Peerless Price

Peerless LeCross Price (born October 27, 1976) is a former American football wide receiver who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

Price played college football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Price also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys.

Early years

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Price's name was inspired by the name of a local moving company."Price Is Rising", ''Sports Illustrated'', December 14, 1998 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1014788/index.htm His mother explained that he was given the name because she liked it, and also because she hoped that her son, growing up in a rough neighborhood, would avoid a life of crime.

Price was recruited heavily out of Meadowdale High School in Dayton. He was a high school All-American and was considered a major athlete when he enrolled at the University of Tennessee in 1995 because he was a three sport star in High School. Price played college football under head coach Phillip Fulmer.

College career

1995 season

As a freshman in the 1995 season, Price appeared in eight games in a backup role and showed glimpses of the potential that first attracted the Volunteers' interest.

1996 season

During his 1996 sophomore campaign, Price recorded 32 receptions for three touchdowns and 609 yards; he excelled in a 35–29 loss to the University of Florida early in the season. In addition to gaining attention for his play on the field, Price was named to the Academic All- SEC team.

1997 season

When Joey Kent left following the 1996 season, Price stepped into the starting lineup full-time as a junior, where Peyton Manning found Price to be a dependable target. In the 1997 season, he started every game and emerged as a legitimate deep threat. He finished with 48 receptions, netting 698 yards and six touchdowns and helped guide the Volunteers to an SEC Championship. He also was, for the second consecutive year, named an Academic All-SEC pick.

1998 season

After Marcus Nash graduated, Price stepped into the top spot on the Volunteers' receiving corps for the 1998 season. In spite of the top two statistical receivers in school history being gone, Price ensured that the adjustment period would be minimal. In a tight game against Alabama, Price tied a school record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that sparked a Volunteers victory and continued their success. Tennessee finished the regular season 11–0 and faced Mississippi State in the SEC Championship Game. With the Vols trailing by four points in the fourth quarter, Price pulled in a pass over the shoulder for a 41-yard touchdown. Tennessee won the game by score of 24–14, and earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl against Florida State to decide the national champion for the 1998 season.

In the final game of his career with Tennessee, Price showed a national audience what he could do. Although he caught only four of quarterback Tee Martin's passes the entire game, he made them count. Those four catches went for a total of 199 yards and the deciding touchdown en route to a 23–16 victory and the school's first consensus national championship in 47 years. For his performance, Price was named the game's co-MVP with cornerback Dwayne Goodrich.

Professional career

In spite of his successful career in college, Price still fell to the second round of the 1999 NFL Draft, where he was drafted 53rd overall by the Buffalo Bills. He was the fifth wide receiver to be selected in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Buffalo Bills

Price enjoyed his greatest success as the secondary receiver for the Buffalo Bills. In the 2002 season, he caught 94 passes for 1,252 yards and nine touchdowns. His best game came on September 15, 2002, when he caught 13 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns, including a 48-yard score in overtime, during a 45–39 victory against Minnesota. After the season, the Bills used the Franchise Tag to ensure Price stayed with the team. Price was given permission to seek a trade, and the Atlanta Falcons were willing to give up a first round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft for Price. The Bills used it to select running back Willis McGahee.

Atlanta Falcons

Price was supposed to be the great receiver that the Falcons needed to excel. He was regarded as a disappointment, as during his two-year stint in Atlanta, Price was unable to produce any breakthrough numbers, and was considered a great bust. The Falcons earned the NFC South division title and a bye in the playoffs relying on great defense and the rushing game. He was released during the 2005 offseason.

Dallas Cowboys

In 2005, Price signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys to be the third receiver and punt returner. Price was also reunited with quarterback Drew Bledsoe, with whom he had shared so much success in Buffalo and who actively lobbied for his signing. He was released on December 3 after catching only six passes for 96 yards, of which one was 58 yards on a single pass play.

Buffalo Bills (second stint)

Price re-signed with the Bills and regained his secondary wide receiver role. In the 2006 season, he caught a game-winning touchdown against the Houston Texans and a crucial touchdown in a low-scoring game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Price was placed on the injured reserve list on October 19, 2007 after having season-ending neck surgery.

Retirement and post-playing career

On February 14, 2008, the Bills released Price. After his release from the Bills, Price retired from football. According to Price, he then started coaching his daughter's fourth grade basketball team because they needed a coach. He continued coaching several teams. After a girl asked him if he had a degree, Price returned to college in 2016

In May 2020, Price received his BA degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee in a virtual ceremony due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On February 3, 2021, Tennessee State University announced that Price had joined the Tigers football team as a volunteer coach for the spring season.

NFL statistics

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Peerless
1976 births
Living people
American football wide receivers
African-American players of American football
Tennessee Volunteers football players
Buffalo Bills players
Atlanta Falcons players
Dallas Cowboys players
Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio
21st-century African-American sportspeople
20th-century African-American sportspeople