Andre Rison

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Andre Rison
Position(s): Wide Receiver	Jersey #(s): 87, 80, 81, 84, 89
Born: March 18 1967 (1967-03-18) (age 42) Flint, Michigan
Career Information
Year(s): 1989-2000
NFL Draft: 1989 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22
College: Michigan State
Professional Teams
Indianapolis Colts (1989) Atlanta Falcons (1990-1994) Cleveland Browns (1995) Jacksonville Jaguars (1996) Green Bay Packers (1996) Kansas City Chiefs (1997-1999) Oakland Raiders (2000)
Career Stats
Receptions	743
Receiving Yards	10,205
Touchdowns	84
Stats at NFL.com
Career Highlights and Awards
Pro Bowl (x5) (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997)

Andre Previn Rison (born March 18 1967, in Flint, Michigan) is a retired American football wide receiver who played professionally for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, and the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts. Rison was selected to the Pro Bowl 5 times, from 1990-1993 and once again in 1997.

Rison won a Super Bowl championship with the Green Bay Packers in 1996, scoring the first points of the game on a 54-yard touchdown catch. He also won a Grey Cup championship with the Toronto Argonauts in 2004. He is one of the few players to win professional football championships in both the United States of America and Canada. He was released by the Argonauts during the 2005 CFL season.

Rison began his NFL career in 1989 as a first round draft pick with the Indianapolis Colts, catching 52 passes for 820 yards with 4 touchdown receptions. His next season marked the first of five very productive campaigns with the Atlanta Falcons. During these years, Rison finished near the top of most receiving categories, and led all NFL players with 15 receiving touchdowns in 1993.

After the 1994 season, Rison signed a lucrative free agent contract with Cleveland, where he was expected to bring his flashy playing style and become the featured receiving threat for the Browns, who had made the playoffs the year before. Rison's one year stay with the Browns -- the team he grew up rooting for -- was a tremendous disappointment full of frustration.[1] The receiver, who had been named an All-Pro in four of his six seasons, had career-lows in receptions (47), yards (701), touchdowns (3), receptions per game (2.9), and yards per game (43.8). Rison also developed a feud with the Cleveland fans, who were angered over the announcement that the team would be relocating to Baltimore. After a disappointing home loss to the Packers, Rison, who had been booed by the fans throughout the game, lashed out, stating, "We didn't make the fucking move. So, for all the booers, fuck you too. I'll be glad when we get to Baltimore, if that's the case. We don't have any home-field advantage. I've never been booed at home. Baltimore's our home. Baltimore, here we come."[2]

After revitalizing his career with the Super Bowl champion Packers, Rison spent three relatively productive seasons in Kansas City. He made the Pro Bowl in 1997, catching 72 passes for 1,092 yards with 7 touchdowns, but saw a drop-off in his statistics the following two years, where he caught only 61 passes combined. His final NFL season, with the Raiders in 2000, saw Rison catch 41 passes for 606 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Rison finished his NFL career with 743 receptions for 10,205 yards and 84 touchdowns, along with 8 kickoff returns for 150 yards and 9 carries for 23 yards.

He is also remembered for his life off the football field, which garnered him the nickname "Bad Moon" Rison from ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman, alluding to a well-known song by Creedence Clearwater Revival. In 1994, he had his Atlanta mansion burned down by his then-girlfriend, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes of the R&B group TLC, resulting in the loss of all his possessions. He has also been arrested several times for failing to pay child support to Raycoa Handley, the mother of his two sons. This ultimately led to Rison getting sentenced to jail by an Atlanta court on December 8, 2004 for neglecting to pay the $127,000 in child support Handley claimed he owed her. On January 3, 2005, Rison was released from DeKalb County Jail after making a $10,000 payment.[3]

While playing for the Kansas City Chiefs, Rison also garnered the nickname Spider-Man. This resulted from his touchdown celebrations where he posed like the superhero flinging spiderswebs. Rison also gained the nickname "Smokey", "Fireman", and "Flamer" as a tribute to the infamous Lopes arson incident. He also became known as Brock Middlebrook, after his attempt to deceive police by identifying himself by that fake name[4].

Rison starred in college at Michigan State, as well as at Flint Northwestern High School.

Rison is also a featured Pro on the second season of the physical reality game show Pros vs. Joes on Spike TV.

While on an episode of the Spike TV's TNA Impact!, a professional wrestling program, Rison was in the ring with announcer Don West talking about his role on the show Pros vs. Joes. They were then interrupted by TNA wrestler Abyss. While Rison tried to extend his hand to Abyss for a handshake, Rison received Abyss' finishing maneuver, the Black Hole Slam (kayfabe). Rison had to be helped from the ring during the commercial break.[5]

On June 12, 2007, Andre Rison faces a court-ordered bankruptcy to pay more than $105,000 (all figures U.S.) in back child support and other claims. Terese Dear, a courtroom deputy for U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Flint, said Tuesday that an order was entered June 6 to put Rison into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Rison, a Flint native, has until June 25 to respond to the order before the court proceeds with efforts to recover his assets, Dear said. The Flint Journal reported on the court action Monday. The former Pro Bowl receiver owes child support, attorney fees and court administrative costs, according to a bankruptcy court petition. Rison's ex-wife, Tonja Rison of Southfield, is listed as one of the creditors on that petition. Her claim is for more than $58,000 in child support. An Atlanta law office is claiming another $46,000 in unpaid legal fees for seeking child support from Rison for two children by a girlfriend. The Genesee County friend of the court also is after $400 in administrative fees. Rison's attorney, David Kallman of Lansing, said Tuesday that he had no comment on the bankruptcy order.