Tag Archives: New York Giants

NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Simms, Phil

sco90 simms HGCards: Pinnacle 1992, Score 1990 Hot Gun, 1990 Pro Set SuperBowl XXI MVP, Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: 2012 & 2013, Canton Acquisition & TTM C/o Home
Sent: 4/5/2012     Received: 7/20/2013   (470 days)
Failure: 2011, C/o Home (RTS)

So here is one I totally wrote off. It seems rarer and rarer to get these long waits back, but finally on the second tenacious attempt, I got Phil Simms. Simms had previously returned cards I sent in 2011, -7 months later.  Even more frustrating for me, he continued to spontaneously respond to autograph requests through his address. I went ahead and fired out another shot. I had definitely given up on this after the one year marker, and became so sore about it, that I was more than happy to acquire a Simms through the ‘Canton Acquisition’. Recently again Phil had shown up on the autograph blotter, so I held out hope that something was going to happen, and lo and behold the Score, Pro Set, and Action Packed cards all came in the mail autographed at last, – a brisk 470 days after I had sent them.

aprks92 simmsSimms went to little known Morehead State- a school known more for its modest affordability, underrated class sizes, and a radio telescope/space tracking system that reaches the stars. Phil grew up in the Kentucky area, so this made perfect sense to him to attend here. Among his highlights for the college were leading the Ohio Valley Conference in passing in 1977, but as the team transitioned to a ball control offense his senior season, Phil’s numbers sunk. He had an impressive workout at the combine, so much so that the 49ers were planning to sneak him in as a 3rd round pick, -but in the end, they were beaten to the punch by the Giants, who invested a 1st rounder into Simms, calling him a ‘value pick’. As the boos reigned down from the audience who hated the pick, Simms wasn’t too happy about playing for New York either. Still, Simms managed to prove everybody wrong, and by the end of his rookie season, he finished second (to future teammate) Ottis Anderson in voting for rookie of the year in 1979. In 12 starts his rookie year, Phil threw for 1,743 yards and 13 touchdowns.

pset90 simms MVP

 

The Giants continued to struggle until 1984, with injuries, inconsistent play, quarterback controversies, and a head coaching change to Bill Parcells, but still Phil persevered, with a bit of work, conditioning, and tutelage. He’d turn it all around that year throwing for a club record 4,044 yards and 22 TDs in his first 16 game slate, then turn around prove it wasn’t a fluke throwing for 3,829 yards and 22 TD in 1985. 1986 proved to be the pinnacle of Phil’s career again with another 20+ TD season and nearly 3,500 yards, he led the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI. His Super Bowl effort (22-25, 268 yards, 3 TD, 0 Int) earned him MVP honors and it remains one of the best performances in league history.

He’d return to the Super Bowl again in 1990- Superbowl XXV, but due to a season ending injury earlier in the year, he sat on the sidelines while the team won 20-19. There were two bittersweet points to the season. First, before the injury, Phil was having one the best seasons of his career with 15 touchdowns and only 4 picks. Second and finally, his injury opened the door for Jeff Hostetler, who created a QB controversy, that was only amplified by the Giants victory in the big game. The latter proved to be his ultimate undoing. With Parcells retirement, Ray Handley- (his right hand man) stepped up to the plate to be coach. He named Hostetler starter, and Simms was back to square 1 fighting for his job. While there were some bright spots there, the team itself slipped into mediocrity. Simms still had one good season left in him though, and threw for 3,038 yards and 15 TDs, before retiring in 1994.

pin94 simmsSimms is a highly underrated quarterback who really has never gotten his due for his time playing for the Big Blue. He played 14 seasons, spanning 3 decades of football, and really  after the game slowed down for him, was an understated reason why the Giants became true contenders. A master of the audible, Simms could pick teams apart with his recognition of defensive alignments. A true pocket passer, Simms was oft-injured and frequently criticized for taking needless sacks to avoid an interception, but you can’t deny his abilities as a winner (95 wins) and playoff leader (Super Bowl MVP). Phil also was the 1985 Pro Bowl MVP, has had his number retired by the Giants, and is a member of the team’s Ring of Honor.  It really is an injustice that Simms is not in the Hall of Fame.

Phil has enjoyed a career as a color commentator in sports and NFL football. Well respected by most of the networks, Simms made the transition from a player to a broadcaster seem effortless. His sons, Chris (UT) and Matthew have both gone on to play quarterback in the NFL. He is also of a select group of players who show up in the original Tecmo Bowl and its sequel Tecmo Super Bowl.

