Tag Archives: buffalo bills

Dumas, Mike

Cards: ProSet 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Houston Oilers

Michael Dumas-was a special teams maven for the Indiana Hoosiers blocking an impressive 9 punts over his college career. He made the transistion from cornerback to free safety but was a bit undersized at 5-11 and 178. The Oilers liked to draft by the dozen, and the 1991 draft was loaded with defensive talent especially at defensive back. The Oilers would draft, Mike Dumas, Darryl Lewis, and Steve Jackson to get younger at the position. They’d take Dumas off the board first at the top of the 2nd round hoping that his big play potential and hitting would ignite the Oilers’ secondary. (Dumas initially didn’t believe that he was going to be in the NFL. He wanted to get his sports degree and be an agent.) He’d be with the Oilers for two seasons and then Buffalo in 1994 as a backup. In 1995, he’d start 8 games for the Jaguars, before finally finding a home with the Chargers in 1996 where he’d play through 2000. Dumas would sign in 2001 with the Bears, but a lingering ankle injury would end his career.

Michael Dumas still longs to play the game, but the long lasting effects of his injuries have slowed him down immensely. He spent some time coaching defensive backs for the Dolphins at one point and currently lives in Sunrise, Fl.

G/Gs 102/52   Tac 292   Sac 5  Fum 9  Int 7  Yds 167   Avg 18.6    Td 1   Lg 68

Brooks, Bill

Card: Action Packed 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, Colts Blitz

Bill Brooks was a reliable, sure handed receiver drafted by the Colts in the years before their brief Andre Rison fling. Taken in the 4th round of the 1986 draft, he’d be a pretty decent bargain for the Colts, as Brooks would make 1136 yards receiving his rookie season topping even perennial Pro Bowl receiver Ernest Givins who came off the board in the first round as well. A popular player among fans, Bill dominated the Colts receiving charts and was immortalized in the first edition of Tecmo Bowl on Nintendo. He’d fly under the radar for the majority of the remainder of his career for the Colts, yet lead the team in receiving in five of the seven seasons he was with the team. At 6’0″, 193, Brooks posessed a nice balance of size and speed to get open and make the catch over smaller defenders. He never failed to make below 700 yards a season until an injury plagued 1992. During his tenure with the Colts, Bill played with 7 different quarterbacks, ranging from Jack Trudeau and Chris Chandler, to Jeff George and Gary Hogeboom. Brooks played 3 more seasons with the Bills helping the team reach the Super Bowl XXVIII, and going from worst with Indianapolis to first in Buffalo. After his stint in Buffalo, Billy played one more final season in 1996 with the Washington Redskins before retiring with a respectable 8001 receiving yards.

Bill is well received by the Colts faithful and has been inducted into the team’s ring of honor. Holding multiple records for the Indianapolis Colts upon his departure, Bill now works in the front office for the franchise. One wonders how Bill’s career would have turned out if Eric Dickerson didn’t show up, the team didn’t have 4 coaches during his 7 years with the franchise, or he had regular consistency at the quarterback position.

G/Gs 169/132     Rec 583     Yds 8001    Avg 13.7   Td 46     Lg  84t

Jackson, Steve

Cards: Score 1991, Playoff 1992, Star Pics 1991, ProSet 1991
Acquired: In Person 1991, 1992, Houston Oilers Training Camp.  TTM 2010, C/o The Washington Redskins
Sent: 3/26/10    Received: 1/26/2011  (324 days)

So far, Steve Jackson takes the prize for the longest wait now at a whopping 324 days (not that I don’t have ones pending that have been out there longer at the moment); However, well worth the wait I’d say. Part of my Oiler blitz of cards I sent out in 2010, I’ve got to say the former members of the squad have been highly responsive with 11 out of 16 from that blitz have responded now. Jackson’s Playoff card remains one of my favorite. With bright colors and a definite contrast between the players it just makes them pop off the background.

Steve Jackson was one of the Oilers ‘Young Guns’ drafted in 1991 when the team went gangbusters for defensive backs in that draft. Taken in the 3rd round out of Perdue, Jackson was an excellent man to man defender, with good size, speed, and among his best attributes- not afraid to tackle. (Steve reminded me a lot of recently retired Oiler defensive back and Autograph Hall of Fame member Steve Brown.)  Jackson felt like the happy middle between Mike Dumas and Darryll Lewis taking a completely different path than the two other Young Guns.

Starting only two games his rookie season Steve would play backup to Dishman and Lewis, making 34 tackles a sack and 2 fumble recoveries. It was impressive enough that by 1993, Jackson would start 12 games for the Houston Oilers on their last good squad and playoff run. He’d make 5 interceptions and 55 tackles. In 1994 he’d also serve as secondary kick returner for the team returning 14 kicks for 285 yards. After the season he’d return to the bench providing valuable depth starting 11 games over the next 6 seasons. Jackson would also win the team’s comeback player of the year award in 1998 after he returned from a ruptured tendon making 72 tackles. He’d transition with the franchise to Tennesee and appearing in the Traitor’s SuperBowl in 1999 and would retire.

Jackson headed over to Buffalo and served as safeties coach for the team from 2001-2003. Jackson thereafter joined the Redskins after the conclusion of the 2003 season, and has served in the same capacity for them as the Bills for the last 7 seasons with distinction.

G/Gs  118/26     Tac  280    Sac  9   Fum  4     Int 13        Yds 74       Avg  5.6     Td  1        Lg  22