 34-yard touchdown throw from Chris Miller at Atlanta on September 11, 1994. After that touchdown, when Bruce made a catch, the Rams fans yelled "Bruuuuuuce".

He moved with the team to St. Louis in 1995. In 1995 Bruce was named the NFC's week 1 Special Teams player of the Week after blocking a punt that contributed to a Rams win. He was also the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for week 6 following a 10-catch, 191 yard, 2 TD performance. His total receiving yards for 1995 (119 catches for 1,781 yards) remain second only to Jerry Rice's record of 1,848 yards for one season. In accomplishing this feat Isaac Bruce surpassed former Houston Oilers WR Charley Hennigan’s 34-year-old record of 1,746 set in 1961. Bruce's 119 catches also ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time single-season reception list. Bruce further broke four Rams’ records, including most receiving yards, most receptions, most consecutive 100-yard receiving games (6) and most 100-yard games (9). Bruce made USA Today’s All-Joe team, All-Madden, and All-Pro by Sports Illustrated and he was voted a first alternate to the Pro Bowl. He was also awarded the Ram's MVP.

In 1996 Bruce led his team with 84 receptions and led the NFL with 1,338 yards. He became the first Rams receiver since Henry Ellard in 1990 and 1991 to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Against the Baltimore Ravens on October 27, 1996, he caught 11 passes for 229 yards and a touchdown. On November 30, 1996, Bruce was re-signed by the Rams to a 4-year $12.1 million contract extension.^[1]. In 1996 Bruce was also voted to his first Pro Bowl, after having been an alternate the season before.

The following seasons Bruce was hampered by hamstring injuries. In 1997 he missed the first six games due to injury and in 1998 he missed the final nine games (he also missed two other games earlier in the season). In Atlanta on November 2, 1997, Bruce had another 200-yard game, totaling 10 catches, 233 yards and recording 2 touchdowns. Prior to his injury in 1998 in a home game against the Minnesota Vikings, Bruce had 11 catches for 192 yards and an 80-yard touchdown.

In 1999 Bruce was a First-team All-Pro and was voted to his second Pro Bowl. He caught 77 passes for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns as Rams had a 13-3 record and advanced to the Super Bowl. He also led Rams in receiving yards in the playoffs, with 317 yards on 13 catches with a team-high two touchdowns. Bruce caught Kurt Warner's 73 yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXIV to give the Rams a 23-16 lead, which turned out to be the game winner.

Prior to the 2000 season Bruce was re-signed by the Rams to a 7-year, $42 million contract extension.^[2] In 2000 Bruce was again a Pro Bowler and caught 87 passes for 1,471 yards and 9 touchdowns. He became the first Rams receiver to earn back-to-back Pro Bowl invitations since Henry Ellard accomplished the feat for the 1988-1989 seasons. Bruce either led or was tied for the most receptions six times in 2000, led the team in receiving yards six times, and posted four 100-yard receiving games. That same year, Bruce and teammate Torry Holt became only the second WR duo from the same team to each gain over 1400 yards in the same season (see Herman Moore and Brett Perriman).

In 2001 the Rams returned to the Super Bowl, losing to the New England Patriots, and Bruce made the Pro Bowl for the fourth time, becoming only the third receiver in team history to earn three consecutive Pro Bowl invitations (Elroy Hirsch 1951-53, Jim Phillips 1960-62). Bruce was voted offensive captain and became the franchise career leader in 100-yard receiving games (29), 1,000-yard seasons (5), and receiving touchdowns (56). He became just the second player in team history to post 500 career receptions vs. New York Giants on October 14, 2001. He caught five passes for 56 yards against New England in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Bruce became the Rams’ all-time leader in receptions in 2002 while posting his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. That year he led the team with seven touchdown receptions, and ended the season with 79 receptions for 1,075 yards.

In 2003 Bruce missed the 1,000 mark for the first time since 1998, finishing with 69 catches for 981 yards and 5 touchdowns, however, he became the Rams’ all-time leader in receiving yards (10,461), passing his position coach Henry Ellard (9,761). That year Bruce made seven receptions for 116 yards in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Carolina on January 10, 2004, making him the only Rams player to have four career 100-yard postseason performances, breaking a tie with Tom Fears.

In 2004, Bruce caught 89 passes (fifth in the NFC, eighth in the NFL) for 1,292 yards (fifth in the NFL). He started the season with four consecutive 100-yard receiving performances, the first player to accomplish this feat since Houston’s Charley Hennigan in 1963. Bruce nabbed a team-high nine catches for 170 yards and one touchdown at Green Bay on November 29, 2004.

A foot injury hampered Bruce in 2005, causing him to miss 5 games. Still, he caught his 800th career pass at Minnesota on December 11, 2005, becoming the 14th player in NFL history with 800 career receptions.

