Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL, WLAF

Hopkins, Mark

ult92 hopkinsCards: Wild Card WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent:  7/20   Received: 10/10    (84 days)

A two time Mid-American Conference choice for the Central Michigan Chippewas, Hopkins caught 26 receptions for 326 yards in 1989. Hopkins was signed in 1990 as a free agent by the Atlanta Falcons but did not make the squad.

wcwlaf92 hopkinsThe World League of American Football’s Birmingham Fire made him the first pick of the second round among tight ends. A skilled H-back, Hopkins fit quite nicely into Chan
Gailey‘s ball control offense.  In 1991 Mark caught 6 passes for 86 yards. He returned to the team again in 1992, and followed up with 11 more receptions for 94 yards. Equally adept at blocking as well as catching the ball, Hopkins frequently would bookend with fellow TE Phil Ross and the combined duo provided a safety valve for quarterbacks Brent Pease, Eric Jones, and Mike Norseth. The league reorganized after the 1992 season.

I enclosed a few cards in the envelope for Mark to keep after searching high and low to find out where he was at. He wrote me a nice letter and thanked me for bringing back some great memories. Mark also told me about how he was shocked the first time he saw his own card and how it brought him a great deal of joy, and his kids now that they are old enough to see them.  Mark has been working in the human resources industry for quite a while now and is the Executive Vice President of Wealth Management Services at WorkLife Financial.

Rec 17    Yds  180   Avg 10.6     Td 0    Lg 25

College Football HoF, NFL

Green, Tim

Cards: Pro Set Platinum 1992, Score 1992
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Tim Green is almost as famous for what he has done off the field since retiring from football as he was during  his heyday playing years for the Syracuse Fighting Orangemen and the Atlanta Falcons.  Tim Green had a great career at Syracuse. The star defensive end finished his time there with 341 tackles and set the school mark for sacks in a season (15), and in a career (45.5).  Atlanta was direly trying to shore up their 3-4 defensive front, and took Tony Casillas #2, and Tim at #17 during the 1986 NFL Draft. Injuries really wrecked Green’s first 3 campaigns as he’d only start 11 contests over that period. It’d be in 1989 that he was finally able to show his stuff. Injury free, he ranked 3rd on the team with 5 sacks, and 111 tackles. Considered undersized for the position at 6-2, 249, Tim used his quickness and a variety of moves to put constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  He’d lead the team in 1990, with 6 sacks and 37 quarterback hurries.  Green again repeated the feat in 1991 as the team leader in sacks with 5. He’d add 3 more sacks to his resume in 1992, and switch to linebacker in his final season during the 1993 season.

Since then Tim has put his pen to paper and written many books. Green also revealed that he suffered some 12 concussions over his playing time in the league. He finished his law degree in 1994 and has been involved with a few firms, but has been active in coaching and commentating on TV, as well as radio for NPR. At one point his name was linked to the open Syracuse job, but ultimately he nobly recommended competing candidate Doug Marrone. Green was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame in 1995 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

G/Gs 99/71      Tac N/a      Sac 24.0     Fum 9       Int 0    Yds 0     Avg -.-    Td 0    Lg -.-

CFL, NFL

Gaylor, Trevor

bow02 gaylorCard: Topps 2005
Acquired: 2012, Target Autograph Memorabilia Edition

Another Miami of Ohio product, from over the turn of the century to go along with notables Ben Rothlisberger and Martin Nance, -Trevor Gaylor experienced moderate success in the CFL after being drafted by the San Diego Chargers with their #3 pick of the 2000 draft. Starting 2 games his rookie season and seeing mostly scrub/ back up time, Trevor made 13 receptions for 182 yards and a 62 yard touchdown.  His 2nd year in the league, he’d improve marginally on his numbers with 14 receptions for 212 yards.  Traded to the Falcons in 2002, Gaylor proved to be a nice budget find by Atlanta, making 25 receptions for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns, while starting only 2 games.  He didn’t get any playing time in 2003, and was a surprising release prior to the 2004 season. The enigma about Gaylor was that he could make the tough reception, but dropped the routine pass. Signed by the Lions after tryouts with them and the Bengals, Trevor lost out on one of the final wide receiver spots in camp late that season and was waived.

The Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL made their pitch to Trevor, and he signed with them in 2005.  His rookie season he had 929 yards receiving and 74 receptions, in 18 contests, winning the 93rd Grey Cup. He wound his way into Coach Danny Maciocia’s doghouse the following season, and his numbers would dwindle down to 24 receptions for 382 yards and 2 touchdowns. In his final season in 2007, Trevor recorded 56 receptions for 644 yards and 4 touchdowns.

NFL  G/Gs 34/7    Rec  52    Yds   784   Avg 15.1   Td 4    Lg 74t
CFL   Rec  152     Yds  1955     Avg  12.9        Td  11     Lg 63