INDIANAPOLIS -- Linebacker Cornelius Bennett provided
invaluable leadership this season for the AFC East champion
Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, he may not be able to help them in the playoffs.
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Colts coach Jim Mora announced Monday that Bennett will likely
miss the entire postseason with an injured left knee. He
suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's 31-6 loss to
the Buffalo Bills in the regular season finale. Bennett limped
off the field with the help of teammates and did not return.
The Colts have a first-round bye before they host a divisional
playoff game on Sunday, January 16.
Signed as a free agent by the Colts in the offseason, Bennett
started all 16 games at left outside linebacker and recorded
five sacks and two fumble recoveries. He also served as a tutor
for fellow linebackers Michael Barber and Mike Peterson.
Bertrand Berry, a third-year player from Notre Dame, will likely
replace Bennett at outside linebacker.
Bennett, 34, helped the Atlanta Falcons reach the Super Bowl for
the first time in the 33-year history of the franchise last
season. The Falcons ranked second in the NFL against the run
and Bennett led the team with 120 tackles, but he had just one
sack after compiling seven in 1997.
However, a month after Atlanta's Super Bowl XXXIII loss to the
Denver Broncos, Bennett was released due to salary cap purposes.
Bennett has the dubious distinction of being the only player to
start for five Super Bowl-losing teams. He signed with the
Falcons in 1996 after spending the first nine years of his
career with the Bills. Along with starting on all four of
Buffalo's Super Bowl teams, Bennett was named to five Pro Bowls.
Bennett was selected by Indianapolis with the second overall
pick in the 1987 draft out of Alabama, but was dealt to the
Bills in a three-team trade that featured 10 players and sent
Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson to the Colts.