Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

NFL, ufl

Allison, Aundrae

Card: Upper Deck 2007 Trilogy (#13/199)
Acquired: 3/27/12, Target Authentic Memorabilia Autograph Edition

Aundrae Allison played at East Carolina University, which surprisingly has produced players such as former QB Jeff Blake, WR Walter Wilson, and RB Chris Johnson. In 2005 he became the first player in school history to crack the 1,000 yard barrier amassing 1,732 yards on 145 receptions over two years for the Pirates.

The Minnesota Vikings took Allison in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL draft and put him in at kick returner and wide receiver. He had a pretty decent showing his rookie year, -lodging 20 KR for 574 yards and a touchdown. The 104 yard return, against the Lions would be a Vikings record. The problem was, Allison just wasn’t getting as many reps at receiver as the coaches wanted him to. He’d tally 18 receptions in two seasons before the team cut him.  The Jets signed Aundrae in 2009, but a torn ACL would keep him out the whole season.

Aundrae elected to play 2011 in the UFL for the Virginia Destroyers where he became a favorite target of quarterback Chris Greisen. In the league opener, Allison caught a 35 yard bomb for a touchdown against Las Vegas. While the team was predicated by “Marty Ball” behind runningbacks Adrian Peterson (ex Bear) and Dominic Rhodes, Aundrae made the best of his opportunities as the Destroyers captured their first UFL championship over the Las Vegas Locos.  After the season, Allison signed with the Buccaneers, but since that time has returned to the Destroyers, hopeful for a 4th season of UFL Football.

NFL

Cunningham, Randall ‘The Ultimate Weapon’


Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1992, Score 1990 Hot Gun

Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Remnant Ministries*
Sent: 1/2    Received: 4/9      (98 days)     *$10 per card

During the 1980s, the NFL entered a great era of pocket passing quarterbacks, led by quarterbacks like Dan Marino and Joe Montana, including holdovers such as Dan Fouts. Among the lesser known names to come out of the 1985 draft, was a quarterback from the UNLV Rebels- Randall Cunningham. A raw talent with fleet legs, Randall would be taken in the second round of the draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was considered exciting, but a project to mold. After a very quiet rookie season and a subpar Sophomore campaign, Cunningham would be handed the keys to the Eagles franchise and become their full-time starter, taking over for pocket passer and now ESPN commentator Ron Jaworski.

As a playmaker, Cunningham electrified the league, with his fearless abandon to scramble and improvise on the run. He became the cover boy for Sports Illustrated, and was heroically photogenic, especially on trading cards. Randall’s name continued to grow- and he was viewed more and more in the vein of the Michael Jordan of football, who could virtually do anything he willed his mind to.  Cunningham was also noted as leading the league with regularity on sacks taken. As a gambler, he would slip out of the arms of a would be tackler to frequently buy more time to put the ball downfield or pump fake and scramble. He’d absorb an NFL record at the time- 72 sacks in 1986, and lead the league also in sacks taken in 87, 88, 90, and 1992.  During his time with the Eagles, he’d also set a team mark with a 95 yard bomb to Fred Barnett, and as the team’s backup punter, he’d rock a 91 yard punt in 1989 and an 80 yarder in 1994. Cunningham would be named to the ProBowl from 1988-1990 and lead the NFL with regularity in quarterback rushing yards- setting the league mark with 942 yards on 118 carries for an 8.0 average in 1990.  A critical injury in the first game of 1991 would end Randall’s scrambling days, as upon his return in 1992 he clearly had lost a step.  He’d play for the team through 1995, when he was unceremoniously benched after the team converted to a West Coast Offense. Randall has remarked that he lost the love to play football and retired after the season. Thus would end the first chapter of Cunningham’s career as a scrambling quarterback.
In 1997, Coach Denny Green of the Minnesota Vikings was looking for a backup to then incumbent quarterback Brad Johnson, who had replaced Warren Moon as their starting quarterback. Green lured Randall out of retirement and on to the roster of the Vikings to back up Johnson in ’97 where he played sparingly that season. It’d be in 1998 we’d see the maturation of a new Randall Cunningham, -the pocket passer.  Randall went out and set career highs, going 13-1,  throwing 34 touchdowns to only 10 picks, and 3704 yards.  While the team was bounced in the playoffs by the Falcons during the championship game, things were looking up for Cunningham, but after a 2-4 start in 1999, he’d be benched in favor of Jeff George. Randall would sign with the Dallas Cowboys and play there for a season in 2000, and then retire after the 2001 season with the Baltimore Ravens.

