Tag Archives: san fransisco 49ers

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Davis, Wayne

pset91 wdavis psetwlaf91 wdavis

Cards: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 7/5      Received: 7/11  (6 days)
Failure: TTM 2014, C/o New Life Covenant Church, Gordo, AL

Wayne Davis was a linebacker for the Alabama Crimson Tide.  He posted a career high 125 tackles his Junior year, and 85 in his Senior year. A 9th round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987, the season was sort of a mess because of the Players’ Strike. Davis saw playing time in all 12 nonstrike games that year, and also in all 16 games in 1988.  He’d sign as a Plan B free agent with the Los Angeles Rams in 1989, and then later with the 49ers, who let him go on the final cutdown. Wayne played for the Edmonton Eskimos in 1990, before giving the WLAF a shot. Davis impressed the league scouts enough, that Orlando saw fit to make him the first overall pick of linebackers in the 1991 positional draft.  Head Coach Don Matthews liked his overall speed and athleticism. He’d have a solid year, posting 33 tackles, and 2 fumble recoveries. Wayne also played on special teams, recording 8 tackles on kickoff coverage. His highlight of the year was a 9 tackle effort in Orlando’s 35-34 victory over the San Antonio Riders on opening day.  A man of God, Davis styled himself as being a new found ‘Minister of Defense’ ala Reggie White, bringing the Good Word to the masses, and had been quoted as stating, “God first. Football second.”  After starting off the 1991 season hot, the Thunder had a meltdown and finished 5-5. Matthews quit, and new coach Galen Hall decided to overhaul the franchise. With a plethora of new linebacker blood in camp, Hall had to make some difficult cuts- Davis among them. Wayne however, felt a calling to God greater than football, and was ordained in 1992. Reverend Davis later returned to school and earned to Masters in Education and in Pastoral Ministry and lives in Gordo, Alabama today where he preaches to his flock and congregation.

NFL 28/1   Tac   N/a   Sac  N/a    Fum N/a    Int  0   Yds 0   Avg -.-   Td 0   Lg -.-
WLAF    Tac 33   Sac 0   Fum 2    Int 0    Yds 0   Avg -.-  Td 0  Lg -.-

NFL, usfl

Gagliano, Bob ‘Goose’

to90 lionsCards: Topps 1990 Lions, Score 1990, Fleer 1990
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Work
Sent: 10/22/14     Received: 1/23/15 (90 days)
Failure: 2011, C/o Home

The Goose, as Gagliano is affectionately known by the Detroit Lions, earned his nickname during the team’s late season surge in 1989 under head coach Wayne Fontes. The Lions were bad – very bad, and the 1989 season started out like any other with 1 win in 9 games, but things changed in week 10.  The team rallied and won 6 of their next 7 contests. Gagliano was a big part of that going 4-3 as a starter, replacing the oft injured Rodney Peete. Sure his numbers were not all that sexy, throwing twice as much interceptions as touchdowns in the Silver Stretch Offense of the Run ‘N Shoot. When Gagliano was on though, the Lions won in exciting fashion, but when he wasn’t Bob failed to post above a 60 QB rating.

flr90 gaglianoIn 1990, Bob continued to battle Peete at quarterback for the starting job, frequently coming in as a change of pace. He’d start 9 games that season and throw for a career high 10 touchdowns. Gagliano was allowed to sign via free agency with the Chargers in 1991, starting game in 1992.  For the next three seasons Bob served as an insurance policy for the Falcons (1993), 49ers (1994) and Packers (1995).

sco90 gaglianoBefore the Goose’s time in Detroit, he was originally a 12th round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1982. After getting no traction on the roster through 2 seasons, He then played for the rival USFL Denver Gold in 1984 and 1985. Gagliano returned to the NFL in 1986. He was signed by the San Fransisco 49ers and started one game as a scab player.  In 1988 he also spent time on the rosters of the Houston Oilers and Indianapolis Colts.

