Tag Archives: college football HoF

Emtman, Steve “The Machine”

Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Colts Blitz
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o The Spokane Shock

As I was pawing through the stack of autographs I got back in 1992/3, I was disappointed to see that I didn’t get one from Steve. When I flipped the card over later by accident, I noticed the autograph on the back scrawled in ball point pen. Despite this, I was still happy to add “The Machine” to my collection.

Steve Emtman was the #1 pick of the 1992 draft.  An impressive specimen who was the total package, he and overall #2 pick Quentin Coryatt were to be the cornerstone for the future Indianapolis Colts defense. Overall, despite holding the first 2 picks in the draft, this would be another painful round of picks for the Colts as Ashley Ambrose would be the most successful member of the Colts’ draft class. (Of defensive linemen only Joel Steed and Sean Gilbert would be the only ones to make the Pro Bowl from the entire 1992 draft.)

Steve Emtman is difficult to peg, but it’s hard for me to have labeled him a bust. He does qualify certainly as cursed though. I think most teams would have taken him if presented the opportunity. He played far and away at a level above most other college linemen at Washington and won numerous accolades to back it up. All signs pointed up for The Machine as the Colts named him their number one pick.  As the new season dawned Emtman flashed some potential right out of the gate, making his first sack against Cleveland in a 14-3 win. Perhaps in his finest highlight moment, he picked off a Dan Marino pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown in a 31-20 win and make another sack, but week 9, blew out his knee- ending his 1992 season on injured reserve. His 1993 would start out just as promising. After 5 games he had a sack and 22 tackles, but once again this time blew out his patellar tendon ending his 1993 season and perhaps his career. Determined to make a comeback Steve returned in 1994 almost a full year later, with his rehabilitation paying off. He played in 4 games, making a fumble recovery and 3 tackles, but unbeknown to most- Emtman had suffered a ruptured disc in his neck in his first game back heroically playing through the pain for the next 3 weeks. Steve finished his third season on the IR.

In 1995, Steve signed with the Miami Dolphins where he started one game, making a sack, a fumble recovery and 10 tackles. 1996 would see Steve start the most games since 1993. He’d see action starting 4 contests making 2 sacks, 2 FF, and 33 tackles.  The Redskins would sign him in 1997 where Steve would suit up for 3 games and make 4 tackles and retire after the season at the age of 27.

Steve after football was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He also spent some time coaching defensive line with the AFL’s Spokane Shock and is a successful real estate developer.  I sent off for Steve’s autograph courtesy of the Shock on his Action Packed Rookies card, but it appears that by the time my card had arrived, he was no longer coaching with the team. It has been well over a year now and thus logged as a failure.

G/Gs  50/19     Tac  121  Sac  8.0    Fum   3     Int   1         Yds   90      Avg  90.0      Td   1    Lg  90t

 

Smith, Bruce


Cards:Action Packed Rookies 1992, ProSet 1991 League Leader
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Pro Football Hall of Fame
Sent: 3/21  Received: 4/16  (26 days)

One of the most dominant and complete defensive ends in NFL history, Bruce Smith holds the NFL career record for sacks with a flat 200 playing in 19 seasons for the Bills and Redskins. He is though most remembered as a key player for the Buffalo Bills tremendous SuperBowl runs during the 1990s and part of a stalwart defensive alignment that included Cornelius Bennett, Darryl Talley, and Shane Conlan. An 11 time Pro Bowl selection, 9 time first team all pro, a member of both the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Defensive Player of the year 1990 and 1996, and 1987 Pro Bowl MVP, Bruce amassed a tremendous amount of accolades over his playing time.
Highly decorated coming out of college at Virginia Tech, Bruce Smith was a shoe in #1 pick being named the Outland Trophy winner in 1984 and a 2 time All American in 1983, and 1984. Drafted by the Buffalo Bills, Bruce quickly established himself as an outside rushing force and within 5 seasons had become the all time sack leader of the franchise. In 1990 he made 19 sacks, and was named NFL defensive MVP. Bruce would lose his 1991 season to a knee injury but would return in full force by 1992. He would transition from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense successfully under then defensive coordinator Wade Phillips later in 1995, where he again would be named defensive MVP in 1996. He would be allowed to sign via Free Agency in 1999 where he became more of a designated pass rusher, and passed up Reggie White for the record in his final season in 2003. In 13 of his 19 seasons he made double digit sacks. Bruce was enshrined into the NFL HoF in his first year of eligibility in 2008 and also to the Bills Wall of Fame that same year. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame as well, he spends a good deal of his time working for charities.

I had heard that Bruce was a great TTM signer, but I couldn’t believe it till I tried it since he was the NFL’s career sack leader. He responded in very little time via the Pro Football HoF (Canton,OH) roughly in 30 days.  Always well represented in Tecmo Super Bowls, Bruce when he was in excellent condition would dominate any offensive lineman and on occasion was so fast could cover wide receivers down the field, and 9 times out of 10 his quickness allowed him to be around any play with the computer.

G/Gs 279/267    Tac 1225      Sac 200    Fum 43    Int 2    Yds 0   Avg -.-   Td 0

Brodie, John

Card: Topps 1970
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament

I met John Brodie on the course early in the day on the golf tournament circuit with Steve Spurrier and Dick Anderson. He loved the drawing I did of him and he laughed because I didn’t have one of the old ball coach. Off hand I have 5 or 6 cards autographed out of this beautiful and classy set, perfect for autographing.

John Brodie was the strong armed quarterback who was the heir apparent to Y.A. Tittle in San Fransisco. One of the many overlooked legendary quarterbacks who came through the 49er organization before Montana and Young, Brodie was a passing machine throughout the 1960s and was the NFL MVP in 1970. A two time AP in 1965 and 1970, he’d retire in 1973 ranked 3rd all time in passing yardage. Brodie was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and his number retired by the 49ers, but at this time has not been enshrined into the NFL HoF. An avid golfer, he frequently is in the running on the Champions Tour.

G/Gs 259/201    Att 4491    Comp 2469   Yds 31548    Pct 55%     Td 214    Int 224    Rat 72.3