Bennie Anderson
Encyclopedia
Bennie Tyron Lamar Anderson (born February 17, 1977) is an American football
offensive guard who currently is a free agent. He most recently played for the Miami Dolphins
, and collegiately
at Tennessee State University.
in St. Louis, Missouri
where he was an all-district performer.
He was a four-year letterman at Tennessee State (1996–99) where he started 43 of the 45 games in which he played during his career. He was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference
pick as a both a junior and senior, when he also earned the school’s leadership award by the “Tree Coaches” (Tennessee State alumni coaches who sit under a tree watching practice).He was a first-team Black College All-America
pick as a senior in 1999.
in 2000 as an undrafted rookie free agent
. He was waived by the team on July 19 and spent rest of the year out of football.
in the spring of 2001. He started at right guard for the Enforcers the entire season, paving the way for former NFL running backs LeShon Johnson
and John Avery
(also a former first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins).
Later that year, Anderson would go on to play in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts at right guard for the Baltimore Ravens
. After seeing action in a reserve role in the first two regular season games, he made the first start of his NFL career at the Denver Broncos
on September 30 as the Ravens rushed for 112 yards and the line did not allow a sack in a 20-13 victory. Anderson also opened both playoff games.
Jamal Lewis
rushed for 1,327 yards and reached the 100-yard rushing mark in five games.
. He was part of a line that paved the way for Jamal Lewis, who put together the second-best individual rushing performance in NFL history with 2,066 yards. Anderson also opened first-round playoff game against the Tennessee Titans
on January 3, 2004.
(2) combined for six 100-yard rushing games.
from the Pittsburgh Steelers in early 2005, it became clear they had no interest in re-signing Anderson. He signed a with the Buffalo Bills on March 19. The contract was a three-year deal worth $5.1 million. It also featured a $400,000 bonus if he met certain playing-time incentives.
Anderson started 15 of the 16 games in which he appeared at left guard for the Bills. The only game he did not open was against the Kansas City Chiefs
on November 13, when he was replaced by Mike Williams
after struggling with pass protection. Anderson re-assumed the role after Williams was injured on November 27. During the year, Anderson was part of a line that led the way for running back Willis McGahee
, who compiled his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,247 yards.
, who was the head coach for the Bills in 2004 and 2005 before becoming the offensive coordinator in Miami.
He initially assumed the starting right guard job after injuries to Seth McKinney
and rookie Joe Toledo
. Anderson started the first two games of the regular season at right guard before being injured on September 17 against his former team, the Buffalo Bills. The injury, which proved to be a torn triceps, landed Anderson on Injured Reserve. He was replaced by Kendyl Jacox
and later L.J. Shelton
at right guard.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive guard who currently is a free agent. He most recently played for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and collegiately
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Tennessee State University.
High school and college careers
Anderson attended Cleveland Junior Naval AcademyCleveland Junior Naval Academy
Cleveland Junior Naval Academy Cleveland Junior Naval Academy is unique among public high schools in that it is a full fledged military school. The mission of Cleveland is to provide all cadets with a quality education in a highly disciplined military school environment: to foster self-esteem,...
in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
where he was an all-district performer.
He was a four-year letterman at Tennessee State (1996–99) where he started 43 of the 45 games in which he played during his career. He was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference
Ohio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
pick as a both a junior and senior, when he also earned the school’s leadership award by the “Tree Coaches” (Tennessee State alumni coaches who sit under a tree watching practice).He was a first-team Black College All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
pick as a senior in 1999.
2000
Anderson was initially signed by the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in 2000 as an undrafted rookie free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was waived by the team on July 19 and spent rest of the year out of football.
2001
Anderson resurfaced with the Chicago Enforcers of the now defunct XFLXFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
in the spring of 2001. He started at right guard for the Enforcers the entire season, paving the way for former NFL running backs LeShon Johnson
LeShon Johnson
LeShon Eugene Johnson is a former American football player who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1994 NFL Draft....
and John Avery
John Avery (football player)
John Edward Avery, Jr. is a former professional Canadian football and American football player. He most recently played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, but also played with the National Football League's and the XFL John Edward Avery, Jr. (born January 11, 1976 in...
