Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

NFL

Mills, John Henry

flr97ult millsCard: Fleer 1997
Acquired: 11/23/2012, Fiterman Autograph Event

John Henry Mills was Houston’s utility player during the dying days of Oilers before the team’s early exile to Tennessee. Mills’ played tight end in college for Wake Forest, and certainly his drafting by the Oilers in the 5th round of the 1993 draft raised some eyebrows. The Oilers had become a Run ‘N Shoot franchise full-time under the direction of Jack Pardee, but after their historic meltdowns in the playoffs, media and ownership were quick to suggest that the reason the Oilers couldn’t close out games was because they didn’t have a tight end. It sounds a bit moronic, (because forget the fact you could just bring in an extra tackle every once in a while,) but ownership decreed that Pardee loosen the reins on the Run ‘N Shoot a bit to include a TE or blocking back in their lineup.  John Henry was there to fill that gap, and finished his career at Wake Forest as the college’s acclaimed premier receiver at tight end. His 1,652 yards and 142 receptions were a school record for the position and he earned first team ACC honors from 1990-1992.

It’d be with the Oilers he’d earn a roster spot by being cheap for the team and willing to do anything to make the squad. In fact he was fast enough to stand in at returner in his rookie and sophomore seasons. He could’ve been content to have sat there as the Oilers’ ‘token TE’ but instead he made waves at camp by being tried out at every position possible by the team.At 6’0″, 226, his size, speed, and motor, allowed him to be slotted in at FB, LB, or TE, but it’d be on special teams that the team valued him the most.   As a gunner on punts, Mills liked to blend in with the downfield traffic after breaking from his position next to the snapper, then burst out toward the ballcarrier.  In 1994 and 1995 John Henry was named to the Pro Bowl on special teams as an alternate for Steve Tasker and then earn the starting Pro Bowl nod as a special teams gunner in 1996.  Mills moved on to Oakland in 1997, playing there through the 1998 season and then signed with the Vikings in 1999, making 3 catches for 30 yards, (all career highs) and retired after the season.

G/Gs 100/1      Ret 26   Yds 512     Avg 19.7     Td  0   lg 37
Rec  4   Yds  34    Avg 8.5    Td  0    Lg  14
Tac 14     Fum 4       Sac       Int 0    Yds  0   Avg  -.-   Td 0   Lg -.-

 

 

CFL, College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFLE

Ware, Andre “Air Ware”

pset90 wareCards: Pro Set 1990 Heisman Winner, Pro Set 1991 Heisman Hero, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 9/7     Received: 12/12   (96 days)

Way back in the days of the SWC (SouthWestern Conference) the Houston Cougars were continually struggling for attention under the heels of the traditional powerhouses of the conference. While peppering occasional league titles and bowl appearances, the team went some 10 years without a top 25 finish from the late 70s through the mid-late 80s. It’d be with the arrival of Jack Pardee that the team experienced a renaissance, and return to the national stage. Andre Ware stepped up at quarterback to command Pardee’s Run ‘N Shoot offense in 1989. Despite being under pressure from NCAA sanctions limiting scholarships, and a bowl and TV ban, the Coogs posted a 9-2 record.  Ware lit the offensive record books on fire, including a 95-21 drubbing of SMU, where Andre threw 6 TDs in one quarter. Andre went on to set 13 NCAA records, including most yards passing in a season (4,699),pset91 ware HH while his 46 TD passes fell one short of Jim McMahon‘s record. Ware won the Heisman in 1989 after the season during 4th closest vote- ahead of RB Anthony Thompson (Indiana),  QB Major Harris (West Virginia), and QB Tony Rice (Notre Dame).  Initially Ware intended to stay for his Senior season at UH, but with Jack Pardee bolting for the Houston Oilers down the street- Andre changed his mind and declared for the 1990 NFL draft.

When the draft rolled around I had hoped the Oilers would take Ware to become quarterback Warren Moon‘s heir apparent but Andre did not last long enough for the Houston to nab him. The Lions took Ware at #7. (The Oilers later in the round took another UH alum instead- linebacker Lamar Lathon.)

