Tag Archives: pittsburgh steelers

CFL, NFL

Skansi, Paul


Cards: Score 1991, Action Packed 1990, Topps 1990
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent:  3/20    Received: 3/30   (10 days)

Paul Skansi is an interesting figure in the history of Seahawks football. I always viewed him as an important participant and observer in the growth of the sport that always seemed to fly under the radar. Skansi is a member of Seahawks- or as I knew them- the pink clad Seattle Knights of Tecmo Bowl. He then returned to play in Tecmo Super Bowl as well. In the midst of this, as the great card rush occurred during the late 80s and 90s, Skansi had numerous football cards of him produced. Now as a key role player for the team, it was surprising that Topps, Score, and even Action Packed produced cards of the tenacious receiver- but ProSet (the biggest card set of the market) did not.  I remember him in that first pack of Action Packed I ever opened, because his name is so unique.

Paul, with his impressive hands and fearless and precise route running, was quite the find for the Seahawks. A local product from the University of Washington, he was a Steve Pelluer favorite. He helped the Huskies win an improbable and exciting Apple Cup with his circus TD catch in 1981. He’d conclude his career at the college with 161 receptions – which still ranks 5th all time on the school’s record books.

Originally a 5th round pick of the Steelers in 1983, he found himself on his hometown Seahawks by 1984. There he became a valued and fearless slot man that was counted on for numerous first downs to keep the chains moving. While he was always overshadowed by the likes of Brian Blades and Steve Largent, Skansi worked best in 3rd down situations.  Initially he also saw time on punt return duties as well. He’d play the next 7 seasons in Seattle, and then briefly try his hand in the CFL with the Ottawa Rough Riders  in 1992.  Skansi’s shining moment came in a thrilling matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in 1990. As Derrick Thomas played havoc with the Seahawks offensive line all day, Seattle’s offense hung around. In the closing moments trailing 16-10, quarterback Dave Kreig threw a bullet over the middle for 25 yards to Paul for the winning TD.

Paul since his playing days has done a lot of coaching and scouting. After coaching his way through the college ranks, Skansi has joined the Chargers where he’s been a scout for the last 17 years.  He lives outside of Seattle, and always loves to talk Huskies football.

He was kind enough to write testaments on all his cards.

Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Joshua 1:9
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

He also enclosed a nice note thanking me for writing him.  As always, players like Paul are the ones I love to get the autographs from, as they always add to the memory I already have of them.

G/GS 115/2     REC 166    YDS 1950     AVG 11.7    TD 10     LG  32
PR 96       YDS  863       AVG 9.0    TD  0     LG 57

NFL

Pead, Isaiah

Card: Topps Strata Clear Cut 2012
Acquired: 2017, EBay

A playmaker for the Bearcats of Cincinnati, Isaiah Pead had over 1000 yards from scrimmage in three out of four years.  A shifty runner with soft hands,  Pead had career highs every year he played at the college. In 2010 he rushed for 1029 yards on 157 carries and 6 TDs. He’d eclipse those numbers in 2011 with 1259 yards, and 319 yards receiving (39 receptions).  Isaiah did everything the scouts wanted and more at the combine. He was the combine leader in the 3 cone drill at 6.95 seconds, and his 40 was a respectable 4.47 seconds.  At 5’10”, 197, Pead was all muscle and flash, but criticized for his lack of blocking.  Isaiah was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams liked Pead a lot, and hoped he’d help spell ageless wonder Steven Jackson on 3rd down.  Isaiah spent his rookie year on special teams, while rushing for 54 yards on 10 carries.  He’d get swallowed up in the runningback competition after the departure of Jackson the following year behind Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham. Pead got to show his skill as a gunner on special teams and the Rams floated him for a trade during the 2014 NFL draft. During the 2014 preseason, he blew out his ACL and was lost for the season.

After the selection of Todd Gurley in the 2015 NFL Draft the writing was on the wall for Isaiah. He’d be cut in late September. He later worked out for the Jets and then signed with the Steelers as an injury replacement for Le’Veon Bell. Within a month Pead was cut. In 2016 Isaiah found a home with the Miami Dolphins. He’d impress during the preseason behind Arian Foster and Jay Ajayi, but a hamstring injury during the preseason sidelined him. He was cut during the first month of the season.

Tragically in November of 2016, Isaiah was almost killed when his Cadillac CTS careened off the highway and down a 40 foot embankment. His left leg was severed and his right one was badly mangled. He survived and after some 8 surgeries, has made an amazing transformation in his life. Isaiah has a vehicle moving service called Stampede Trucking and also wants to be an inspiration to those who have suffered a physical calamity in their lives.

Great card of Isaiah here punctuated by his solid autograph. The patch on this card is really nice. Even though I do not like the fact that resellers retail two and three color patches at a premium, I can understand why especially when you look at this solid card.

G/Gs 30/1    Rush 27      Yds 100    Avg 3.7      Td 0     Lg 19
Rec  15           Yds 100      Avg 6.7      Td 0           Lg 14
KR  18             Yds 413     Avg 22.9      Td 0         Lg 32

NFL, Pro Football HoF

LeBeau, Dick

Cards: TNT Signature Select, Topps 1971
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o The Tennessee Titans
Sent: 1/19/17  Received: 1/27/17   (8 days)

To say that Dick LeBeau has a decorated football history would be an understatement. After playing both halfback and defensive back in college, LeBeau was moved to cornerback fulltime when he entered the NFL. Selected by the Cleveland Browns in 1959, LeBeau did not make the squad and was quickly snatched up by the Detroit Lions. The rest is history. The Lions already had an outstanding secondary. LeBeau was icing on the cake. He arguably became one of the best players in Detroit history (at least defensively) recording 62 interceptions for 762 yards and 3 TDs.  He earned 3 ProBowl trips from 1964-1966 and AP in 1964, 1965, and 1970.

Retiring from play after the 72 season, LeBeau immediately jumped into coaching, working as a special teams coach for the Eagles from 1973-1975.  From there he honed his skills as a positional coach with the defensive backs for the Packers (1976-1979) and Bengals (1980-1983). Dick was promoted to defensive coordinator for Cincinnati in 1984- a position he held until 1991.  In 1992 he joined the Steelers as a defensive backs coach, and in 1995 was elevated to defensive coordinator.  LeBeau returned to the Bengals in 1997 and was head coach for the franchise from 2000-2002.  After a brief stay on the Bills in 2003 LeBeau returned to the Steelers as their defensive coordinator from 2004-2014, and then off to the Tennessee Titans as their coordinator where he coaches to this day (2017).  LeBeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Pride of the Lions in 2010.

Dick LeBeau is one of the most reliable high profile TTM signers in the hobby today. I think I had taken it for granted for a long time, but I finally decided to take a shot at him in 2017. Part of the reason for my delay was the lack of decent cards of him. Frankly most of the cards that were on the market were quite bad looking, or were just plain expensive. LeBeau’s turnaround was quite quick signing this old beat up Topps card and my custom in about a week flat.

G/GS  N/a    Tac N/a         Sac N/a          Fum N/a
Int   62       Yds   762          Avg  12.2      TD  3     Lg   70t