Player Profile

Pro: After failing to make the opening day roster for Dallas and then spending the 2002 season as a game-day deactivation with Houston, Willie Blade looks to rebound in 2003. He was originally drafted in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Cowboys, and he brings a big, young body to the defensive line rotation. A late bloomer that has seen his talents grow each year since stepping onto the Northwest Community College football field in 1997, Blade is a physical player that plays the run well from either the nose tackle or defensive tackle position. Cowboys coaches are expecting Blade to continue his upward trend and battle for a spot in the defensive tackle rotation.

2002: Blade spent training camp with Dallas, but was released at the end of camp. Houston claimed Blade off waivers, and he remained on the Texans' roster as an inactive player for fifteen weeks. Houston released him on Dec 24th. He re-signed with Dallas following the season.

2001: Blade dislocated his right wrist in training camp on July 25. He underwent surgery to insert two pins in the wrist on July 26 and was placed on injured reserve Aug. 28.

COLLEGE: As a senior, Blade was a semifinalist for the Outland Trophy given annually to the nation's top down lineman. Blade earned conference and national accolades, closing his senior season with 51 tackles, 13 quarterback pressures (second on the team), nine stops for a loss and team-highs with four sacks and two fumble recoveries. As a junior transfer from Butler County, Kan., Community College, Blade totaled 28 tackles, six quarterback pressures, four stops behind the line of scrimmage and a sack as a reserve defensive tackle for the Bulldogs. In his only season at Butler Community College, Blade earned All-Jayhawk Conference honors after posting 42 tackles, 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage and six sacks in helping lead Butler to the National Junior College championship as a sophomore. He spent his freshman collegiate campaign playing for Northwest, Miss., Community College.

PERSONAL: Blade was named to the Peach State Top 40 by the Augusta Chronicle following his senior season at Warner Robins, Ga. High School. The educational psychology major was born in Landstuel, Germany, where his father was stationed. As a rookie, Blade was a member of the Cowboys inaugural "Rookie Club", a program designed to introduce rookies to community service. Throughout the season, the rookies made visits to and spent time with children at Children's Medical Center of Dallas, Oak Cliff Boys and Girls Clubs, The Salvation Army and its' Christmas Distribution Center.