G/Gs 164/159    Att 4647     Comp  2576     Yds 33462    Pct 55.4     Td 199    Int  157    Rat 78.5  |
Rush 349    Yds 1252     Avg  3.6    Td 6      Lg 28

NFL, University of Texas

Koy Jr., Ernie “Little Koy”

utud11 er koyCards: UT Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck 2011 Memorable Moments, UT Upper Deck 2011 All-Time Alumni
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 3/4      Received: 3/8    (4 days)

A real surprise to open my mailbox and find Ernie Koy responded so kindly and quickly to my autograph request. Inside he signed all 3 cards and told me his fondest moment playing for UT was the 1965 Orange Bowl victory over Alabama, a game in which Koy ripped off a 79 yard touchdown run and finished with a school record at the time, 24 carries for 133 yards. I then realized that he had played in utud11 cotton Navy MMBOTH the ’64 Cotton Bowl and the ’65 Orange Bowl, and had forgotten to include another card.  I later wrote him back to get the final Memorable Moment card signed (in black).

Ernie Koy Jr. and his brother Ted, were part of a family father/sons lineage combo that enjoyed much success through the University of Texas, much like the McCoy family does today. A wingback in the Longhorns much touted Wishbone offense under head coach Darrell Royal, Ernie converted to fullback and led Texas in rushing his Senior season with 707 yards and 10 TDs in 1964. He was also an accomplished punter.

utud11 ekoy MM65A part of the 1965 NFL draft, Ernie was taken in the 11th round by the New York Giants. A multifaceted player, Ernie not only was able to play runningback, but also punter and returner as well. As a member of the shortlived ‘Baby Bulls’ backfield for NY, Koy was a member of a group of basically 5 fullbacks that were straight ahead in-line rushers, and all were roughly the same size and possessed great hands. Upon arriving in New York, Koy was named starting punter and played Flanker throughout his first two seasons.  After a move to Halfback, in 1967 he earned his only Pro Bowl berth, rushing for 704 yards on 146 carries, and 4 touchdowns.  He retired after the 1970 season.utud11 er koy ATA Over his career for New York, Ernie was a jack of all trades as evidenced by his statistics that not only included rushing and receiving, but punting, kick returning, and an occasional pass here or there.

Ernie is an upstanding member of the Texas community. He’s been a successful banker working from the ground floor up, and has given a lot of his time back through his charitable activities. He lives outside of Houston on a 200 some odd acre ranch, and has a masters in education.

G  79     Rush 414    Yds 1723    Avg 4.2     Td 9    Lg  61      |     Rec 76    Yds 498     Avg  6.3     Td 6      Lg 41
Att  12   Comp 6     Yds 129    Pct 50.0   Td  1    Int 1     Rat 81.6
Kr 25    Yds 439   Avg 17.6    Td 0   Lg 38
P 223    Yds 8583   Avg 38.5     Lg 67   Blk  0

NFL, usfl

Landeta, Sean

to89 landeta tosc91 landeta sco90 landetaud90 landeta

Cards:  Stadium Club 1991, Topps 1989, Upper Deck 1991, Score 1990
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012.

Sean Landeta is considered a legend when it comes to Tecmo Super Bowl lore. He is the last person to retire from not only the original game but also the sequels that followed that he also appeared in. The iconic mustache and sometimes mullet he sported alongside his single bar punter helmet lasted until 2006 amazingly for the Rams, after he started his career eons ago in 1983 in the USFL for the Philadelphia Stars.

Punters for the most part, go undrafted, and Landeta was like all the others after graduating from Townson State. A division II star at punter, Landeta was a first team All-American in 1980. He played with the Philadelphia Stars from 83-84, and then the Baltimore Stars the following year.  He’d earn USFL All-Star Honors both years and earn recognition on their All time team.

It’d be after his stint in the USFL that Sean would make his iconic appearance playing for the New York Giants in 1985, where it seemed like he’d stay forever. Landeta remained with the Giants from through 1993, making appearances on Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl with the Giants. It’d be there that he’d establish a penchant for long, booming punts, finishing his career at New York with 526 punts and 22806 yards (43.4 average).  He earned All-Pro nominations for his 1986 and 1990 seasons, and Pro Bowl honors for those years as well as in 1989. In 1993 he’d split the season with the Giants and ultimately end up on the Los Angeles Rams. He’d transition with the team to St. Louis in 1995 and remain with the franchise through 1996. After a one year stint with the Bucs in 1997 and Green Bay in 1998, Sean played the next 4 seasons in Philadelphia from 1999-2002 and have a career high 107 punts in 1999. It’d be confusing following Landeta the next few seasons, with him playing in St. Louis again in 2003 and 2004, and then a final season in 2005 with the Eagles.

In 2006 he retired from football on the 25th Anniversary of the USFL, after signing a one day contract with the New York Giants. He became the last member of a USFL team to retire from the league, and also was the longest tenured member of the original Tecmo Bowl to retire as well.

G 284    P  1401    Yds  60707      Avg 43.3    Lg  74   Blk 6