The Lions ran the ‘Silver Stretch’ Run ‘N Shoot variant under head coach Wayne Fontes, and offensive coordinator Mouse Davis. At quarterback the team had Rodney Peete, and Bob Gagliano, but the Lions were truly built to run with Barry Sanders in the backfield. Ware only started 1 game over the next two seasonssco90 ware rarely getting a chance behind Peete and later Erik Kramer. He was rumored to have alienated players and coaches with his attitude, but Ware, just wanted to play. The Oilers in the meantime attempted to trade Cody Carlson on two occasions to the Lions for Ware, but failed.

After the 1994 season, Andre began the journeyman phase of his career. Over the next few years, Ware saw offseason stops with the Vikings, Raiders, and expansion Jaguars, before finally landing in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1995. Later he signed with the BC Lions in 1996, and then found himself backing up Doug Flutie on the Grey Cup Championship winning Toronto Argos in 1997.

Andre last played football in 1999 for the Berlin Thunder in the NFLE, finally retiring after the season due to a fractured shoulder.

Andre has kept to his hometown area, working in the Houston media. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. He currently works for the Houston Texans as a radio color analyst.

Ware marks another in a long line of players that I really wanted on aprks90 waretheir cards. With an abundance of amazing shots, it is easy to notice that many of the companies had Andre tabbed as one of the next big superstars and did not want to have their set left in the cold. I had previously attempted to get Andre through my Houston Texans connection, but that obviously failed when he was cut. It took me some time but with some responses popping up occasionally through sports collectors, I jumped at the opportunity to sign the former Cougars’ signal caller. I really couldn’t decide which cards to send to him. His ProSet 1990 Lions card, and Andre’s Score 1990 Supplemental card also deserved some mention along with these 4. Even his Pacific entry had a nice, dynamic look to it. Feeling guilty about sending these four cards, I sent a check for the autographs, but Andre voided the check, and signed and inscribed all of them, in a bit under 100 days.

G/Gs 14/6    Att 161   Comp 83     Yds 1116    Pct 51.6
Td 5   Int 8    Rat 79.4  |
Rush 38     Yds  217    Avg  5.7    Td 0    Lg 32

CFL 29     Att  252    Comp 134   Yds 1542   Pct 53.1    Td 10  Int 10  |
Rush 40   Yds 316    Avg 7.9      Td 1    Lg 39

WLAF    Att 121   Comp 54   Yds 715   Pct  44.6
Td  4   Int 4   Rat 61.1
Rush 16   Yds  170   Avg  10.6    Td 2     Lg 45

 

NFL, ufl

Moats, Ryan (2)

Card: Playoff Contenders 2005
Acquired: 5/11/12, Target Autograph Memorabilia
See Also: Moats, Ryan

Really nice card and presentation by Playoff here on the Moats card. I wasn’t too impressed with their last entry of his, but this one really is framed well and also has a great look and design too. The Contenders cards really had an original look to them, and practiced really concise, proper typography. It’s clean and for the most part, very easy to read.

Ryan Moats was drafted by the Eagles, in 2005 but stacked at runningback he didn’t see much playing time initially behind encumbant Brian Westbrook. Although he’d see limited playing time in 2006, an injury forced him completely out of the 2007 season. Unable to crack the lineup by 2008, Ryan was released in final cuts. Moats signed and was cut by the Cardinals to their practice squad.

He’d go onto greater glory playing for the Texans, who at the time were having a difficult time at runningback with injuries to Steve Slaton and Ahman Green, and fumbles limiting Chris Brown‘s effectiveness. The team turned to Moats, and he responded leading the charge at runningback splitting time with Slaton and Brown throughout 2009 season until the emergence of Arian Foster. He’d be cut during 2010 and find a home with the Vikings.

In 2011, the UFL announced their ‘protected player list’- (which amounts to a supplemental draft of veterans from the NFL who were cut from squads that the clubs want).  Moats was among the names selected by the Omaha Nighthawks, but Ryan elected not to play in the young league.