November 23, 1999
COLTS SIGN DB-ERIC SMEDLEY AND DL-SHANE BONHAM 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent DB-Eric Smedley and DL-Shane Bonham, the club announced today.

Smedley rejoins the Colts after being waived on November 20.  Bonham was terminated by San Francisco on November 9.  He was inactive for the first eight games with the 49ers.

Bios of both players follow:

72     SHANE BONHAM
Defensive Tackle   6-2  286
Tennessee
1st Year With Colts, 6th Year in NFL
Free Agent – 1999
Born:  October 18, 1970  

GAMES STARTED/PLAYED:  (1994, 1/15); (1995, 0/16); (1996, 1/15); (1997, 0/16); (1998, 0/8)  Total 2/70

PRO:  Signed as Free Agent on November 23, 1999…originally was D3-94 (93rd overall) of Detroit…signed as UFA by San Francisco on April 21, 1998…terminated on September 5, 1999…signed as FA by San Francisco on October 13, 1999….terminated on November 9, 1999.

1999:  Inactive for first eight games.   1998:  Played in eight games as reserve DT…was inactive Weeks 1-6 with torn left biceps injury suffered in training camp…saw first action of the season 10/18 vs. Indianapolis and recorded two solo tackles…had solo tackle 10/25 at St. Louis and 11/1 at Green Bay…was inactive 11/8 vs. Carolina and 11/15 at Atlanta…recorded one tackle 11/22 vs. New Orleans and 11/30 vs. NY Giants…saw significant action 12/6 at Carolina and recorded two solo tackles…saw reserve action and played special teams 12/14 vs. Detroit.  POST-SEASON:  Inactive in NFC Wild Card Game 1/3 vs. Green Bay… recorded two solo tackles, including an eight-yard sack 1/9 at Atlanta in NFC Divisional Playoff Game.  1997:  Totaled 15 tackles and one sack in 15 games…totaled two tackles and one sack 8/31 vs. Atlanta…posted three tackles 9/28 vs. Green Bay.  POST-SEASON:  Inactive for NFC Wild Card Game 12/28 vs. Tampa Bay.  1996:  Recorded career-highs with 25 tackles and two sacks…was inactive for season-opener 9/1 at Minnesota…recorded three tackles and one sack (six yards) 9/22 vs. Chicago…made only start of the season 9/29 at Tampa Bay and posted three tackles, one sack, and one FF that led to field goal…had career-high seven tackles 9/27 vs. NY Giants.  1995:  Totaled 13 tackles and one sack…recorded first career sack 9/10 at Minnesota, a six-yard sack of QB-Warren Moon…saw extensive action as member of goal line defense.  1994:  Played in 15 games, primarily at defensive end, and made one start at defensive tackle…made first career start in place of injured Robert Porcher and posted three tackles 11/13 vs. Tampa Bay.  POST-SEASON:  Appeared in short yardage situations 12/31 vs. Green Bay.

COLLEGE:  Started 12 games at defensive tackle as senior…totaled 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks…named to SEC Academic Honor Roll…played in 12 games with six starts as junior…made starts at all four DL positions…sat out 1991 season after transferring from United States Air Force Academy.

PERSONAL:  Full name is Steven Shane Bonham…born in Fairbanks, AK…attended Lathrop High School…earned all-state honors as OT and DE..also earned all-state honors in track, throwing discus and shot put…Bonham and his wife, Laura, reside in Knoxville, TN.

BONHAM CAREER STATISTICS

        40    ERIC SMEDLEY
Defensive Back  5-11  199
Indiana
1st Year With Colts, 4th in NFL
Free Agent – 1999
Born:  July 23, 1973

GAMES STARTED/PLAYED:  (1996, 0/6); (1997, 1/13); (1998, 0/16); (1999, 0/1)  Total 1/36

PRO:  Signed as Free Agent on October 12, 1999…originally was D7-96 of Buffalo, the 249th selection overall…waived on September 5, 1999.

1998:  Played in career-high 16 games…used on punt and kickoff coverage and finished second on the team with 19 special teams tackles…had FF on punt coverage 9/20 vs. St. Louis…saw extensive action at FS 11/8 at NY Jets and recorded season-high seven tackles…recorded first two sacks of his career 12/13 vs. Oakland.  POST-SEASON:  Recorded 3 tackles in Wild Card game at Miami.

CAREER NOTES:  1997:  Played in 13 of 16 games, mostly on special teams and in nickel package…earned first career start 9/14 at Kansas City and finished second on the team with 10 tackles…saw extensive action 11/2 vs. Miami…missed game 11/17 at Miami with hip injury and was inactive 9/7 at NY Jets and 11/23 at Tennessee.  1996:  Saw action on special teams in first three games…was inactive Games 4-11 and 14-15…had solo special teams tackle vs. NY Jets 11/24…had solo special teams tackle 12/22 vs. Kansas City.  POST-SEASON:  Had two special teams tackles in his first career post-season game 12/28 vs. Jacksonville.

COLLEGE:  Three-year letterman…moved to FS as senior and ranked third on team with 72 tackles, 53 solo…recorded 10 tackles, seven solo, vs. Michigan…had season-high 12 tackles, six solo, at Ohio State…All-America second-team and NFL Report All-Big 10 first-team…started at strong side CB as junior…ranked sixth on team with 50 tackles, 42 solo…led team with four interceptions…added 10 passes defensed…had nine tackles, two ints., and 47t int. return vs. Michigan…saw action as reserve as sophomore…recorded 17 tackles, 13 solo…saw limited playing time on special teams as freshman…was redshirt as freshman…received degree in criminal justice.

PERSONAL:  Full name is Eric Alan Smedley…born in Charleston, WV…attended Capital H.S. and lettered three times…led team to state championship after rushing for 1,330 yards and had 13 ints….also lettered in basketball…single…resides in Charleston, WV.

SMEDLEY’S CAREER STATISTICS

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