Brian Blades

Brian Keith Blades (born July 24, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL).

Early life Blades graduated from Piper High School in Sunrise, Florida in 1983. He attended the University of Miami.

College career He finished his college career with 80 catches for 1,493 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Professional career

After graduating, he was chosen in the second round (49th overall) of the 1988 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. Blades spent his entire 11-year career with the Seahawks, playing for the team from 1988-1998. He signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks prior to the 1999 season, but was cut on June 5, 1999. In 1989 Blades won the Marcus Nalley MVP award. Also that year (1989) he was voted into the pro bowl after having 1,063 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

NFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Regular season Year Team Games Receiving GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD 1988 SEA 16 7 40 682 17.1 55 8 1989 SEA 16 14 77 1,063 13.8 60 5 1990 SEA 16 16 49 525 10.7 24 3 1991 SEA 16 16 70 1,003 14.3 52 2 1992 SEA 6 5 19 256 13.5 37 1 1993 SEA 16 14 80 945 11.8 41 3 1994 SEA 16 16 81 1,086 13.4 45 4 1995 SEA 16 16 77 1,001 13.0 49 4 1996 SEA 11 9 43 556 12.9 80 2 1997 SEA 11 3 30 319 10.6 27 2 1998 SEA 16 6 15 184 12.3 47 0 Career 156 122 581 7,620 13.1 80 34

Manslaughter conviction and acquittal

Blades was charged with murder in the second degree for the death of his cousin, Charles Blades Jr. Blades initially pleaded "no contest" but later changed his plea to "not guilty" before the trial. Blades claimed the pistol accidentally discharged a round into his cousin during a struggle. During the trial, the prosecuting attorney and a gun expert staged a mock struggle with a blank filled gun, in which the gun accidentally discharged.

After a jury convicted Blades of manslaughter, the presiding Judge Susan Lebow overturned the verdict 72 hours later, citing the prosecution's failure to provide enough evidence for conviction. The case was appealed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, and the court upheld his acquittal.

Personal life

He is the older brother of former NFL cornerbacks Bennie Blades and Al Blades. He is also the uncle of former Washington Redskins linebacker H. B. Blades. Blades and his wife Tisha, daughters Brittany and Brianne, and son Brian II live in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.