Wide Receiver/Kick Returner,
Carolina Panthers
Age: 27 (Dec.
19)
4th
season in pro football, 1st with Panthers
College: Arizona
Height: 5’10” Weight: 189
Prelude:
Bates was a
track as well as football star in college and won a bronze medal in the 200-yard
dash at the 1992 Olympic games. A sixth-round draft choice of the Seattle
Seahawks in ’92, he delayed his pro debut until 1993 as a result of his Olympic
participation. Used as a blocking fullback in college, Bates was shifted to
wide receiver by the Seahawks, but he rarely saw action on offense. In two
seasons with Seattle, he returned 56 kickoffs for a 19.8-yard average while
catching a total of six passes, one for a touchdown. He was also good on kick
coverage, but three concussions suffered in 1993 raised concerns. Waived by the
Seahawks, he spent 1995 with the Browns before being dealt to Carolina.
1996 Season Summary
Appeared in 14
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Kickoff
Returns
Returns – 33
[17, tied with Tamarick Vanover]
Yards – 998
[12]
Most yards,
game – 138 (on 4 ret.) at Philadelphia 10/27
Average per
return – 30.2 [1]
TDs – 1 [2,
tied with six others]
Longest
return – 93 yards
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 2 G
Kickoff
returns – 9
Kickoff return
yds. – 214
Most yards,
game – 155 (on 5 ret.) vs. Dallas, NFC Divisional playoff
Kickoff
return avg. – 23.8
Kickoff
return TDs – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News
1st
team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly
2nd
team All-NFC: UPI
Pro Bowl
Panthers went
12-4 to finish first in the NFC West in just their second season while leading
the NFL in kickoff return average (26.2). Won NFC Divisional playoff over
Dallas Cowboys (26-17). Lost NFC Championship to Green Bay Packers (30-13).
Aftermath:
The outstanding
performance in 1996 marked the first of five straight seaons in which he was
selected to the Pro Bowl. Bates again led the NFL in kickoff return average in
1997 (27.3), and in his five years in Carolina returned 233 kickoffs for a
25.7-yard average and five touchdowns. Left unsigned after the 2000 season, he
moved on to Washington in ’01 where he averaged 23.5 yards on 49 returns and
was cut. Returning to the Panthers for 2002, Bates suffered an injury during
the preseason that put him on injured reserve for the year and, after stints
with the Jets and Cowboys in 2003, his career came to an end. Overall, he
averaged 24.4 yards on 373 kickoff returns, was a consensus first-team All-NFL
selection once, received at least some All-NFL or All-NFC consideration after
four other seasons, and gained selection to the Pro Bowl five times, noted for
both his kick returning and kick coverage. He was named to the 1990s All-Decade
team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
