Category Archives: NFL

CFL, NFL

Slaton, Steve (2)

sage08__sslatonCard: Sage 2006, Score 2009 Inscriptions Gold
Acquired: 2016, EBay
See Also: Slaton, Steve

Among the pantheon of Houston Texans runningbacks, I liked Steve Slaton only second to Domanick Davis. The dimunitive Slaton much like Davis also met his end in Houston due in part to injury.  After having his neck fused and then a shoulder injury the following season, Slaton always seemed a bit more hesitant when hitting the hole. He was also limited to 3rd down back and kick return duties, sco09 sslatonafter the emergence of Arian Foster.  The Texans facing tough decisions, released the former RotY 3 games into the 2011 season. Slaton caught on immediately with the Miami Dolphins and finished the season with the team. Steve had tryouts with other teams, and eventually ended up heading North to the CFL in 2014.

Steve signed with the Toronto Argonauts and had a decent season for the Argos logging 94 carries for 510 yards and a TD. In addition Slaton had 46 receptions for 388 yards and 4 TDs. He’d retire after the season.

At last glance in 2016, Steve is training to be a culinary chef in Houston.

NFL   45/26    Rush 442         Yds  1896     Avg  4.3      Td  12       Lg   71t
Rec   100         Yds  8058      Avg  8.1        Td   5         Lg    46      |
Kr  42             Yds  852         Avg   20.3         Td  0       Lg  50

CFL    Rush 94     Yds  510      Avg  5.4      TD  1    |
Rec  46         Yds 388        Avg 8.4         TD 4

NFL, Pro Football HoF

McDaniel, Randall

Card: Action packed 1990
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent:  3/7    Received: 7/11
(126 days)

Randall McDaniel quietly established himself as one of the most decorated linemen in NFL history.  Drafted by the Vikings in the first round of the 1988 draft out of Arizona State, Randall won Pro Bowl Honors from 1989-2000  and All-Pro from 1990 to 1998.  McDaniel’s consistency and well rounded game allowed him to play nearly every position on the offensive line and occasionally as a spot fullback. He finished his career playing for the Buccaneers in 2000 and 2001.

In 2006, Randall was inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor. The accolades did not stop there for the former offensive lineman as he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.  Since his retirement he’s worked in public schools and given back to the community.

Randall signs for fans faithfully through the mail, however he only signs cards and no more than 2 signed through the mail.

G/GS 222/220

AFL, NFL, NFLE, WLAF

Taylor, Lionel

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 6/4/14  Received: 8/13/16  (801 days)

Lionel Taylor had an amazing career that began in 1959 playing for the Chicago Bears.  He didn’t record a reception for the team during his rookie year and opted to join the upstart American Football League during its inaugural season in 1960 for the Denver Broncos. Taylor went on to endear himself as one of the most dominant receivers in the history of the league, leading the AFL in receptions 5 of the next 6 years.  In 1961 he set a modern era record with 100 receptions (which was broken in 1964 by Charlie Hennigan at 101). He played for the Broncos through 1966- joining the Oilers for the 1967 and 1968 seasons.  Lionel retired from the gridiron in 1969.

Taylor established himself quickly as an up and coming assistant coach with the Steelers as a receivers coach in 1970.  He’d remain there through 1976, cultivating a reputation as a Super Bowl winning positional coach.  He joined the Rams from 1977-1979, where he was offensive coordinator in 1980 and 1981.  Lionel then applied his trade at the college level for Oregon State, and then as head coach at Texas Southern through 1988.  Returning to the NFL in 1989, Taylor worked with the Cleveland Browns tight ends and as a pass coordinator.

Taylor joined the World League of American Football in 1995 as offensive coordinator to the London Monarchs. As the league rebranded to the NFLE, he’d take over as head coach of the franchise in 1996 and shepherd the franchise through to become the England Monarchs. It was a tough run for Taylor as head coach at the end, as his team was a vagabond franchise playing all over England looking for a new home. Since there was no established fan base, this gave the Monarchs no home field advantage.  The Monarchs finished with a 3-7 record during their swan song season.

Taylor has fully retired from the sport and lives in New Mexico.  At a clip over 800 days, I had fully given up on getting a response from Lionel, so this one came as quite a surprise to get back. It’s a shame, as with many American Football League players, Lionel has gotten little to no traction in Hall of Fame circles, despite his impressive numbers.

AFL
G/GS 121/NA      REC 567     YDS  7195    AVG 12.7   TD 45    LG  80T

NFLE
W  11     L 17       PCT .393