Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Lilly, Bob “Mr. Cowboy”

to71 lillypset90SB lillyCard: Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl Supermen, Pro Set 1990 SB VI, Topps 1971
Acquired: IP 4/16/2015, Sam’s Wholesale Lakeline Grand Opening.
TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 10/19    Received: 10/24     (5 days)

I had not been very enthusiastic about Lilly’s signing at the Lakeline Grand Opening of Sams, as I had been pretty much caught with my pants down on this one. I had neither the Topps 1971 or the Upper Deck Legends 1997 issues that were part of my set obsessions, but Kudos to my friend Spoodog, for comping me this card of Lilly’s to get signed. I am a huge fan of the Topps 1971 set,  as it’s a timeless group of cards. It immediately made me excited for the Lilly signing as the only two other cards I had just an afterthought.

do09 lillyBesides his time playing football, Lilly is an avid photographer. He loves interacting with fans, and he gets high marks as a TTM responder for a very nominal fee. The Cowboys and the NFL HoF keep him very busy as he is one of the most requested NFL alumni for functions, speaking engagements, and signings. You can visit his website at www.boblilly.com.

A few months later after a lot of trouble, I sent out for Bob TTM and enclosed a small signing fee.  He responded in under a week and signed both the Upper Deck Legends card (I had such a hard time getting) and also a Donruss Threads card.

udlgd97 lillyLily was the first ever pick of the expansion Dallas Cowboys in 1961. (He was also drafted by the AFL Dallas Texans as well.) A giant, dependable, and durable (just missed one game during his career) defensive tackle, he manned the position for the Cowboys for 14 seasons. Over that time he demonstrated incredible reaction time, strength, and speed for the era as a key cog to the Cowboys defensive alignment. He became the franchise’s first Hall of Fame inductee in 1980.

G/GS 196/196     Tac    N/a       Sac     Fum
Int  1       Yds    17      Avg  17.0       Td    1      Lg     17t

 

NFL

Marks, Sen’Derrick

Card: Upper Deck 2009 (#039/199)
Acquired: 2012, Target Authentic Autograph Memorabilia

A heavily accoladed defensive line prospect from Auburn, Sen’Derrick Marks was taken in the second round of the 2009 draft by the Tennessee Titans. At 6’2″, 296, he was considered an enigma by many draft pundits. A talented one gap lineman, with an inconsistent motor, Sen’Derrick can play so low sometimes, he loses track of the ball.  He played sparingly for the Titans, but has made 66 tackles, 3 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles.

Marks was allowed to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013 and played in his first of two consecutive 16 game slates as a starter. He had his best season as a pro in 2014 with 34 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and 8.5 sacks – but tore his ACL late in the year.

Sen’Derrick returned for 2015, but tore his triceps ending his season after only 4 games. With his contract near an end, Marks has rounded out as a useful defensive end for needy 3-4 teams, however his injury history may scare some teams away from the bargaining table.

 

College Football HoF, NFL

Butler, Kevin “Butthead”

gday92 butlerCards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Action Packed 1990, Fleer 1990, GameDay 1992
Acquired:  TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 7/30      Received: 8/8    (9 days)

Kevin Butler. The name probably still brings a smile to the face of Georgia Bulldogs faithful fans, as Butler ranks near the top of many of UGA’s career and game charts.  Among the most noted memories is when Kevin kicked a 60 yard field goal to beat the Clemson Tigers. It was said that the ball sailed another 5 -10 yards over the goal post after hanging a clear 6 seconds in the air. A kick made from your own 49 1/2. It sounds the stuff of legend and Tecmo, but it is absolutely true. Butler at the time of his graduation was the all-time leading scorer at UGA with 353 points and made over 50% of his kicks (11 of 21) from over 50 yards.

ap90 butlerKevin was selected in the 4th round of the 1985 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.  The pick was questionable actually. The Bears were strong, and already had a pretty decent kicker in Bob Thomas, but the GM at the time  Jerry Vainisi, felt that he was the best player available in that round, and Vainisi was not wrong.

After winning the kicking job in camp, Kevin went on to set the NFL record for the most points scored by a player during their rookie season- with 144, easily besting the previous record held by the venerable Gale Sayers. Butthead was well liked by his teammates as he made 11 tackles on special teams his rookie season.  Of all the Super Bowl memories, Butler is one of the most unique, as he was forced to postpone his wedding to play in the game.

flr90 butlerButler matched the Mike Ditka Bears persona, even going so far as to looking the part. He sported the one bar helmet throughout his career (that slowly went out of vogue in 1986, until it was banned in 2004), and had uncharacteristically large biceps for a kicker. He had a fight and a bite to him.  Kevin was the kicker that the Bears sometimes bland offense could lean on – and he’d make those points, even at frigid Solider Field.  Butler made 110/119 field goals of 20 to 29 yards. Talking about automatic. In 1986 Kevin led the NFL with 41 field goal attempts.

pset90 butlerAfter a prolonged off-season contract dispute with the franchise in 1991, Butler had a rocky season hitting a career low 64.5% of his field goals. He’d rebound back to form the following season, and kick for the Bears through 1995. Butler was cut right before the final preseason game of the season by head coach Dave Wannastedt in favor of Carlos Huerta. The sudden change of kickers angered the Bears fanbase- but the deed was done. At the time of his release, Kevin was the Bears all time leading scorer with 1,116 points. Even more impressive when you consider that Butthead made 16/42 field goals of greater than 50 yards.  He was also the last member of the Chicago Bears ’85 Super Bowl team to play for the franchise.

pset89 butlerKevin was not out of work for long. He’d spend the next two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. While he’d continue to add to his legacy, Butler’s foray to the desert lands of Arizona was the last thing I’d have expected. It’s just one of those forgettable jersey moments since he was so intimately associated with the Bears.

Butler was a huge part of my offense in the original Tecmo Bowl as one of the best kickers in the game (probably second only to Biasucci), you could hit a 60 yarder with Kevin with practice, and with such a great last name, how could you hate a Butler?   After retirement, Butler became the first and only kicker inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, in 2001. He has also been inducted by the University of Georgia and Florida-Georgia (rivalry) into their respective halls as well.  He remains a super fan of the Bulldogs to this day, and does radio as well.

G/Gs 184/0       XPA 426      XMP 416        PCT 96.9%
FGA 361       FGM 265        PCT  73.4%