Shayne Edge
Encyclopedia
Randall Shayne Edge is a former American college and professional football
player who was a punter in the National Football League
(NFL) during the 1990s. Edge played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers
of the NFL.
. He attended Columbia High School
in Lake City, and played high school football
for the Columbia Tigers.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier
's Florida Gators football
team from 1991 to 1994. In four seasons as the Gators' starting punter, he averaged 42.5 yards per kick, which remains the fifth-highest all-time career average by a Gators punter. Edge was recognized as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference
(SEC) selection in 1993 and 1994, and was an honorable mention All-American in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. During his time as a Gator, he was a member of the first three officially-recognized SEC championship teams. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
in 2000.
Barcelona Dragons for the 1995–96 season and averaged 40.1 yards per punt.
In the summer of 1996, Edge was invited to attend Steelers training game, where he and veteran Rohn Stark
would compete for the starting job. Edge was cut prior to the final preseason game and was replaced by former Steelers punter Josh Miller
. Miller was placed on the injured reserve due to a sports hernia that occurred during a week four game vs the Buffalo Bills
. Miller's recovery was listed as being 2–4 weeks, and Edge was signed by the Steelers on September 25, 1996.
In Edge's first game with the Steelers, Edge was one of several Steelers players involved in an end zone
fight
with several Houston Oilers players. The fight eventually drifted from the end zone near a group of spectators. Edge was fined $
5,000 and was the only Steelers player ejected from the game. Once his Player's Association dues and fines were paid, Edge barely broke even from his first game check. When asked about his first game, Edge said "I worked for free. There was nothing left." Edge was waived by the Steelers on October 26, 1996. In four games with the Steelers, Edge averaged 39.7 yards per punt.
Edge attended training camp with the New Orleans Saints
during the 1997–1998 NFL season, but was waived on August 18, 1997.
Edge was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
on June 23, 1998 but was waived from the team prior to the completion of training camp on August 25, 1998.
The following season, the San Francisco 49ers
signed Edge to a two-year contract on March 18, 1999, but was waived by the team on August 28, 1999.
In 2006, Edge was named to the Florida Gators 100th Anniversary team, with voting decided by fans voting via internet and by mail-in ballots.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who was a punter in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) during the 1990s. Edge played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
of the NFL.
Early years
Edge was born in Lake City, FloridaLake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
. He attended Columbia High School
Columbia High School (Lake City, Florida)
Columbia High School is a four-year public high school located in Lake City, Florida. The school's mascot is the Fighting Tigers and the colors are purple and gold...
in Lake City, and played high school football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
for the Columbia Tigers.
College career
Edge received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he played for coach Steve Spurrier
Steve Spurrier
Stephen Orr Spurrier is an American college football coach and player. Spurrier is the current head coach of the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks football team. He is also a former professional player and coach...
's Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1991 to 1994. In four seasons as the Gators' starting punter, he averaged 42.5 yards per kick, which remains the fifth-highest all-time career average by a Gators punter. Edge was recognized as a second-team All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) selection in 1993 and 1994, and was an honorable mention All-American in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. During his time as a Gator, he was a member of the first three officially-recognized SEC championship teams. He graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in 2000.
Professional career
Edge started his career with the World League'sWorld League
World League may refer to:* World League of American Football, which later became NFL Europa* FIVB World League, a men's volleyball competition* FINA Water Polo World League, a water polo competition...
Barcelona Dragons for the 1995–96 season and averaged 40.1 yards per punt.
In the summer of 1996, Edge was invited to attend Steelers training game, where he and veteran Rohn Stark
Rohn Stark
Rohn Taylor Stark is a former American football punter who played 16 seasons in the National Football League, 13 of those with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts...
would compete for the starting job. Edge was cut prior to the final preseason game and was replaced by former Steelers punter Josh Miller
Josh Miller
Josh Miller is a former American football punter and current football analyst.He was signed by the Baltimore Stallions of the Canadian Football League as an undrafted free agent in 1994...
. Miller was placed on the injured reserve due to a sports hernia that occurred during a week four game vs the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Miller's recovery was listed as being 2–4 weeks, and Edge was signed by the Steelers on September 25, 1996.
In Edge's first game with the Steelers, Edge was one of several Steelers players involved in an end zone
End zone
In gridiron-based codes of football, the end zone refers to the scoring area on the field. It is the area between the end line and goal line bounded by the sidelines. There are two end zones, each being on an opposite side of the field...
fight
Fistfight
Russian fist fighting is the traditional bare-knuckle boxing of Russia.-History:The earliest accounts concerning the sport date to the 13th century...
with several Houston Oilers players. The fight eventually drifted from the end zone near a group of spectators. Edge was fined $
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
5,000 and was the only Steelers player ejected from the game. Once his Player's Association dues and fines were paid, Edge barely broke even from his first game check. When asked about his first game, Edge said "I worked for free. There was nothing left." Edge was waived by the Steelers on October 26, 1996. In four games with the Steelers, Edge averaged 39.7 yards per punt.
Edge attended training camp with the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
during the 1997–1998 NFL season, but was waived on August 18, 1997.
Edge was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
on June 23, 1998 but was waived from the team prior to the completion of training camp on August 25, 1998.
The following season, the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
signed Edge to a two-year contract on March 18, 1999, but was waived by the team on August 28, 1999.
In 2006, Edge was named to the Florida Gators 100th Anniversary team, with voting decided by fans voting via internet and by mail-in ballots.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1990–1999
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of Pittsburgh Steelers players