Bob Gagliano is a great piece of NFL trivia.  He is one of only three starting quarterbacks to play for the San Fransisco 49ers during the 1980s- alongside Joe Montana and Steve Young.  That’s some great company to be in!

G/Gs 32/13   Att 486   Comp 289    Yds 3431    Pct  51.2    Td 17     Int 27    Rat 62.7 |
Rush 93     Yds 352    Avg 3.8   Td  4   lg 22

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF, Super Bowl MVP

Montana, Joe ‘Joe Cool’

aprks92 montanaCard: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o The San Fransisco 49ers
Sent:  4/21        Received:  8/11         (114 days)

After striking out on Jerry Rice for the second time I decided to take a shot at Joe Montana. I had heard rumors that Montana signed TTM on occasion, so I studied his signing habits. It did not bother me that much that people said some of them were ghost signed, as there was no definitive proof of that. Once it came to my attention that the 49ers organization was having a sendoff to their former stadium, Candlestick Park, involving many former players in a flag football contest, I decided to make my move. Needless to say when I got the autograph in the mail I was very excited to have my crown jewel of 2014.

Joe Montana’s career is defined by his late game winning mechanics, 3 MVP trophies, and four Super Bowl victories. A perennial thorn in my side as a LA Rams fan, Joe always had more than enough to beat them with his last second heroics. Still I couldn’t help admire his ability. It wasn’t always like that for Montana. A perennial student of the game, Montana had a penchant for late game heroics spanning back to his time at Notre Dame, but a separated shoulder during his Sophomore season buried him on the depth chart. He’d regain form in time for his Senior season, but wasn’t highly regarded by scouts who felt that his arm strength was underwhelming. He’d be the 4th quarterback off the board at the end of the 3rd round, (behind Jack Thompson, Phil Simms, and Steve Fuller), to the San Fransisco 49ers and head coach Bill Walsh. Walsh was running his West Coast Offense that he brought over from San Diego. Montana backed up legendary journeyman quarterback Steve DeBerg as he honed his craft in 1979. It wouldn’t be until midway through the 1980 season that Montana assumed the reins of the franchise.

In 1981, a more seasoned Montana led the 49ers to consecutive victories over the Cowboys (“The Catch”) and their first SuperBowl appearance (XVI) and victory against the Cincinnati Bengals. Joe earned his first of 3 Super Bowl trophies for his efforts and MVP honors.  He’d win his second Super Bowl in 1984 (XIX) beating the high octane Miami Dolphins offense led by Dan Marino, when Joe threw for a record 331 yards culminating in his second MVP trophy and Championship.  In 1986, Montana suffered a near career ending back injury, but returned later in the year earning co-Comeback Player of the Year Honors with Vikings QB Tommy Kramer.  Walsh was always looking to groom his heir to Joe Montana, and by 1988 with the Super Bowl memories starting to fade, a full blown controversy developed between Montana and newcomer Steve Young. The 49ers returned to the big game in 1989, and Montana led the team to a comeback last minute victory over the Bengals that year shattering the passing record again with 357 yards.  In 1990, the indominable 49er dynasty looked unstoppable. Montana and the gang cruised to a 14-2 record, but Montana sustained a nasty elbow injury against the New York Giants during a loss in the NFC Championship Game.  Still, he earned the NFL MVP that season. Joe would sit out 1991 and 1992 rehabbing his injury. In the meantime, Steve Young fully matured into the 49ers starting quarterback role. Montana was eventually traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1993, playing for the team through the 1994 season before retiring.

Joe’s had his number retired by San Fransisco and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He’s also earned a bunch of retrospective All-decade honors and is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Also of note is during the early 90’s Joe had his own self-titled NFL football game published by Sega that is rumored to be returning sometime soon.

G/Gs  192/164        Att  5391   Comp  3409      Yds 40,551    Pct  63.2%    Td 273      Int  179     Rat 92.3   |
Rush 457          Yds  1,676        Avg 3.7         Td 20        Lg 21