Tag Archives: Denver Broncos

NFL

Smith, Sammie

Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent:  5/27   Received: 11/2   (159 days)

Sammie Smith is a cautionary tale. After breaking rushing records for the Florida State Seminoles during the late 1980s, Sammie declared for the 1989 NFL draft. His stock would shoot up in the final weeks leading up to it, buoyed by a reputed 4.35 40.  A stacked draft, Smith was the third runningback taken off the board in the first round, (after Barry Sanders and Tim Worley) with the 9th pick. A tremendous talent, Smith would set a Dolphins rookie rushing record with his 659 yard season in 1989, including a 3 touchdown performance against the New England Patriots. He’d follow this up in 1990 with another solid season with 839 yards and his two year career totals set new Sophomore marks for the 20+ year old franchise at the time, but that would all come crashing down in 1991.

You see, Sammie had a habit of putting the rock on the ground. My friends and I knew that he was so notorious for it, that when a player fumbled twice in a game or on a regular basis, we called it, “A case of Sammie Smith-itis”. Sammie’s 1991 would be incredibly rough and after 2 games, Smith didn’t even have positive yardage.  At Kansas City in week 3 Smith fumbled on the goal line against the Chiefs, who recovered it and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown as the Dolphins got crushed 42-7, but the worst was yet to come. In a home game the following week Sammie and the Dolphins would play the Houston Oilers. Clutching to a 14-10 lead late in the game, the ‘Fins would have a chance to seal the victory as they knocked on the Oilers doorstep for a touchdown. The announcers casually mention Sammie Smith in the backfield and how he fumbled the previous week. As the ball was handed off to him, Lamar Lathon came through the line with Cris Dishman and punched the ball loose- again. Lathon recovered the ball and the Oilers marched down the field for the winning touchdown. Sammie sobbed on the sideline as fans chanted “Sammie Sucks!” Smith would be pulled aside after the game, where coach Don Shula tried to tell Sammie that he had made big plays in the past for the Dolphins and he’d make big plays in the future. He just needed to shake off today.

It never happened. Sammie’s 1991 would come to a thudding end, and during the season’s epilogue the Dolphins would trade Sammie Smith straight up with the Broncos for Bobby Humphrey. The hope was that a change of scenery would help both players, but a groin injury would derail most of Smith’s 1992, and end his career.  Sammie despite only playing roughly 4 seasons still finished financially well off.

He’d return home, but be caught in a drug sting as a ‘major player’ in a cocaine operation in 1996. Sammie would plead guilty and be sent to jail. Convicted of 2 counts to distribute he faced 20 to life in prison at the age of 29. Sammie would take his time in prison to refocus his life and try to turn it around, helping those who are potentially at risk in life and with drugs. After 7 years he was placed on parole, and in 2010, at the age of 43, with the help of his former coach Bobby Bowden, friends and family, he won the restoration of his civil rights. Smith remains active locally conducting football camps, connecting with former friends and teammates, and trying to help at risk children.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Sammie despite my genial poking at his career and while I would’ve decried what happened to him as ‘stupid’, the reality of it is, that it was tragic and saddening. I would have sent to Sammie sooner, had I known he was out of prison earlier and I was happy to receive these two autographs in roughly 6 months time. It’s been a long and winding difficult road for Sammie- but he is proof positive that you can find redemption after your darkest hour.

G/Gs 44/35  Rush   532    Yds 1881   Avg  3.5     Td  15    Lg  33  |
Rec   32   Yds  310    Avg  9.7     Td   1     Lg  53

NFL, WLAF

Erney, Scott

Cards: Pro Set 1991, Pro Set WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Work.
Sent: 7/19   Received: 8/17  (29 days)

Scott Erney and fellow quarterback Stan Gelbaugh played high school football within a stones’ throw of each other, and while Gelbaugh would go to Maryland and Erney attended Rutgers- they would ironically cross paths again as starting QBs in the WLAF.

During Scott’s career at Rutgers from 86-89, he set the school passing record for completions (614), attempts (1128), and yards (7,188). In one remarkable game Scott threw for 436 yards against Vanderbilt and led the team to upset victories over Penn State and Michigan State.  Going undrafted in 1989, he’d sign with the Denver Broncos, – however, facing stiff competition, Scott would be cut before the end of training camp.

As the WLAF opened up shop in 1991, Erney would be the 5th quarterback taken in the draft by the Barcelona Dragons. Under Jack Bicknell, he would establish himself as the starting quarterback over Notre Dame star Tony Rice. In 7 games Erney would throw for 1186 yards and 8 touchdowns, to 2 picks, – leading all starters at that position and setting a league benchmark. During the season he’d throw for 340 yards and 3 touchdowns in a victory over the Orlando Thunder and guide the team into the playoffs with an 8-2 record.  Despite a nagging separated shoulder that caused him to miss 3 games, Scott would finish second in passer rating with an 86.6 quarterback rating.

The team would beat the Birmingham Fire and play the London Monarchs for the championship game, but lose 21-7.  During the game Scott was tacked by Marlon Brown and tore a muscle in his leg. On the plane ride home he suffered from compartment syndrome which aggravated the injury further. Tissue in his leg actually died. Doctors suspected that Scott might never play again, but amazingly he recovered and returned for the following season.

Riding high into the 1992 season, the Barcelona Dragons offensive line was in shambles. Erney would suffer 27 sacks on the season, (roughly 3 a game)  and his quarterback rating would plummet to a 61.5 rating. Still Scott would help the team enter the playoffs again at 5-5, on the back of his 315 passing attempts, and narrowly lose out in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual World Bowl Champion Sacramento Surge, 17-15.

After the reorganization of the WLAF in 1992, Scott would retire. He currently works for the Erie insurance group. I got these cards postmarked back from Harrisburg, PA in roughly 30 days, and was super happy to finally add another Dragon to my collection.

G/Gs 17/20   Att 473   Comp  247   Yds 2840   Pct 52.2   Td  14   Int 12   Rat 69.9

 

NFL

Miller, Chris (2)

Cards: Action Packed 1990, Score 1990, ProSet 1989, Fleer 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o The Arizona Cardinals
Sent: 7/5  Received: 8/2   (26 days)
See also: Chris Miller

I got Chris’ autograph way back in 1993 at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament when he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons. I noticed that he was now on the staff of the Arizona Cardinals as their quarterbacks coach, and wanted to add him to my collection on a few more cards.   After I had recent success with former Falcons runningback John Settle, I decided to give Miller another shot after all these years, where he graciously signed all 4 of these cards for me in 26 days.

Really pleased with these 4 cards. They actually represent a good sampling of my favorite cards to collect during that time period, with Fleer, ProSet, Action Packed, and Score. I loved this classic 80s look of the Falcons, and miss this rich red color that they used back then. All of these cards had excellent action shots of Chris, with the Action Packed and Score cards really standing out with their dynamic poses. Design wise as you can see, near the end of the 80s nearly all the brands were framing all of their players in around all sides with a border. Fleer would become one of the first brands to ‘break the border’ as you can see with Chris’ helmet on his Fleer 1990 card.