10/26/23, 10:19 PM Dennis Law (American football) - Wikipedia

Dennis Law (American football)

Raymond Dennis Law (born April 4, 1955) is an American
former football wide receiver and kick returner who played for
Dennis Law
the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). No. 83
He played college football at East Tennessee State Position: Wide receiver
University.[1][2][3] Kick returner
Personal information
College career Born: April 4, 1955
Commerce, Georgia,
Law played wide receiver at East Tennessee State University, U.S.
joining the team in 1973 as a freshman.[4] In his first two years Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
with East Tennessee, he was a reserve for the wide receiver Weight: 179 lb (81 kg)
position but gained the starting role in 1975, where he caught 18 Career information
passes in 11 games for 428 yards and a touchdown.[5] Law High school: Jefferson
improved his performance in 1976 with 22 catches in 10 games (Jefferson, Georgia)
for 460 yards and a touchdown.[5] Coming into the 1977 season, College: East Tennessee State
Law took over the punt and kick-off return position when team NFL Draft: 1978 / Round: 4 /
injuries caused him to fill in in a game against Murray State.[5] Pick: 99
Law became the team's best wide receiver, with 33 catches in 11 Career history
games for 488 yards and four touchdowns. Law made 18 returns
for 510 yards and two touchdowns, landing him a spot on the Cincinnati Bengals (1978)
All-Ohio Valley team with East Tennessee.[5][6]
Career NFL statistics
Professional career Receptions: 5
Receiving 81
Law was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round yards:
with the 99th pick in the 1978 NFL Draft.[7]
Receiving 0
Law made his NFL debut on September 3, 1978, against the touchdowns:
Kansas City Chiefs. Law received 1 pass for 18 yards and Return yards: 136
returned 4 punts for 29 yards.[8] Law was primarily used as a
Return 0
kick and punt returner for the 1978 season, returning 25 kicks
and 2 punts for 136 yards, and receiving 5 passes for 81 yards as touchdowns:
a wide receiver.[1] Law is most known for a mistake he made Player stats at NFL.com (http://www.
against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 1978, by breaking an nfl.com/players/dennis-law/stat
"unwritten commandment" of running into the end zone to s/) · PFR (https://www.pro-football-r
receive a punt rather than staying on the 10-yard line, where he eference.com/players/L/LawxDe20.
was tackled by Lou Piccone for a safety, making the game's score htm)
5–0 Bills.[9]

Law was traded on August 24, 1979, to the Washington Redskins for an undisclosed draft pick,[10] but
retired two days later, declaring the draft void.[11] Law was waived off the Bengals and then signed by
the Redskins on November 6, 1979, as a replacement for Buddy Hardeman who had suffered a broken
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jaw.[12]
Law was later waived the following week on the 13th to make room for the signing of Bobby
Hammond.[13]

On April 18, 1980, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Law along with wide receivers Warren Anderson
and Randy Simmrin.[14] On August 6, 1980, the Buccaneers waived Law along with tight end Steve
Stephens and defensive back Larry Flowers.[15]

References
1. "Dennis Law stats" (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LawxDe20.htm). Pro-
Football-Reference.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20230331222710/https://www.pro-
football-reference.com/players/L/LawxDe20.htm) from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved
March 31, 2023.
2. "Dennis Law, WR" (https://www.nfl.com/players/dennis-law/). Nfl.com. Archived (https://web.archiv
e.org/web/20230331222716/https://www.nfl.com/players/dennis-law/) from the original on March
31, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
3. Buck, Ray (May 12, 1978). "Bengals' Rookies Measure Up, And Down" (https://www.newspapers.
com/clip/122042876/the-cincinnati-enquirer/). The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. 18. Archived (https://we
b.archive.org/web/20231016011326/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/1
22042876/) from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023 – via
Newspapers.com.
4. Cathey, John (September 4, 1974). "Good defense, solid running backs on scene at ETSU" (http
s://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-1974-etsu-football-ro/133496052/). Johnson
City Press-Chronicle. p. 19. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20231016011324/https://www.n
ewspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-1974-etsu-football-ro/133496052/) from the original on
October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
5. "ETSU's Law Was One Of Only Two OVC Draftees" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingspor
t-times/133498357/). Kingsport Times. May 9, 1978. p. 18. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0231016011324/https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-times/133498357/) from the
original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
6. "Dennis Law makes All-Ohio Valley" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press/1334
85989/). Johnson City Press-Chronicle. Associated Press. November 25, 1977. p. 12. Archived (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20231016011325/https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-pres
s/133485989/) from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
7. "1978 NFL Draft" (https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/draft.htm). pro-football-
reference.com. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20181031201529/https://www.pro-football-re
ference.com/years/1978/draft.htm) from the original on 2018-10-31. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
8. "Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals - September 3rd, 1978" (https://www.pro-football-refere
nce.com/boxscores/197809030cin.htm). pro-football-reference.com. Archived (https://web.archive.
org/web/20230407020652/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197809030cin.htm)
from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
9. Felser, Larry (October 23, 1978). "Return Breaks Law" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-b
uffalo-news/133500258/). Buffalo Evening News. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20231016
011326/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news/133500258/) from the original on
October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

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10. "Redskins trade Bengals for receiver Dennis Law" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-n

ews-leader/133500953/). The Daily News Leader. Associated Press. August 24, 1979. p. 12.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20231016011326/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-d
aily-news-leader/133500953/) from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

11. "Dennis Law quits football" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/133500924/).

Dayton Daily News. August 26, 1979. p. 30. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/202310160113
28/https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news/133500924/) from the original on
October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
12. "Redskins Pick Up Former Bengal Dennis Law" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-n
ews-sun/133518156/). Springfield News-Sun. Associated Press. November 7, 1979. p. 21.
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20231016015950/https://www.newspapers.com/article/sprin
gfield-news-sun/133518156/) from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.

13. "Redskins sign Bobby Hammond" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal/1335183

22/). Daily Journal. UPI. November 14, 1979. p. 8. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2023101
6015950/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-journal/133518322/) from the original on
October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
14. "Football" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times/133518496/). Quad-City Times.
April 19, 1980. p. 16. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20231016015952/https://www.newspa
pers.com/article/quad-city-times/133518496/) from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved
October 15, 2023.
15. "Csonka Waived; No Takers Yet" (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/133
518796/). The Cincinnati Enquirer. August 7, 1980. p. 44. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2
0231016020113/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/133518796/) from the
original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.

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