Tag Archives: pittsburgh steelers

NFL

Lloyd, Greg (Sr)

to91 lloyd sco90 lloyd
Cards: Topps 1992, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent:  4/2/13      Received: 6/12/15    (801 days)

Greg must have liked the Action Packed and Skybox cards I sent him, because he switched them out for these cards-  not that I am totally complaining. I was happy to get back these two anyway since it took over 2 years.

Greg Lloyd was another one of these sneaky defensive prospects who went to Fort Valley State.  A 3rd round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987, Lloyd lost his entire rookie season after a devastating knee injury. It was so bad, he took the field for only 9 games (starting 4) in 1988.  In 1989 he was entrenched as a starter at right outside linebacker. A well balanced defender, Lloyd could tackle, blitz, or cover a receiver out of the backfield- evidenced by his 92 tackles, 7 sacks, and 3 interceptions. He continued to build a head of steam through his career, beginning in 1991, when he earned his first ProBowl honor with 76 tackles, 8 sacks, and a whopping 6 forced fumbles.

In 1993 former LA Ram Kevin Greene joined the Steelers, turning the Pittsburgh defense into Blitzburgh. Greene ran rampant on opposing team’s defenses, thanks to Lloyd who had to always be accounted for. Greg earned his first AP nomination after the season, a year in which he had a career high 111 tackles, to go along with 5 FF and 6 sacks. Greg got the nod again in 1994, when he had a career high 10 sacks, and finally in 1995, when he accounted for 3 intereceptions and 88 tackles.  He tore his patella in the season opener against the Jags in 1996- ending his season.  In 1997 he returned to form but suffered a serious ankle injury that turned into a staph infection- essentially ending his career as a Steeler.  He finished his career playing for the Panthers in 1998 adding another 48 tackles and a sack to his impressive resume.  A Pittsburgh legend, and an intense competitor, Greg has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and loves to teach the martial discipline.

G/GS 147/139      TAC 707       SAC 54.5       FUM 35
INT 11         YDS 189      AVG 17.1    TD 0       LG 52

NFL

Grimble, Xavier

sage14 xgrimbleCard: Sage 2014 (71/250)
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Splitting starts initially with Randall Telfer at tight end at USC, Xavier Grimble declared as a junior for the 2014 NFL draft. He finished with 69 receptions for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns. Going unselected, Grimble has seen times on the practice squads of the Giants, Patriots and 49ers in 2014, before landing on the roster of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015, where he made his 2 first professional catches and his first TD against the Bengals in 2016. He finished the season with 11 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs.  He’s expected to make a run for the starting tight end position in Pittsburgh going into 2017.

NFL

Porter, Joey

Cards: Upper Deck 2009, Score 2009
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers
Sent: 8/22    Received: 9/12   (21 days)

Joey Porter pound for pound was one of the most dominant linebackers of the 2000s.  Taken in the 3rd round of the 1999 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey was still pretty raw to the linebacker position, something he had switched to from H-Back during his college days at Colorado State.

He’d bide his time on special teams generally over the course of his rookie year. Still he’d record his first professional touchdown on a forced fumble from Neil O’Donnell.  In 2000, he’d start his first full 16 game slate for the Steelers at right outside linebacker, recording 10.5 sacks, and another fumble that he’d return for a TD- that time as he victimized Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. He’d also notch his first career safety.  In 2002, Joey earned his only All Pro nomination, with a career high 60 tackles, and 4 interceptions for 153 yards, to go along with 9 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.  Porter also went to Hawaii after the season and also in 2004 and 2005 while with the Steelers.

Joey took his show to Miami in 2007 where he was unleashed upon the AFC East. Adding teeth to the Dolphin defense, Joey played all over the field at linebacker, outside linebacker, and at defensive end. In 2008 he’d make one more Pro Bowl, as he had a career high 17.5 sacks.  After the 2009 season, Joey signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He’d play for them through the 2011 season, and then retire after signing a one day contract with the Steelers in 2012.

Joey entered the coaching ranks, first as a defensive assistant at Colorado State in 2013. Afterwards he joined the Steelers in the same capacity, honing his knowledge under then defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in 2014.  He’d be promoted to linebackers coach in 2015, a capacity in which Joey’s served through 2017.

Among his honors, Joey was named to the NFL 2000’s All Decade team and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. In 2016 he also was nominated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame but did not make the final cut. He kindly signed these two cards for me through the Steelers in under 30 days.

G/GS 188/171   TAC 498   SAC 98.0   FUM 25
INT 12   YDS 233    AVG 19.4     TD 1    LG 84