At Last: Isaac Bruce Punches His Ticket To Canton

worldwide rams

Ed "Pi Double i" Henderson

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​The former Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams wide-receiver Issac Bruce long-anticipated wait finally have landed him in Canton! Remarkably the best wide-receiver in the Rams history certainly deserves his claim to putting on that symbolic gold jacket at the 2020 Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

The Rams selected Bruce in the second round of the 1994 NFL Draft and widely remembered by his game-winning 73-yard touchdown catch in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans, and the instrumental leader of the "Greatest Show On Turf."  

the super bowl catch

​The former Rams great had an impressive career by establishing 1,024 receptions (11th NFL overall), 15,208 career receiving yards (5th NFL overall), and 91 receiving touchdowns (12th NFL overall), as each of those categories remain as Rams franchise records which currently stand today.

The Rams released Bruce in 2008 after refusing to accept a pay cut, and one day later, he would sign with his former nemesis the San Francisco 49ers. Bruce played two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers but never had the same impact as he did as Ram. The 49ers agreed to trade Bruce back to the Rams, as he could retire as a Ram after 16 NFL seasons. In the 2010 NFL season, the Rams retired Bruce's #80 jersey that hung in the Edward Jones Dome rafters. 

Many can make the argument of Bruce's long delay of his induction simply because of his 14 seasons of statistics that he achieved with Rams and winning a Super Bowl. After a quiet rookie season, in his third season (1995) with the Rams, exploded with 119 receptions for 1,781 yards and 13 touchdowns, are all career-highs and team-highs for the Rams.

ISSAC BRUCE CELEBRATES WITH LOMBARDI TROPHY

Bruce played the game with class and passion and rarely disappointed the Fans when getting into the end zone and hearing "BRUUUUCE!". He played on some horrific teams in his earlier years with the Rams; however, he remained productive on the field. Teams designed coverages to try and slow him down, and by that, Holt would make them pay.

Bruce, as well as his former teammate Tory Holt no doubt have received snubs over the last couple of years as the two have established high numbers together over their careers.

When the time comes for Bruce to make his speech, many may start to speculate on who will introduce him to the ceremony? Could it be his former head coach Dick Vermeil, who walked away from the game the second time after reaching and winning a Super Bowl in his second appearance? Or could it be his former teammate D'Marco Farr, who was drafted the same year as Bruce and shared lockers next to each him and became his best friend?

Congratulations to Isaac Bruce, as both cities of Los Angeles and St. Louis are proud of his induction into the 2020 Hall of Fame. We all have rallied behind him 100% as he joins 17 Ram players and coaches that have put on the Gold Jacket. 

The City of Los Angeles can use some positive news after enduring a week-long of sadness of the tragic loss of Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other passengers amongst a helicopter that crashed last Sunday in Calabasas. ​

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