Tag Archives: Los Angeles Raiders

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Long, Howie


Card: Score 1989
Acquired: In Person 1990, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Howie Long over the last few years has become pretty well known as a pre-game commentator, Chevy Commercials, Radio Shack, and a few really bad movies, (although I liked him in “Broken Arrow”).

Drafted in the second round of the 1981 draft, Howie would have a respectable rookie season for the Raiders but he would not start any games. In 1982 Long would start 5 games and make 5.5 sacks at left defensive end which would become his home for the next 11 seasons. From 1983-1985 Howie would dominate from the outside, tallying 13,12, and 10 sacks respectively. He’d be named to the Pro Bowl from 1983-1987,1989,1992 and 1993. Of those seasons he’d be named AP in 1984 and 1985 and help the Raiders win SuperBowl XVIII. After the 1993 season Long would retire. Considered by many to be one of the best 3-4 defensive ends of all time, in 2000 he’d be inducted into the NFL HoF on his second ballot,  the NFL All 80s team, and was named NFL defensive player of the year in 1985 by a few publications.
In a more comical moment when I got Howie’s autograph, he completely ignored autograph alley and went inside. 15 minutes later after the crowds slowly started to disperse, Long emerged with his pads off, a Dallas Cowboys shirt on and a gigantic smile. He graciously pawed through the crowds and signed a lot of autographs. Over his career Howie has had two trademark hairstyles first with a pseudo mullet during the 80s and post playing has had a military style flat top. His son Chris, is currently a defensive lineman for the Rams.

G/Gs 179/152    Tac   N/a     Sac 91.5    Fum 10   Int  2    Yds  84  Avg  42.0     Td 0      lg 73

NFL, usfl

Gossett, Jeff

Cards: Score 1990, Topps 1991
Acquired: In Person 1990,1991, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Jeff Gossett led a very long, consistent, and productive NFL career which actually started back in 1980 after he failed to make the roster of the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. He’d sign with the Chiefs and be their punter from 1981 to 1982, and then become a journeyman playing for the Browns for a season before hopping over to the USFL. Gossett would play for the Chicago Blitz in 1984, and the Portland Breakers in 1985, then back to the Browns later in 1985 to play for the Browns through 1987. He’d punt for the Oilers as well that year and then finally find a permanent home with the Los Angeles Raiders. Jeff would be named to the Pro Bowl (AP as well) in 1991, and play with the Raiders through their transition back to Oakland in 1996 for a total of 140 games with the Silver and Black. A solid punter, Gossett averaged 44.2 yards a punt in 1991, and 43.9 yards in 1994. Only in 2 out of 16 seasons did Jeff average below 40 yards a punt. Well represented in Tecmo Bowl history, he’d make an appearance in both Tecmo SuperBowl and Tecmo SuperBowl Final Edition, and his 982 punts would rank top 20 upon retirement.

G/Gs 212       Punts 982      Yds 40569       Avg 41.3        Lg  65       Blk  4

NFL

McGlockton, Chester (1969-2011)

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: In Person 1997, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Before there was Albert Haynesworth, there was Chester McGlockton…  A man-mountain at 6-3, 334, McGlockton would be drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Raiders with the 16th overall pick in 1991. After his rookie season where he only played 10 games,  Chester’s 1992 was nothing short of dominant with 7 sacks, 78 tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception. It would be the start of 3 straight All Pro and Pro Bowl nominations for the defensive tackle. He’d continue to dominate, making a career high 9.5 sacks in 1993. He’d follow this up with great performances in 1994, 1995 and 1996.  Well Chester got embroiled in a contract dispute with the Raiders in 1997. He’d attend training camp in that season, but frustrated with his contract with the Raiders Chester would openly proclaim how he was going to be on the Chiefs next season. When the Raiders showed up at Cowboys camp that season, he even told me as he was signing his Raiders card how he should be in a Chiefs uniform on the card. After a less inspired 1997, where Chester would still get a Pro Bowl nod, he cashed in for big money signing with Kansas City in 1998. Oddly the team shifted him to defensive end but the move would not pan out. He’d be shelved after 10 games with back problems.  They’d shift him back inside for 1999 and 2000 where he made 4.5 sacks the latter season, and sign with the Broncos at the conclusion of the season. McGlocton would play for the Broncos in 2001 and 2002, and as a reserve for the Jets in 2003 before retiring.

Since football, Chester has gotten involved in coaching, briefly working at the University of Tennessee as an intern and at Chabot College before joining Stanford’s defensive staff as a defensive line coach in 2010.  He has effectively changed his life after discovering coaching, and although he suffered a malaise of injuries that he still feels the everyday effects of, and getting lapband surgery in 2008, Chester is working in the career he loves most -coaching football.

G/Gs  179/151       Tac 555          Sac 51      Fum 14     Int 4     Yds 66     Avg  16.5     Td 0    lg 30

UPDATE 11/30/11-  Chester McGlocton passed away early Wednesday morning reportedly from a heart attack. He was 42.