Making the Hall of Fame case for Isaac Bruce: By the numbers

[CGI_Ram]

Making the Hall of Fame case for Isaac Bruce: By the numbers

Noteworthy numbers that state Rams legend Isaac Bruce's case for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

www.therams.com

Making the Hall of Fame case for Isaac Bruce: By the numbers

The Pro Football Hall of Fame will introduce its newest class on Feb. 1, the night before Super Bowl LIV in Miami. Two Rams legends, wide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, are among the 15 modern-era player finalists. Additionally, former head coach Dick Vermeil is one of eight coaches who are Centennial Slate Hall of Fame finalists, commemorating the NFL's 100th season.

In the first of a series of articles spotlighting the two players and the coach, theRams.com examines noteworthy numbers from Bruce's career that make his case for induction.

15,208 – Career receiving yards, fifth-most in NFL history. At the time Bruce retired, the total was second-most all-time in NFL history.

1,781 – Receiving yards in his second NFL season (1995), a career-high and fifth-most in a single season in NFL history.

1,024 – Career receptions, 13th-most all-time. Only 13 other players in league history have caught 1,000 or more passes, according to Pro Football Reference.

1996 – Year he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,338.

162 – Receiving yards, plus six catches (including the game-winning 73-yard touchdown catch) in the Rams' 23-16 Super Bowl XXXIV victory.

119 – Career-high for receptions in a single season and 14th-most in a single season in NFL history.

91 – Career receiving touchdowns, 12th-most all-time in NFL history.

34 – Bruce's first career catch was a 34-yard touchdown grab.

16 – Seasons played in the NFL, 14 of which were with the Rams. Only 15 other wide receivers in league history accrued 16 or more seasons, per Pro Football Reference.

12 – Seasons with at least 50 catches. There have been 10 other receivers in league history who have accomplished this feat. Five of them are in the Hall of Fame, while the others are either recently retired and not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or still active.

8 – 1,000 yard receiving seasons in his career.

4 – Number of Pro Bowls Bruce was named to.

3 – Only player in NFL history with three straight games with 170 or more receiving yards. Bruce had 181 vs. Colts, 191 vs. Falcons and 173 vs. 49ers across Weeks 5-7 in 1995.

2 – Started in two NFC championship games and two Super Bowls.

1 – Bruce retired as the Rams' all-time leader in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

 

[EasyE]

Best ever in my book....except for the 49'er thing...why?

 

[badnews]

Best ever in my book....except for the 49'er thing...why?

Because FUCK Scott Linehan and Jay Zigmunt for dumping Mr. RAM for Drew Fucking Bennett, THAT'S WHY!

 

[ramfan46]

His 1995 season is criminally underrated. That kind of production with that QB... Jerry Rice couldn’t do that shiz! Best route runner I’ve seen.

 

[jap]

He deserves to be in without question because he is Bbrrruuuuuccccee!!!

 

[dang]

Top 10 all time NFL WR. just look at his stats compared to all time WRs. Case frickin’ close!!!!

 

[LesBaker]

Because FUCK Scott Linehan and Jay Zigmunt for dumping Mr. RAM for Drew Fucking Bennett, THAT'S WHY!

I wonder if anyone has ever asked IB if he actually wanted out. I bet he was really unhappy with how things were handled.

From the net:

On March 7, 2006, the Rams released Bruce rather than pay him a $1.5 million bonus;[6] 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.[7] 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.

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.

The person in control of $$$ and contracts was Zygmunt at that time and I can see him asking a favor of Bruce to free up cap money then going back on his word.


Rivers could be a first ballot guy. I'm not saying he will be, but it could happen.

Currently he is 6th all time in passing yards, 6th in passing TD's, 10th in passer rating, 9th in career completion percentage. He will move up a spot or two in yardage and td's before he retires.

His 1995 season is criminally underrated. That kind of production with that QB... Jerry Rice couldn’t do that shiz! Best route runner I’ve seen.

I agree @ramfan46 I've never seen a better route runner either.

Years ago I saw him put one of the 49ers DB's on his ass after turning him back and forth on a double move. It was hilarious.

Check out the 2nd route in this clip from practice. The way he gets through the cut is no harder for him than running straight!!! He is 10 plus feet ahead of #42 in the blink of an eye.

 

[LesBaker]

Top 10 all time NFL WR. just look at his stats compared to all time WRs. Case frickin’ close!!!!

You have to also examine what QB's he played with too. Early in his career he had terrible QB's

 

[RamDino]

I've said this before, but having another Hall of Famer on the other side didn't help his numbers either! That's why they should go in together, damn it! Because they took away from the other's production! Someone get me the phone!

Oh and, by the way, I believe Torry Holt led the NFL in receiving yards from 1999-2009. An entire decade! What more could the Hall voters want!

 

[Ram77]

Rivers was never a main part of arguably the best offense ever assembled. Nor did Rivers ever sniff a Super Bowl

 

[RamFan503]

You have to also examine what QB's he played with too. Early in his career he had terrible QB's

That's what I keep saying to people who question it. Name another receiver that could put up almost 1800 yards with Chris Miller and Mark Rypien (both career 55% passers) as QBs. Never mind having Jack Reilly as OC and Rich Brooks as coach.

 

[Selassie I]

HOFer Marshall Faulk has a giant picture hanging above the fireplace in his house. Guess what it is...

It's a picture of Bruce making the catch on what turned out to be the game winning 73 yard TD in the Super Bowl.

 

[dang]

HOFer Marshall Faulk has a giant picture hanging above the fireplace in his house. Guess what it is...

It's a picture of Bruce making the catch on what turned out to be the game winning 73 yard TD in the Super Bowl.

True story. Ice storm hit the day of the Rams Titans Super Bowl. Settled in with fire in fireplace with family to watch the game. Power goes out halfway thru Quarter 2. Wife freaking out that we are going to freeze to death. But nothing mattered more than connecting back to the game. After several calls to friends and family in area determined we were all out of power. Last resort was to throw some batteries in a clock radio and catch the rest of the game audio only. Bruce’s TD catch and the final play of the game without any visual was quite a trip. I will be forever grateful to Bruce for a Rams fan’s thrill of a lifetime. Luckily I had a buddy who had taped the game who gave me a copy 2 days later so I could see the magic I had only heard 2 days earlier. Been DNA rifle blocker ever since but I have hope for another thrill of victory before i kick.

 

[LesBaker]

Rivers deserves loads of consideration.......do you admit that?

HOFer Marshall Faulk has a giant picture hanging above the fireplace in his house. Guess what it is...

 

[Corbin]

Good luck Ike.