Category Archives: CFL

CFL, NFL

Ferguson, Joe

Cards: Topps 1982, ProSet Legends 1991
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 2/2 Received: 2/9 (7 days)

Joe Ferguson was the QB for the Bills who owned nearly all the franchise record books before Jim Kelly shattered them over the next 10 years.

A Southwest Conference Alum with the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1970 to 1972, Joe competed 327 of 611 passes for 4431 yards to 24 TDs and 32 interceptions- shattering many of the passing records at the school, and earned the Liberty Bowl MVP award in 1971. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. The team pressed him into service immediately, where he posted 3 winning seasons in a row. Ferguson played ball during the dead ball era. Regardless he led the league in a variety of categories including TDs (25, 1975), attempts (1977, 457), yards (1977, 2803), and interceptions (1977, 24. 1982, 16). In 1976 he started 7 games and threw 9 touchdowns to just 1 interception for a 90 QB rating.

With the arrival of Jim Kelly in 1985, Joe began the journeyman phase of his career. He’d play 2 seasons for the Lions as a backup, starting 5 games and posting a 2-3 record. Afterwards he’d play 3 more non-descript seasons for the Bucs (1988-1989) and the Indianapolis Colts (1990).

Joe went into coaching after his playing career wrapped up and saw stints at Louisiana Tech and Arkansas.

Perhaps most intriguing was when he joined the CFL and was the QB coach for the San Antonio Goldminers in 1995. After an injury befell starting QB David Archer, head coach Kay Stephenson needed somebody who was familiar with his offensive system. Enter backup Joe Ferguson for one final season. An ironman of football, Joe started at one point 103 consecutive games, and played 16 seasons.

Joe has also been inducted into numerous Arkansas Sports Hall of Fames, All-Century Teams, and All-Decade Teams. He also has a spot in the Bills Ring of Honor.

I loved these Legends cards made by Pro Set in 1991. I had never gotten this one when I pulled packs as a kid so I was doubly surprised when I originally saw this Corning masterpiece. Joe is a great signer, so I had been kicking the can down the road the past few years before I decided to pull the trigger on this one, and he responded in no time flat.

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186/171451923692981752.419620968.4
CFL, NFL, XFL

Hobbs, Darryl ‘Mantis’

Card: Topps XFL 2001
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 7/24 Received: 8/16 (23 days)

Daryl Hobbs played college ball for Pacific in 1990 and 1991. Amazingly he posted almost identical numbers in both years catching 62 passes for 848 yards and 14 TDs in 1990, and 62 for 842 and 12 TDs in 1991.

He signed with the Raiders in 1993, but saw only spotty action until 1995 when he started 3 games as a key reserve. Hobbs put up 38 receptions for 612 yards and 3 TDs- then in 1996 had 44 receptions for 423 yards and another 3 TDs. Daryl then split a season in 1997 with the New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks. After a brief stay with the Chiefs, Daryl spent 1999 and 2000 with the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL. He caught 23 passes for 277 yards and 2 TDs in 2000. In 2001, Daryl Hobbs played in the XFL for the Memphis Maniax. He finished second on the team with 30 receptions for 419 yards and 5 TDs.

Daryl is currently enjoys coaching in the high school ranks.

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59/494117212.5754
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CFL, NFL, WLAF

Searcy, George

Card: Wild Card World League 1992
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 11/18/19 Received: 1/2/20 (45 days)

George played ball for Eastern Tennessee State from 1987-1990. A big an powerful tailback, George set many rushing records for the Bucs that still stand today. A member of the Bucs upset win in 1987 over NC State- Searcy caught a TD pass to help cinch the win. He then ran for 210 yards over the Citadel in 1989- a season in which he ran for 1,324 yards on 275 carries, and scored 17 TDs, winning the Southern Conference’s Offensive MVP Award. During that season he logged 5 games with over 30 carries and 4 games with 3 TDs. George closed out his career for the Bucs with 462 carries for 2,262 yards.

George was not selected in the 1990 NFL Draft. He signed as a rookie free agent with the Washington Redskins, but did not make the squad. He joined the San Antonio Riders in 1992 after being selected in the 6th round of the player draft. He was a key cog in the Riders World League leading rushing offense, blocking up front and spelling for league leader Ivory Lee Brown that year. George ran 43 times for 195 yards. A dependable receiver out of the backfield, Searcy caught 36 passes for 267 yards and a TD. Missing the final contest of the season with a knee injury, George finished second on the team in catches. After the World League folded George stayed in playing shape, and showed up again briefly on the radar of the CFL for the Toronto Argonauts in 1995.

I was positive that I had already taken a shot at George back 5-7 years ago, but after researching my records, I determined I had not. After doing some digging online, I found out that his daughter lived in Florida. The breadcrumbs slowly led me to him, so I decided to throw this card out there and take a shot.

He signed this card in 45 days and included this nice note:

i am sorry for the delay in returning the card. Thanks for being a fan. I had a great time playing in San Antonio. Good luck with your mission.

Merry X-Mas,
George Searcy #20

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