Category Archives: CFL

CFL, NFL

Clark, Robert

Cards: Skybox 1992, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 4/21 Received: 6/11 (51 days)

The holder of 34 individual player records at WR for North Carolina Central at the time of his departure in 1986, Robert Clark was a 10th round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1987. He’d make the squad, and play for the team in both 87 and 88, finishing with 22 receptions for 283 yards and 2 TDs, but couldn’t crack the starting lineup, thanks in part to an injury he sustained his rookie season.

In 1989 the Lions were fully committed to their Silver Stretch offense, so they needed 4 wide receivers to make that happen. They’d run out and sign Robert as an unconditional free agent, and he’d step right into the starting lineup posting a gaudy 18.2 receiving average, as he finished second on the team with 748 yards on 41 receptions.

Robert finished second on the team with 52 receptions and led the squad with 8 TD receptions in 1990. In 1991, Robert continued his consistent production, setting a career single game high catching 10 passes for 143 yards against the Packers, where 9 of 10 of those receptions went for first downs. He’d conclude the 1991 season with 47 catches for 640 yards and 6 TDs.

A precise route runner who is quick in traffic, Clark was fearless over the middle, but could also turn on the jets when it counted- particularly against division opponents. Over his time in Detroit, Robert started 45 of 46 contests. He’d then spend one largely forgettable season with the Dolphins in 1992, catching just 3 passes for 52 yards.

As the CFL invaded the USA in 1993, Robert joined the league playing for the Toronto Argonauts. He immediately established himself as one of the top dogs in the CFL, leading wide receivers at the midway point in receptions and yardage. On the season, Clark finished with 50 receptions for 900 yards and 3 TDs. He’d then spend his next two final seasons with the Baltimore Stallions helping the team win the CFL championship.

I have always been a friend to the Run N Shoot system, partially due to my Houston roots, so I was very happy to get his autograph on these cards, especially considering he’s such a rare signer.

NFL G/GsRECYDSAVGTDLG
67/45165264416.01869
CFL G/GsRECYDSAVGTDLG
89159117.9564
Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Collins, Shawn

Cards: Gameday 1992, Proset 1989, Action Packed 1990, Topps 1990, Fleer 1990
Acquired: 50/50 Consignment- Sportscollectors.net, 2020

Shawn Collins was actually a tight end at Northern Arizona where he set the school’s all-time career records for TDs (24) and catches (201). In 1986, he posted 70 catches for 1,016 yards- a school, single season record, and then followed up with 61 receptions in 1987, and 54 in 1988. Scouts decided that Shawn was best suited to play wide receiver before the 1989 draft. He’d be selected near the back end of round one by the Atlanta Falcons.

Shawn had an outstanding rookie season for the Falcons. He led all rookie receivers with 58 catches, and set rookie franchise records, leading the Falcons with 58 catches for 862 yards. An acrobatic receiver who is fearless in traffic, Collins’ 58 receptions were the most by any rookie during the 80s and 16 of his 58 grabs went for 20 yards or more. He’d be an unanimous 1989 NFL All-Rookie selection.

With a sea change at head coach in Jerry Glanville, the Falcons were expected to be very aggressive at WR, but after landing in Jerry’s doghouse, Shawn’s numbers suffered and he finished with 34 catches for 503 yards and 2 TDs in 90, and just 3 catches for 37 yards in 91. He joined Browns in 1992 and caught 3 more passes for Cleveland. Shawn joined the Bucs in 1993, but did not make the roster. He’d later sign with the Packers and was on their roster for 4 additional games.

Shawn then made a comeback with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the newly retooled World League, catching 18 passes for 215 yards and a TD. Returning stateside, he immediately joined the CFL where he played for the Memphis Mad Dogs and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1995, posting 29 passes for 536 yards and 2TDs. Shawn played one final year in the Arena Football League for the Iowa Barnstormers catching 5 passes for 52 yards.

Shawn does not sign through the mail at all. I had spied out a signing through Sportscollectors.net at a really fair price, and waited for the event to pop. I was not disappointed and jumped at the chance to have him sign these 5 cards.

G/GS NFLRECYDSAVGTDLG
98143314.6561
G/GS WLAFRECYDSAVGTDLG
1821511.9128
G/GS CFLRECYDSAVGTDLG
2953618.5258
G/GS ARENARECYDSAVGTDLG
55210.40N/A

AAF, CFL, NFL

Hunt, Akeem

Cards: Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: EBay, 2019

A quick and shifty runningback, Akeem Hunt played college ball for the Boilermakers of Purdue from 2011 to 2014. In both his Freshman and Sophomore years Akeem averaged over a gaudy 8 yards per carry, while being utilized on kick returns. His playing time grew over his Junior and Senior campaigns, and in 2014 he finished with 1242 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs.

A free agent signee of the Houston Texans after not latching on with either the Giants or Ravens, I was very impressed by Akeem. He started one contest his rookie year in 2015 and ran for 96 yards on 17 carries over the course of the season. He spent 2016 there as well before being signed by the Chiefs in 2017. The Chiefs used Akeem primarily as a kick returner. He had 611 yards on 25 kicks but did score his first professional rushing touchdown.

After being released with an injury settlement by the Chiefs, Akeem was in training camp with the Titans but didn’t make the squad. He then joined the Alliance of American Football for 2019. I felt the signing was a quality one- being familiar with his work on the Texans. he immediately became my favorite Orlando Apollo, and I pined for his autograph on his cards.

Hunt bolted out of the gate for the Apollos and led the league in rushing after the first week with 73 yards on 10 carries.

Being a part of a team that loves to win as you can see and just being a part of a team that has a great coaching staff that loves to put points on the board and just to drive up the enthusiasm of all our players and the motivation that goes in that people don’t see or the fans don’t see through our practice or whatnot—all the people coming together just to build this league, it speaks volumes for everybody that’s on the playing field that has so much passion for the game.

-Akeem Hunt on his early success in the AAF

On the season, Akeem finished with 37 carries for 185 yards and a TD., to go along with 5 catches for 49 yards in 7 games (2 starts).

During the hotly contested San Antonio Commanders versus the Orlando Apollos matchup, fans around me erroneously identified Akeem Hunt as Kareem Hunt- (the former Chiefs player who was suspended from the NFL for beating his girlfriend). Thankfully before anything could happen, I updated the fans on the difference between the two.

In early December of 2019, Akeem signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL- but the league suspended operations early in 2020 due to COVID issues.