Fans mourn passing of "Minister of Defense"

[ragingfish]

Quote »NFL great Reggie White dead at 43December 26, 2004HUNTERSVILLE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Defensive end Reggie White, a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame who retired as the NFL's all-time sacks leader in 2000, died early Sunday at his home near Huntersville, North Carolina.White turned 43 last Sunday.Cause of death was not immediately known, although FOX and ESPN reported White died of respiratory failure.ADVERTISEMENT"Today our beloved husband, father and friend passed away," White's wife, Sara, said in a statement. "His family appreciates your thoughts and prayers as we mourn the loss of Reggie White. We want to thank you in advance for honoring our privacy."Considered by many to be perhaps the NFL's greatest defensive lineman, White had 198 career sacks with the Philadelphia Eagles (1985-92), Green Bay Packers (1993-98) and Carolina Panthers (2000). His all-time sacks total was surpassed last year by Bruce Smith.White was the defensive star and spiritual leader of the Packers' back-to-back Super Bowl teams in 1996 and 1997. He had three sacks in the Packers' 35-21 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI."Reggie was a great guy to have in the locker room and really meant a lot to us as a team, both on and off the field," said Rams guard Adam Timmerman, a member of Green Bay's Super Bowl teams with White. "He helped me, personally, with my faith, and I looked up to him the whole time. He was too young a man to have this happen to him. I think that anyone who knew Reggie knows that he is in a better place."Nicknamed "The Minister of Defense" for his dominance on the field and because he was an ordained minister, White retired after the 1998 season but returned in 2000 and played one more year with Carolina.A two-time Defensive Player of the Year, White will likely be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2006 - his first year of eligibility. He was named to the NFL's 75th anniversary team and elected to the Pro Bowl a record 13 straight times from 1986-98.Along with his dominance on the field, White made quite an impact in the community, working with inner-city kids and helping race relations."Reggie White was a gentle warrior who will be remembered as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in a statement. "Equally as impressive as his achievements on the field was the positive impact he made off the field and the way he served as a positive influence on so many young people."After starring in college at Tennessee, White began his pro career with the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League in 1984 and compiled 23 1/2 sacks in two years. Those were not acknowledged in his NFL totals.White started his NFL career in 1985 with the Eagles, who held his rights, after the USFL folded. He had 21 sacks in only 12 games in 1987, one shy of matching Mark Gastineau's single-season sack record of 22. Michael Strahan of the New York Giants broke Gastineau's record in 2001."Here was a guy that was disruptive on the field and changed the game from a defensive end standpoint," said Rams running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery, who was with Philadelphia when White joined the Eagles. "He also had the softer side to stand up for what he believed in outside the game."After helping the Eagles make the playoffs four times in his eight years there, White signed a four-year, $17 million contract with Green Bay in 1993 after fighting for his free agency. White was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit that led to the current system."He meant as much to us off the field as on it," said Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw. "He had his name on the lawsuit and didn't get one penny. That's the type of guy he is. His character, his integrity was everything any NFL player should aspire to be."However, White's reputation was somewhat tarnished when he gave a speech in which he denounced homosexuality and used ethnic stereotypes. He later apologized for his comments.

[Mr. Poopypants]

That is a great shame, He was one of my favorite players to watch and was one of the first players I can remember watching.

[PhillyVibeGT]

God Bless you Reggie.

[kep427]

The articles are right on the money with this guy. A huge amount of greatness (sincerely helping others, making the Pack great again) with just a little bit of weaknesses (his disparagement of gays).

[Stang2Vibe]

I was very sad to hear of this yesterday as well. From all accounts that I've ever heard/read of him, he was a great player and an absolutely outstanding human being. I don't think that he was trying to be disparaging of gays, but rather was standing up for his faith, something he was well known to do and often admired for.Rev. Reggie White, may you rest eternally in God's glorious presence.

[ArcsVibe]

A very sad day for all football fansRIP Reggie!