Larry Centers

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Larry Centers
Date of birth	June 1, 1968
Place of birth	Tyler, Texas
Position(s)	Fullback
College	Stephen F. Austin State
NFL Draft	1990 / Round 5/ Pick 115
Career Highlights
Pro Bowls	2001, 1996, 1995
Records	NFL most receptions by a running back (826)
Stats
Statistics	Pro Football Reference CBS.com DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1990-1998 1999-2000 2001-2002 2003	Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals Washington Redskins Buffalo Bills New England Patriots

Larry Centers (born June 1, 1968) is a former American football fullback who played for the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1990-1998), Washington Redskins (1999-2000), Buffalo Bills (2001-2002), and the New England Patriots (2003). Centers was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1995, 1996, and 2001.

Centers was born to Don and Margie Centers on June 1, 1968 in Tyler, Texas. He played little league football during his elementary school years and advanced to the middle school and high school level football. Centers was awarded a scholarship to Stephen F. Austin State University.

Contents 1 NFL career 1.1 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals 1.2 Washington Redskins 1.3 Buffalo Bills 1.4 New England Patriots 2 NFL stats 3 Family

[edit] NFL career

[edit] Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals

After graduating from college, Centers was drafted by the Cardinals in the 1990 NFL draft. He saw limited playing time in his first two seasons but had an outstanding season in his third year, rushing for 139 yards and catching 50 passes for 417 yards. Although the role of the fullback as a ball carrier was starting to diminish in the mid 1990s, Centers' numbers only increased as the years went by, especially his receptions. He caught 66 passes in the following season, and 77 in the year after that. Then in 1995, Centers had one of the greatest seasons of any fullback in his day. He recorded a whopping 101 receptions for 962 yards, the most receptions by any running back in NFL history during a single season. He also rushed for 254 yards, scored four touchdowns, and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time. Unfortunately, his team was not successful despite his contributions; they finished the 1995 season with a 4-12 record. Centers had another spectacular season in 1996, recording 99 receptions for 766 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also gaining a career high 425 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row, but once again his team had a disappointing season, finishing with a 7-9 record. Centers continued to be a major contributor to the Cardinals over the next 2 seasons, recording 123 receptions and 386 rushing yards. In his final year with Arizona(1998), the team had some success, recording a 9-7 record, making it all the way to the divisional playoffs before being eliminated by a 41-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

[edit] Washington Redskins

In 1999, Centers signed with the Redskins and had another superb season, recording 69 receptions and using his talent as a lead blocker to help halfback Stephen Davis gain 1,405 rushing yards and score 17 touchdowns on the ground. The Redskins finished the season with a 10-6 record and made it to the devisional playoffs before being eliminated by a 14-13 loss against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2000, Centers continued to be a major contributor to Washington's offense. He recording 80 receptions for 600 yards, rushed for 103 yards, and used his blocking to help Davis gain 1,318 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. But the Redskins recorded only an 8-8 record that year and did not get to play in the postseason.

[edit] Buffalo Bills

In 2001, Centers signed with the Bills and made it to his third Pro Bowl appearance, recording 80 receptions for 620 yards, rushing for 160 yards, and scoring 4 touchdowns. However, the team finished the season with a measley 3-13 record.

[edit] New England Patriots

After spending another year with Buffalo, Centers joined the Patriots in 2003. By this time, the 35-year old Centers' role as a ball carrier had greatly diminished, and he recorded just 19 receptions for 106 yards and rushed for just 82 yards. Still joining the Patriots allowed him to earn a Super Bowl ring; New England finished the season with a 14-2 record and went on to defeat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII. Centers retired before the start of the 2004 season.

[edit] NFL stats

In his 14 NFL seasons, Centers rushed for 2,188 yards, caught 826 passes for 6,797 yards, returned 5 punts for 30 yards, returned 33 kickoffs for 617 yards. and scored 42 touchdowns(14 rushing and 28 receiving). His 826 receptions are currently the most by any running back in NFL history. Because the NFL fullbacks are now almost exclusively used as blockers, Centers may be remembered as one of the last fullbacks ever to be used as a ball carrier and receiver on a regular basis.

[edit] Family

Centers currently resides in Carrollton, Texas with his wife, Vanessa Centers and their children: Larry, Sydni, and Kennedi.