On March 7, 2006, the Rams released Bruce rather than pay him a $1.5 million bonus ^[3]; however, five days after releasing him, the Rams agreed to a three-year, $15 million deal with Bruce. The re-signing freed a reported $7.5 million in cap money for the Rams.^[4] That season Bruce started 15 of 16 games and notched his eighth career 1,000-yard receiving season with 1,098 yards on 74 catches with three touchdowns.

In 2007 Bruce caught 55 passes for 733 yards and 4 touchdowns, second on his team only to Torry Holt in all three categories.

On February 28, 2008, Bruce was released by the Rams after refusing to take a pay cut, which the Rams promised they would not do in a previous contract renegotiation ^[5]. Isaac Bruce was subsequently signed by the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco 49ers

On February 29, 2008, Isaac Bruce signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.^[6] Jerry Rice gave Bruce permission to wear his No. 80, however Bruce and the team decided against it. He eventually chose to wear No. 88.

On December 21, 2008, in a game at St. Louis against his former team, the Rams, Isaac Bruce caught his 1,000th career reception - a 3-yard touchdown catch, the St. Louis fans cheered on their former wide receiver, yelling "Bruuuuuuuuce" whenever he caught a pass, and cheered when he caught his 1,000th pass.

After contemplating retirement in the offseason, he elected to return to the 49ers in 2009 for his sixteenth season,^[7]reasoning that he was there to "get in the playoffs again and win a Super Bowl".^[8]

Awards and Achievements

2008 - Reaches 1,000 receptions with a touchdown against his former team the St. Louis Rams. Surpassed Tim Brown to become 2nd all time in receiving yards with 14,944 receiving yards.
2007 - Achieved 14,109 receiving yards and 942 receptions, putting him at 6th place for all-time receptions and 3rd for total yardage. He is also 13th all time in receiving touchdowns with 84. He is the most prolific receiver in Rams history in every category.
2006 - National Sportsmanship Award
2003 - Sports Personality of the Year Award from the Missouri Athletic Club at the annual Jack Buck Sports Award Banquet
2001 - Named to play in Pro Bowl (did not play - injured)
2000 - Named to play in Pro Bowl (did not play - injured)
1999 - Super Bowl XXXIV
1999 - Named to play in Pro Bowl
1998 - Rams Sprint Good Sport/Man of the Year
1997 - Rams True Value Man of the Year
1996 - Named to play in Pro Bowl
1995 - Recorded 119 receptions. The most ever in NFL history by a player 25 and under, voted a Pro Bowl alternate
1994 - Rams consensus Rookie of the Year

Personal

He is nicknamed "The Reverend" because he wishes to become one after he finishes his football career; he also wants to become a substitute teacher.

Bruce is the elder cousin of Canadian Football League wide receiver Arland Bruce.

Philanthropy

Since 1996, he has provided tickets to home games to various schools and youth organizations, including partnering with Haz-Waste to provide jerseys and limousine rides for children.

He was United Way spokesman in 1996-97 and United Way African American Leadership Giver from 1997-99. In 2008, he recorded a public service announcement and personal voice message for the RESPECT! Campaign against domestic violence.

References

^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 28, 1996
^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, August 17, 1996
^ New York Times.com
^ San Diego Union.com
^ Fallstrom, R.B. (2008-02-29), Rams Release Isaac Bruce, Gus Frerotte, Associated Press, http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6mh_OhONynhu_1kQtFgtcIgLXGAD8V3KEQ01, retrieved 2008-03-01
^ Gay, Nancy (2008-03-01), 49ers, Bruce agree on deal Ex-Rams receiver to join Martz in San Francisco, San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/01/SPMOVBJN6.DTL, retrieved 2008-03-01
^ Bruce Will Return to 49ers Si.com, April 1, 2009
^ [1]

External links

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Jerome Bettis	Rams Rookie of the Year Award 1994	Succeeded by Kevin Carter
Preceded by Shane Conlan	Rams Most Valuable Player Award 1995-1996	Succeeded by Amp Lee

St. Louis Rams Super Bowl XXXIV Champions

Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award

v • d • e 2001 Pro Bowl NFC Starters

Offense	QB Daunte Culpepper \| RB Marshall Faulk \| FB Mike Alstott \| WR Isaac Bruce \| WR Randy Moss \| TE Chad Lewis OT Orlando Pace \| OT Willie Roaf \| G Larry Allen \| G Randall McDaniel \| C Jeff Christy

Defense	DE Hugh Douglas \| DE Joe Johnson \| DT La'Roi Glover \| DT Warren Sapp OLB Jessie Armstead \| OLB Derrick Brooks \| ILB Stephen Boyd CB Champ Bailey \| CB Troy Vincent \| FS Darren Sharper \| SS John Lynch

Special Teams	P Scott Player \| PK Martín Gramática \| KR Desmond Howard \| ST Michael Bates

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Isaac Bruce

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