Tag Archives: action packed 1992

NFL

Conlan, Shane

Cards:  Action Packed 1992, ProSet 1989, Upper Deck 1992, Topps 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o home
Sent: 7/5  Received:  8/3  (26 days)

After an All-American career playing outside linebacker at Penn State, Shane Conlan would be drafted by the Buffalo Bills with the 8th pick of the 1987 draft after trading down from the 3rd pick with the Houston Oilers, (who took Alonzo Highsmith). He’d be the third linebacker off the board after Cornelius Bennett and Mike Junkin.  An impressively stacked defensive draft, Conlan would not disappoint as he was named defensive rookie of the year after the strike shortened season. An impressive specimen of both speed and size Shane had an instinctive nose for the ball. He would be named All-Pro in 1987, 1988 and 1990, and go to the Pro Bowl from 1988-1990. After 6 seasons with the Bills and 3 SuperBowl appearances, Conlan would take his talents to the Los Angeles Rams in 1993 during the first year of free agency. He would play with the franchise through its transition to St. Louis and retire after the 1995 season.

Shane since retirement has been active in trying to improve former player benefits. (One of his teammates and friends from Penn State is former runningback Steve Smith, who suffers from ALS.) He’s also received accolades being named to the Bills’ 50th anniversary team and to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. He currently works for Senior Management group in Wayne, PA .

Shane was nice enough to sign these cards in under a month. I offered to allow him to keep a few but he signed all 4 and the extra and returned them in the SASE. A very nice return as I liked all these cards- even the Topps 1990.

G/Gs 120/114   Tac  751    Sac 7.0   Fum 6
Int 5    Yds 36   Avg 7.2    Td 0    lg 28

NFL

Crockett, Donald “Ray”

Cards: GameDay 1992, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 6/23   Received: 7/1 (8 days)

Ray Crockett is another in a long line of defensive players that came from the University of Baylor in Waco, Texas. For some reason, Baylor always had the luck of having some immense talent with Mike Singletary, Robert Blackmon, Thomas Everett, Santana Dotson, James Francis, and Vann McElroy all being drafted and having some great playing careers during the 80s and 90s.

Originally a 4th round pick of the Detroit Lions during the deep 1989 draft, Ray didn’t get much playing time in the starting lineup his rookie season. In 1990, he’d make three interceptions starting opposite Leroy Irvin. Solidifying the secondary in 1991, Crockett became a feared defender during the final years of the last Lions’ playoff runs. He’d make 6 picks and return one 96 yards for a touchdown against the Cowboys.

In 1994 Ray signed with the Denver Broncos. As teams would throw to the other side of the field avoiding Ray, his statistics suffered, but he’d continue to provide blanket coverage against unfortunate receivers.  In 1998 and 1999, as a member of the Broncos Ray won Super Bowl titles with the franchise. Over his time with the Broncos, Ray logged 17 picks and a touchdown. After a nice season in 2000, in which he had 4 interceptions and a touchdown, Ray signed as a free agent with the rival Kansas City Chiefs for the 2001 season.  He’d wrap up his career in 2002 with his 35th and 36 pick.  Crockett over his career was also a fearsome corner blitzer, and was the career leader (surpassed by Rhonde Barber) at the position with 15.5 career sacks at his retirement in 2002.

Since retirement Ray has done a variety of things. Touched by the paralysis of his friend and teammate Mike Utley, Ray’s participated on Morgan Spurloch’s show “30 Days”,   spending 30 days in a wheelchair focusing on the everyday challenges that physically challenged people deal with in their lives. Ray has also done some game show work as well and currently lives outside of Dallas, Texas.

I got these two cards signed by Ray in no time flat. This Action Packed 1992 card is an exceptional photo with great lighting and focus and it’s among my favorite of the set.

G/Gs 214/174      Tac 802      Sac  15.5   Fum 9   Int 36     Yds 460      Avg 12.7       Td 3    Lg  96t

NFL

Sharpe, Sterling

Cards: SkyBox 1992, Action Packed 1992, Score 1990 HC, ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990 LL
Acquired: TTM 1993, 2011, C/o The Green Bay Packers, C/o The NFL Network
Sent: 5/27   Received: 6/7  (11 days)
Address:   c/o NFL Network  10950 Washington Blvd.  #100  Culver City, CA 90232*

I was pretty disappointed in the SkyBox and Action Packed autographs I got back in 1993. I thought they were fakes and added them to the collection; However after further study this years it appears that Sterling Sharpe perhaps had a very boring autograph or a ghost signer at the time. Recent success through the NFL Network shows a grandiose signature, while earlier in his career it looks like… a signature on the dotted line.

After attending South Carolina, Sterling Sharpe would be drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1988 draft. Overall he went 7th and was the highest rated wide receiver off the board. Sharpe’s first season would be respectable. He’d have 55 receptions for 875 yards and 5 touchdowns working with primarily Don Majkowski. In 1990 Sterling would lead the league in receptions with 90 and be named to his first of 5 Pro Bowls and 5 APs. In 1992 he’d form a great bond with quarterback Brett Favre, and record a season for the ages leading the league in all receiving categories and lodging 107 receptions, becoming of only 7 players to do so. 1993 would see him break his own record, and he’d become the first player to record back to back 100+ receiving seasons. 1994 would see Sharpe lead the league in touchdown receptions with a career high 18. and Sterling appeared to be on his way to another great season for 1995 but he suffered a career ending neck stinger.  Sterling has become a successful commentator after his retirement working for NBC, CBS, ESPN and the NFL Network.

I sent off for his autograph in late May of 2011. Recent successes that I’d seen on the web had indicated as many as 5 signatures per attempt, but I didn’t want to pester him, so I went with the two Pro Set 1990 cards and this rare Score 1990 Hot Card. (The Hot Cards were only packaged in blister packs sold for retail in places like Target and Toys ‘R Us.) Even though the Hot Card does not have the most amazing looking pose of Sterling, it was still a really nice design. I got the additional autographed cards back in 11 days, and you can tell the difference in the grandiose autograph, from the signatures I got back in 1993.

G/Gs 112/112     Rec 595       Yds  8195      Avg 13.7       Td   65    Lg  79

*Forwarded and postmarked from South Carolina.