Brian Blades

Infobox NFLretired


|caption=
position=Wide Receiver
number=89
birthdate=birth date and age|1965|7|24
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
debutyear=1988
finalyear=1998
draftyear=1988
draftround=2
draftpick=49
college=University of Miami
teams=
* Seattle Seahawks (1988-1998)
stat1label=Receptions
stat1value=581
stat2label=Receiving Yards
stat2value=7,620
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=34
nfl=BLA397969
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (1989)
* All-Pro selection (1989)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Brian Keith Blades (born July 24, 1965 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL.

Blades spent his entire eleven year career with the Seattle Seahawks, playing for the team from 1988-1998. He attended the University of Miami. He signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks prior to the 1999 season, but was cut on June 5, 1999.

He is the older brother of former NFL cornerback Bennie Blades and uncle of former University of Pittsburgh and current Washington Redskins linebacker H. B. Blades. Brian graduated from Piper High School in 1983.

Manslaughter conviction and acquittal

Blades was charged with manslaughter for the death of his cousin, Charles Blades Jr. Blades initially plead "no contest" but later changed his plea to "not guilty" before the trial. Blades claimed the pistol accidentally discharged a round into his cousin while he struggled with him. During the trial, the prosecuting attorney and a gun expert staged a mock struggle with a blank filled gun where 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.cite web|url=http://www.courttv.com/archive/casefiles/verdicts/blades.html|title= Court TV Casefiles: Florida v. Blades|work=Court TV Library] The case was appealed to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, where the court upheld his acquittal.cite web|url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01EFD9113EF937A15753C1A961958260|title= Blades's AcquittalIs (sic) Upheld|work=The New York Times]

Personal

He is the older brother of former NFL cornerback Bennie Blades and uncle of former University of Pittsburgh and current Washington Redskins linebacker H. B. Blades. Brian graduated from Piper High School in 1983.

References