(also a former first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins).
Later that year, Anderson would go on to play in all 16 regular season games with 13 starts at right guard for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. After seeing action in a reserve role in the first two regular season games, he made the first start of his NFL career at the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on September 30 as the Ravens rushed for 112 yards and the line did not allow a sack in a 20-13 victory. Anderson also opened both playoff games.
2002
Anderson started all 16 games at right guard for the Ravens in 2002. He was one of only three Ravens offensive players to start all 16 games that year. He was part of a line that led the way for a running game that averaged 112.0 yards per contest and put together a 4.2-yard average per attempt as running backRunning back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lewis
Jamal Lafitte Lewis is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens fifth overall in the 2000 NFL Draft...
rushed for 1,327 yards and reached the 100-yard rushing mark in five games.
2003
Anderson opened all 15 regular season games in which he played at right guard for the Ravens in 2003. He dressed but did not play in the finale against the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He was part of a line that paved the way for Jamal Lewis, who put together the second-best individual rushing performance in NFL history with 2,066 yards. Anderson also opened first-round playoff game against the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on January 3, 2004.
2004
In his final season with the Ravens, Anderson played in all 16 contests, including 12 starts at right guard. He also saw action at left guard during the course of the season. He was an integral part of a line that led a running game which averaged 128.9 yards per contest and allowed 2.2 sacks an outing. Behind the line, running backs Jamal Lewis (4) and Chester TaylorChester Taylor
Chester Lamar Taylor also known as "Che Tay" is an American football running back of the National Football League who is currently on the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
(2) combined for six 100-yard rushing games.
2005
After the Ravens signed free agent offensive guard Keydrick VincentKeydrick Vincent
Kendrick Trepell Vincent is an American football guard. He was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Mississippi. He last played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....
from the Pittsburgh Steelers in early 2005, it became clear they had no interest in re-signing Anderson. He signed a with the Buffalo Bills on March 19. The contract was a three-year deal worth $5.1 million. It also featured a $400,000 bonus if he met certain playing-time incentives.
Anderson started 15 of the 16 games in which he appeared at left guard for the Bills. The only game he did not open was against the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on November 13, when he was replaced by Mike Williams
Mike Williams (offensive lineman)
Michael Deshaun "Mike" Williams is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills fourth overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas...
after struggling with pass protection. Anderson re-assumed the role after Williams was injured on November 27. During the year, Anderson was part of a line that led the way for running back Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee
Willis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, who compiled his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with 1,247 yards.
2006
Anderson was expected to have the edge on the starting left guard position for the Bills in 2006, but was waived by the team on June 9. On June 15, he signed a to a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. The move reunited him with Mike MularkeyMike Mularkey
Michael Rene Mularkey is an American professional football coach and a former college and professional football player. He played college football for the...
, who was the head coach for the Bills in 2004 and 2005 before becoming the offensive coordinator in Miami.
He initially assumed the starting right guard job after injuries to Seth McKinney
Seth McKinney
Seth Alan McKinney is an American football center he is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Texas A&M.McKinney has also played for the Cleveland Browns...
and rookie Joe Toledo
Joe Toledo
Joseph Christopher Toledo is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. Anderson started the first two games of the regular season at right guard before being injured on September 17 against his former team, the Buffalo Bills. The injury, which proved to be a torn triceps, landed Anderson on Injured Reserve. He was replaced by Kendyl Jacox
Kendyl Jacox
Kendyl LeMarc Jacox is an American football offensive guard who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Miami Dolphins, and college football at Kansas State University....
and later L.J. Shelton
L.J. Shelton
L. J. Shelton is a former American football offensive tackle who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Arizona Cardinals 21st overall in the 1999 NFL Draft...
at right guard.