Age: 34
12th
season in pro football, 1st with Panthers
College: Auburn
Height: 6’3” Weight: 247
Prelude:
A walk-on in
college who was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 1984, Greene was chosen
by the Los Angeles Rams in the fifth round of the ‘85 NFL draft. He was
utilized on special teams and as a pass rushing specialist for his first three
seasons, accumulating a total of 13.5 sacks, before moving into the starting
lineup at left OLB in 1988 and registering 16.5 sacks. He received first-team
All-NFL recognition from NEA and The Sporting News and was also a Pro Bowl
selection for the first time in ’89 following another 16.5-sack season. Strong
and fast, Greene had good range and instincts, and while a holdout led to a
slow start in 1990, he still ended up with 13 sacks. With a shift to a 4-3
defense in ’91, Greene was moved to defensive end and his sack total dropped to
three. He moved back to outside linebacker in 1992, recorded 10 sacks, and signed
as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in ’93, where he was again able to
play in a 3-4 alignment. The result over the course of three years in
Pittsburgh was 35.5 sacks, including a league-leading 14 in 1994, a year in
which he also received consensus first-team All-NFL honors, and two Pro Bowl
selections. He joined the Panthers as a free agent in ’96.
1996 Season Summary
Appeared in all
16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Sacks – 14.5 [1]
Most sacks,
game – 2.5 at St. Louis 11/17
Multi-sack
games – 4
Interceptions
– 0
Fumble
recoveries – 3
Fumble
recovery TDs – 1
Forced fumbles
– 2
Tackles – 37
Assists – 14
Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6
Postseason: 2 G
Sacks – 0
Interceptions
– 0
TD – 0
Awards &
Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA
1st
team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly
Pro Bowl
Panthers went
12-4 to finish first in the NFC West, reaching the postseason in just their
second season of existence, while leading the NFL in sacks (60) and ranking
second in fewest points allowed (210). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Dallas
Cowboys (26-17). Lost NFC Championship to Green Bay Packers (30-13).
Aftermath:
Greene held
out in 1997 due to a contract dispute and was released by the Panthers during
the preseason. He signed with San Francisco and was used primarily as a pass
rushing specialist, accumulating 10.5 sacks. Greene returned to Carolina in ’98,
moved back into the starting lineup, and recorded 15 sacks and was chosen to
the Pro Bowl at age 36. He played for one more year with the Panthers in 1999
and finished up with 12 sacks, his tenth double-digit total in 15 NFL seasons.
Overall, Greene compiled 160 sacks, which ranked third all-time, in addition to
26 fumble recoveries, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and five
interceptions, one of which resulted in a TD. 41.5 of his sacks came during his
three seasons with Carolina. Greene received at least some first-team All-NFL
honors after three seasons and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times, four of
them after age 30.
--
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
