Trace Armstrong
| No. 93 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive end |
| Career information | |
| College: | Arizona State & Florida |
| NFL draft: | 1989 / round: 1 / pick: 11 |
| Career history | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Raymond Lester Armstrong, III (born October 5, 1965 in Bethesda, Maryland) is a former American Football defensive End who was a first-round draft pick in 1989. He played for three teams in his 15-year career in the National Football League. He was President of the NFL Players Association for 8 years before his retirement in 2003. He currently serves as agent for former NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, among others.
College career
Began college career at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. Was part of fine Sun Devil team that reached the Rose Bowl after the 1987 season. Armstong recovered a key fumble in the ASU defeat of the University of Southern California that sealed the Rose Bowl bid. He also had a key role in the defeat of the Oregon State Beavers, when he sacked Erik Wilhelm in the end zone for a safety that began a 11-0 surge by the Sun Devils in sealing a 30-21 win.[1].
Trace was denied a year of elibility by the NCAA due to an "academic mixup", which he could only recoup if he transferred to another school.[2]
Transfered to the University of Florida from Arizona State and played one season with the Gators and earned first team All-SEC and All-America honor at defensive tackle. Registered Gator record for most tackles by for a loss with 19. In all, Armstrong made 59 tackles with 41 of those solo. In 2006 was voted to the University of Florida Gator 100th Anniversary Team as a defensensive lineman with players like Jack Youngblood and Kevin Carter.
NFL career
Chicago Bears
Drafted in the 1st round of the 1989 draft and signed with the Bears on August 18, 1989. His total package was a reportyed $2.2 million over four years.[3].
After the Bears 47-27 victory at Detroit on September 27, 1989, Trace Armstrong perhaps made his first NFL mark. After reporting late to training camp because of a contract dispute,and then struggling through the first two games of the season, Armstrong finally found his niche at left defensiveend against the Lions, making 5 solo tackles, defending a pass and getting his first pro sack by dumping Lions quarterback Bob Gagliano. Armstrong finished his rookie season with 5 sacks. The following season, 1990, Armstrong notched 10 sacks, the first of five seasons he reached double-digits.
In 1991 he recorded only 1.5 sacks, in partt because although he was the starting left defensive end he moved to defensive tackle in the Bears "nickle defense", perhaps cutting down on his pass-rush opportunities. We was slated to play that spot again in 1992, however, the development of Alonzo Spellman allwed Armstrong to play end in all situations. As a result his sack total was a 6.5. In 1993 Trace notched 11.5 sacks and forced three fumbles. In 1994, his last in Chicago, he had 7.5 sacks.
Miami Dolphins
On April 4, 1995, the Dolphins traded a 2nd and 3rd round draft pick for Armstrong. He was acquired to fill a role as a designated pass rusher, a player who comes in in likely passing downs in an effort to give a teams' pass rush a boost. This is a rile Artmstong filled the rest of his career, however, in five season, injuries to the starting end forced Trace into a starting role. In 1996 Armstrong started 9 games and recorded 12 sacks. He remained the starter in 1997 and retured to the designated role in 1998. He led the AFC in quarterback sacks (16.5) in 2000 with the Miami Dolphins while recording 7 forced fumbles, also a career-high. He also made the Pro Bowl for the only time if his career. He did this despite not starting a single game, making his the first so-called designated pass rusher to go to the Pro Bowl since Fred Dean was voted to the 1983 post-season all-star game.
Oakland Raiders
In 2001 Armsting signed free-agent contract with the Raiders. The Raiders offered him a six-year deal worth approximately $16 million. However, the first two years were to pay approximately $7.5 million.[4]
Armstrong sustained an Achilles' injury on September, 30, 2001, causing him to miss the final 13 games of the 2001 season. In 2002 and 2003 Armstrong was presses into a starting role due to injuries of the so-called "run down defense" of the Raiders. In 2002 he started 8 games at right defensive end after Tony Bryant was hurt and in 2003 he started 7 games at left defensive end when Lorenzo Bromell was injured.
Trace suffered his own inuries in 2002 and 2003. In 2003 it was a groin injury that put him in the injured-reserve list and in 2003, he injured a shoulder in November whil ended his 2003 season after 10 games.
While in Oakland, he was the 20th player in NFL history to record 100 career quarterback sacks and finished his career with a total of 106 officially recorded. After the 2003 season, he was released from the Oakland Raiders after failing a physical due to several substantial injuries incurred while in Oakland and retired from the NFL afterwards. [5]
References