Dean Cain: Simply a Superhero

Dean Cain: Simply a Superhero
5th Down

By: Tim O'Shei
buffalobills.com
Feb. 26, 2002

Cain poses with co-star Teri Hatcher from Lois and Clark.

Let's establish something right away: Athletes have this thing for Superman, and so do I. If you ever find yourself standing amongst football players, you'll notice a Superman tattoo on at least one bicep from each team. I'm fairly certain this is because it helps them gain a psychological edge. Right now, the Bills' current Superman devotee is '01 draft pick Tony Driver, who had the "S" needled into his skin back in high school. A decade ago, wide receiver Brad Lamb drew the laughs of teammates (particularly James Lofton) when he told them that his college nickname was "Superman."

As for myself, I can honestly say that I'm not usually awestruck by a man in tights. But when I was a toddler, my mom tells me, I used to run around the backyards in my Superman Underoos. When I got a little older, I tried to fly by attaching a string from my belt to the stairway banister, then jumping.

That experiment occurred only one time.

Maybe you have your Superman stories, too. The Buffalo Bills do, and as we celebrate Alumni Week, this is the ideal time to flash back to the day when a future Superman tried out for the Buffalo Bills. I first had the chance to tell this story back in 1995, when I was writing for the now-defunct official publication of team, Bills Insider.

FROM PRINCETON TO FREDONIA

Cain's Bills head shot.

Dean Cain came to Bills training camp in 1988 as a rookie free agent out of Princeton. Having grown up in Santa Monica with a dad (Chris Cain) who was a movie director, Dean had Hollywood credentials, Hollywood looks, and even a Hollywood ex-girlfriend. While at Princeton, you see, Dean had dated a girl named Brooke Shields. That enraptured his new teammates instantly. "I was noticed for two things," Cain told me back in '95. "For Princeton, and for Brooke. A couple guys were like, 'What are you, a kicker?'"

Not at all. Cain was a safety, and a good one, too. He had set two college records at Princeton: most interceptions in a season (12) and most per game (1.2). He chose to audition for the NFL with the Bills because the starting free safety at the time, Mark Kelso, has experienced head injuries. Plus, Cain knew that under coach Marv Levy's system, he would get the chance to play in the preseason and prove himself. Provided, of course, that he did not get hurt.

IT WASN'T KRYPTONITE

Cain as Clark Kent (Warner Bros.).

Some good things happened at the start. His locker was next to that of fellow rookie Thurman Thomas. (Cain wore no. 36; Thomas, of course, wore 34.) During Cain's first 7-on-7 drills, he intercepted a pass for a touchdown. In his first full 11-on-11 scrimmage, he was on the field with the first string linebackers. As free safety, it was his job to call out the defensive signals. He did that, but linebacker Shane Conlan didn't hear the call, so he turned around and yelled, "WHAT?"

"I'm thinking to myself, 'Oh, man, Shane Conlan, I'm playing with the Bills,'" Cain said. "I know this game like the back of my hand, I know how to play the game, but here I am at the highest level, which is what I had always wanted." Cain barked out the call again, and Conlan heard it clearly. "From that point on," Cain said, "I felt very, very comfortable."

Unfortunately, that wasn't a lasting feeling. About a week into camp, an old knee injury was aggravated. Cain's knee swelled so badly that ice and Advil couldn't fix it. As Cain recalled, general manager Bill Polian called him aside and said, "Look, you're going to have surgery." Cain had hoped to be able to play in the first preseason game, which was versus Houston. That, he knew, was where he would be able to prove himself. "I'm much more of a gamer than I am a practice guy," he said. "When the ball starts bouncing around or a tackle has to be made or something has to happen, that's where I tend to excel as opposed to in practice, when it's all about technique."

Despite his wishes, Cain had surgery three days before the first preseason game. Polian had told him he was welcome back to camp next year if he wasn't picked up by someone else, but that was never to happen. Cain's injury turned out to be worse than expected. The knee never completely healed, so he had to retire.

FROM SIGNALING LINEBACKERS TO SAVING LOIS

Cain on the cover of the Bills Insider.

The rest of Cain's career is well-documented; in fact, you can learn about by watching syndicated television or "Ripley's Believe It Or Not," the show which he currently hosts. After leaving the Bills, Cain returned to California and delved full-time into a Hollywood career in which he had previously dabbled. His father told him to be a screenwriter, which he did. Against his father's advice, Cain also became an actor. (Chris Cain had told his son that as a writer-- unlike an actor-- nobody cares how you look and nobody judges you.) First appearing in commercials and guest spots on television shows in the early '90s, Cain finally landed the role of a lifetime, playing Clark Kent and the caped hero on "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."

As Cain became famous, his former coach Marv Levy came up with one of his best-ever lines. One week, the Bills were getting ready to face an opponent that someone in the media had called a "superteam."

"How many of you remember Dean Cain?" Levy asked his players in the locker room. A few guys raised their hands.

"Well," Levy said, "we CUT Superman!"

When I told Cain of that story years ago, he laughed. But just as quickly, he pointed out that he was never cut due to lack of ability. His career, rather, was cut short due to injury. "But I would have said the same thing," he said, "because I think it's funny. In fact, I'm glad he remembers me."

Cain lives out his dream of standing on the Bills sideline.

Though he wasn't famous when practiced at Fredonia, Cain left an unforgettable impression. Maybe it was Princeton, maybe it was Brooke. Or maybe the players and coaches around him simply sensed he'd be something "super" someday.

Whichever it was, Cain did get one more day of glory with the Bills.

In December 1995, Cain appeared on a late night talk show and happened to mention how much he would have loved to been on the sidelines with the Bills. Somebody from the front office saw that and called me on a Wednesday, asking for his phone number. The Bills wanted to invite him to that Sunday's game versus the Miami Dolphins. I handed over the number for Cain's personal assistant, Anita, then called her with a heads-up. Never figuring such a trip could be arranged on such short notice, I forgot about it. Until, that is, I heard on the Saturday evening news that Cain would be joining the Bills on the sidelines the next day.

Cain made the trip from L.A. to Buffalo and back in a 26-hour cycle. I met him during the game as the Bills clinched a playoff berth by beating the Dolphins. Dean told me that he would never miss a chance to watch a football game, especially with an invitation like this one. After all, he had always wanted to stand on an NFL sideline. Now he was, and it was a statement that fit his character: Where there is a dream to be saved, Superman will fly to get there.