In the early 90s, I was visiting family up in the Northeast, and as part of the visit, I was allowed to go to one place I had wanted to go. Since my family was unable to go to the NFL HoF, I opted to stop off at the Eagles training camp in West Chester to see if I could get some autographs. With surprisingly good timing and placement in the crowd, I was able to get guys like Fred Barnett and Herschel Walker,- but the true prize was Cunningham. My brother and I waited patiently for Randall, but he started in the line further down from me. My brother quickly got an autograph from him, and shoved mine back in. As Cunningham continued to sign, it appeared that I would be next. As he grabbed my card, I breathed a sigh of relief. He then took one look at my brother and said, “I already signed one for you,” dropped the card and the sharpie on the ground and walked away, refusing to address me. Time heals all wounds, but it was a highly disappointing experience for me in my time as an autograph collector.

Randall has become a Pastor since leaving football and has returned to Las Vegas to preach. I was able to get his autograph on these cards by donating to his congregation, Remnant Ministries. Ironically the Action Packed Rookies 1990 card that I had hoped to get signed was among the cards that he autographed for me through the mail.

G/Gs  161/135   Att 4289    Comp 2429    Yds  29979      Td  207        Int 134      Rat 81.5
Rush 775    Yds  4928    Avg  6.4    Td  35    Lg  52
P 20    Yds  894    Avg   44.7    Lg 91

NFL

Anderson, Alfred


Cards: Topps 1992, ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Score 1991, Fleer 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 1/25   Received: 1/30 (5 days)

I have over the past few years seen a few hits for fullback Alfred Anderson. As a Texan and a Baylor grad, he certainly earns my respect. Baylor up until the time of RGIII, had been a long suffering football program since the days of the SWC- but there was a  golden era, when guys like Mike Singeltary, Cody Carlson, Gerald McNeil, Walter Abercrombie, Ray Crockett, and big bam fullback Alfred Anderson roamed the land causing mass destruction for the Baylor Bears. A Waco, Texas resident, and the #1 ranked high school RB prospect in Texas, it seemed a no brainer for the local product to go to Baylor, where he helped the Bears make a Bluebonnet Bowl appearance in 1983. In his senior season Anderson rushed for 1046 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Minnesota Vikings made him their 3rd round pick in the 1984 draft. Alfred after the season would be named to multiple All-Rookie teams, leading the NFL among rookies with 773 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. He also notably completed 3 of 7 passes that season for 2 touchdowns. Alfred was utilized at fullback over the majority of his career, and blocked for players like Darrin Nelson and Herschel Walker, helping pave the way for 1,000 yard seasons. As a short yardage back, Anderson also had an ideal nose for the end zone, scoring 27 touchdowns over his 7 season NFL career on only 740 touches. He’d play for the Vikings through 1991 and retire.

Anderson was inducted into the Baylor athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and remains a fan favorite of Baylor fans everywhere. His son, Tony, also played for Baylor as well. I met Alfred through Sotl.com, as I love talking to members of the NFL from ‘that era’ of football from my childhood. He and I began chatting back and forth about Baylor, and as I tend to lean Longhorns on everything, (and on the advice of Josh,) I took the Horns over Baylor in 2011 in football. Thankfully there was no money on the line, as Texas came out flat and got destroyed by RGIII. Anderson was a good sport however, and I was glad that in the end RGIII won the Heisman. As of late also the Bears from those glory days of Anderson, have finally gotten some press, and had a reunion this last season during one of the Bears home games.

I had a lot of Alfred’s cards when I was a kid. It used to be every other pack I’d find a common of his ProSet 1989 card. It’s a great card really, and that and his Score 1991 are probably his most solid. On the other hand, we have the Fleer 1991 entry, which stands in my mind as some of the most poorly designed cards in history. I was a fan of Fleer after their 1990 rebirth, but their 1991 entry certainly was an: “Are you kidding me?”, type effort. It’s a shame because this is a really good action shot. I never bought a pack of Fleer again after that.

I sent off for Alfred near the end of January and was really surprised to get  5 cards signed in a break neck 5 days.  I also gave him a stack of extras to keep as well.


Below are Anderson’s NFL statistics and a video of him rumbling through BYU in 1983:

G/Gs   108/70    Rush 626   Yds 2374    Avg 3.8    Td  22   Lg 29   |    Rec 114    Yds 1042    Avg 9.5   Td  5   Lg  54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3CGKHB0O1Y