Tag Archives: pittsburgh steelers

NFL, WLAF

Shelton, Richard

psetwlaf91 sheltonCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Pro Set WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 11/16/12     Received: 1/4/14   (419 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o The Tennessee Titans

I had a feeling that I might get something from my old address, I just didn’t expect it to be from so long ago. I had failed previously to get Shelton via the Titans for whom he was a long time scout back in 2010, but armed with his home address I just wasn’t ready to give up yet. With this TTM from 2012 it pushes my successes from that year to nearly 70%.

Richard  was a standout defensive back and punt returner for Liberty. His college totals include 12 picks, 136 tackles, 21 punt returns for 176 yards and a TD.  He was originally taken by the Denver Broncos in the 1989 draft. Unable to make the team Shelton bounced around the league with the Seahawks and Steelers before being drafted by the Montreal Machine of the WLAF in 1991.

ultwlaf92 sheltonRichard had a strong season for the team and became one of the league’s better known success stories along with Chris Mohr and Anthony Parker. He finished 1991 with 28 tackles, 3 interceptions for 65 yards and a TD. He also demonstrated his knack for special teams both on kick returns and punt returns, as Richard became the first player in the league to score a touchdown on a kick return and punt return in the same game. Richard also earned WLAF Player of the Week honors against Birmingham when he picked off a pass and returned it 63 yards for a score and also returned a fumble 25 yards in the Machine’s 23-10 win. After the season Richard earned All World League Second Team Honors, and resigned with Pittsburgh.

In the season finale in 1992 against the Browns, Richard made 3 interceptions for 57 yards and a TD, earning player of the week honors.  The next season in 3 starts he’d have 2 fumble recoveries coming off the bench. After his career ended in 1993, Shelton moved right into coaching and scouting and is currently a scout for the Tennessee Titans organization.

NFL 44/8     Tac  N/a    Sac   0      Fum  4      Int   3     Yds  72      Avg  24.0   Td  1   Lg 57t
WLAF   Tac  28      Sac  N/a    Fum N/a    Int 3    Yds  65    Avg 21.6    Td  1    Lg 63t
Kr 2     Yds 108    Avg 54.0    Td 1    Lg 90t   |
Pr 25   Yds 228    Avg 9.1       Td 1     Lg 67t

NFL

Nance, Martin

Card: Bowman 2006
Acquired: 2012, Target Authentic Autograph Memorabilia

Martin Nance played wide receiver alongside future Steeler quarterback Ben Rothlisberger at the University of Miami, Ohio. At 6’3″, 213 Nance virtually towered over the smaller defensive backs of the MAC. In his Sophomore season (2003,) Nance absolutely dominated competition posting 90 catches for 1,498 yards and 11 touchdowns. While his junior season was marred by a knee injury, Martin returned his Senior season and posted another 80 receptions, 1,107 yards and 14 TDs. He ran a 4.58 40 and struggled at the combine. Martin was signed by the Buffalo Bills to a free agent contract in 2006, but did not make the squad. The Vikings snapped him up soon thereafter, and he remained on their practice squad through the 2007 season.  During this period Martin logged 4 receptions for 33 yards. He’d be reunited with Rothlisberger in Pittsburgh in 2008, winning a Super Bowl and staying with the Steelers through 2009.

NFL

Orlando, Bo

tosc92 orlandoCards: Topps 1992, Topps Stadium Club 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 12/16   Received: 12/31   (15 days)

Bo Orlando was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 6th round of the 1990 NFL draft. A co-captain of the West Virginia Mountaineer team that went undefeated and played for the National Championship in 1988, He made the squad primarily as a special teams guy and filled in a bit at safety for aging Terry Kinard. The team in 1991 made a concerted effort to draft defensive backs. Exposed in the playoffs and burned with regularity, the Oilers drafted Darryll Lewis, Mike Dumas, Steve Jackson, and Marcus Robertson that year, but it was Orlando surprisingly who made the biggest noise for the team in the secondary. After winning the starting free safety job in camp, he’d rack up 56 tackles and 4 interceptions in 1991. An injury shortened ’92, the emergence of Marcus Robertson at the position, and new defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan in 1993 meant Orlando wasn’t seeing much playing time, but still off the bench starting in 3 contests Bo still managed to make 3 interceptions.

to92 orlandoIn 1995, Bo was left unprotected and signed with the San Diego Chargers.  He’d step in and record 69 tackles and a forced fumble, in his first full season of action since 1991. Again left exposed, Orlando signed with Cincinnati in 1996 and recorded a career high 72 tackles playing for the Bengals. He’d finish his career in 1998 with his homestate Pittsburgh Steelers, retiring after the season.

Injury ravaged during his career, Orlando is a great example of one of the lesser unsung players who really layed their bodies on the line week in and week out for our entertainment. While he has enjoyed a career as a high school football coach in Bethlehem, Pa, and been inducted into the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame, his body has certainly taken a toll from the abuse inflicted on it from his 9 seasons in the league.

G/Gs 129/55   Tac 267   Sac 2.0  Fum 4   Int  10  Yds 126  Avg 12.6  Td 1  Lg 38t