Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Martin, Eric

pset89 emartinpset90 emartin
Cards: Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Action Packed 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:   8/8/15      Received: 1/7/16   (152 days)
Failure: 2011, C/o Home.

As far as receivers go even historically, Eric Martin got no respect. At the time of his graduation from LSU, Eric Martin was the most prolific receiver in the history of the SEC with 2,625 career yards.  A highly precise route runner, with great hands, Martin ran a very flat 4.65 40, which dropped his draft stock like a rock. In the end, his home state New Orleans Saints selected him in the 7th round of the 1985 draft.

ap90 emartinHe’d make the team and start 11 games in each of the next 3 seasons while also handling return duties on special teams.  In 1988 Eric started his first full 16 game slate and it paid dividends with him catching a career high 85 balls for 1083 yards and 7 touchdowns. At the conclusion of the season, Martin earned his and only first Pro Bowl nomination.  He’d have another solid season in 1989, logging career high 1090 yards and 8 touchdowns on 68 receptions.

After two near 1,000 yard campaigns in both 90 and 91, Martin recorded his final 1,000 yard season, in 1992 with 1041 yards and 5 touchdowns. Another near 1K miss occurred in 1993 for Eric, and then he  played a final season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 94.  Martin finished his career with the Saints as their all-time receiving leader, which has since been broken numerous times by Joe Horn and Marques Colston.

Eric had some absolutely amazing cards so it was tough to pair down the selection to send out. In the end I went with these 3 solid issues. I had failed previously in 2011 but decided to give it another shot to a second address, where I got a response after a few months wait.

G/GS  153/118      REC 553    YDS 8161    AVG 14.8     TD 49   LG 84
KR  22    YDS  495       AVG 22.5    TD 0      LG  69
PR  46     YDS  368      AVG 8.0   TD 0    LG 39

NFL

Lansford, Mike

to90 mlansfordCards: Topps 1990, ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Work
Sent: 11/16/15     Received: 2/1/16 (77 days)
Failure: 2014, C/o Home

With the amazing mustache, mullet, and barefoot kicking style, Mike Lansford was a great compliment for the LA Rams look. A California native, who kicked in college for Washington and Pasadena CC (CA), before being selected by the New York Giants in the 12th round of the 1980 NFL draft. Unable to make the team, he had tryouts with the Raiders and 49ers and then finally landed on the Rams roster in 1982 where he played in 9 games and went 9 of 15 on field goals.  His best season came in 1984, going 25 of 33 on field goals. He then had solid seasons in 1988 and 1989. With the Ernie Zampese offensive machine in full swing Mike led the league in 1989 with an astounding (at the time) 51 extra points made and scoring a career high 120 points.

pset89 mlansford

Lansford ran into contract issues with Rams management that year. He was being paid a pittance based on his performance and vested years in the league. Mike could’ve held out, but instead out of good faith, came in and kicked for the team anyway while they negotiated a new deal with his agent. The Rams came back with a salary that put him near to slightly above the league average, but the kicker rebuffed the team.  In October, he and the team put it all behind them as he signed a 2 year deal.  While Lansford’s 1990 was considered a down year, in short, it was still a banner year by most kicker’s standards.

pset90 mlansfordLansford has been quoted as saying that, “He wanted to kick for the Rams until his toe turned blue.”, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end.  He signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 1991 season, losing out to Matt Stover for the job.  Mike is the All-Time leading scorer in Los Angeles Rams history, and was an outstanding kicker when the game was on the line, never missing a game winning kick.  In at least 8 contests he put away the opposing team with ice in his veins.

I had been wanting to get the iconic kicker for sometime on a few cards, and was disappointed when I missed out on him TTM back in 2014.   He is involved in kicking camps for kids, where I finally got a response from him early in 2016. A big time LA Rams fan, Lansford attended the city rally to bring back the Rams, where he was quoted as saying that, “I bleed blue and gold, just like you guys do!”, to a cheering crowd.

G 124     XPA 325    XPM 315
FGA 217   FGM  158   PCT 72.8%    LG 52     PTS 789

 

CFL, NFL

Josey, Henry

sage14 hjosey

Card: Sage 2014
Acquired: 2015, Box Breaker

Henry Josey is chasing the dream and you have to admire a man like that. After running for 263 yards in one game as a Sophmore for Missou, catching 175 passes, and running for over a thousand yards twice in his career, you’d think a guy’s name with 4.4 speed would be etched on a map somewhere for a professional team, but things didn’t work out that way for Josey.

Going undrafted he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. While he had a great preseason rushing for the Eagles, averaging 6.6 yards per carry on 225 yards, he was part of the final painful round of cuts.  From there, the Barry Sanders sized running back has been on rosters of the Colts, Jaguars, and the Vikings -just in 2014.

After being cut by the Vikings in 2015, Henry signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.  He rushed for 30 yards, and had 4 receptions in his debut season for the Argos.