Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Hill, Kent

Cards: Topps 1983, Topps 1988
Acquired:  TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 11/8  Received: 11/17  (9 days)

Kent Hill was a member of some solid offensive lines during his career. Perhaps best remembered as blocking for HoFer Eric Dickerson and seeing the Rams to their lone Super Bowl Appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1980, Hill spent his final two season blocking for the Houston Oilers alongside Bruce Matthews and Mike Munchak for HoFer Warren Moon. Over his career he was named to the ProBowl 5 times (1980, & 1982-1985).

Originally drafted by the Rams with their first round selection out of Georgia Tech in 1979, Hill would earn the first LA Rams team honor for rookie of the year.  He’d go on over his career to start 114 games over a 132 game slate before being traded by the Rams to Houston as part of the mega trade that ushered in the Jim Everett era in Los Angeles.  During his tenure on the Rams Kent was honored to play with Jackie Slater, Doug Smith, and Tom Newberry among others.

I was very surprised to locate Kent through SotL, – little less that there were any cards of him, but I was extremely happy to add him to my collection.  A really nice guy. He wrote on the letter, “Thanks for writing!” A solid through and through lineman that really never got his due, he’s the perfect addition to my Hall of Fame.  Of odd note is the fact that Kent Hill played along side Drew Hill (no relation) at Georgia Tech, were both drafted in the same year by the Rams, and then played together on the Oilers.

 

NFL

Holman, Rodney

Cards: Pro Set 1990 PB, Fleer Ultra 1991, Fleer 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent:  6/22    Received:  11/15  (146 days)

The Bengals during the late 80s and early 90s had an impressive offensive lineup featuring a variety of soft handed receivers, but one who received much less credit than he deserved was Tulane University grad, Rodney Holman.

At 6-3, 238, Holman was ideally suited for the Bengals offense as a tight end or h-back and while Rodney’s rookie season in 1983 was a wash, he’d begin to come into his own in his second season grabbing 21 balls for 239 yards and his first touchdown. He’d continue setting career highs in 1985 (38 catches, 479 yards, 7 touchdowns) and 1986, (40 receptions, 570 yards, 2 touchdowns). His unparalleled blocking and pass catching at the time was ahead of the tight ends of his age, and he was crucial in the team’s run to SuperBowl XXIII.  Holman would bottle the magic again in 1989 with a career high 50 receptions for 736 yards and 9 touchdowns. Rodney would also earn ProBowl and AP nods for his 1988-1990 seasons, and also be enshrined in Tecmo Super Bowl with the Bengals.

With the dawn of free agency, Rodney signed with the Lions in 1993 and play there two additional seasons before retiring. Since then he’s been an assistant coach with the Saints. In his spare time Rodney is an avid fisherman and hunter. He is also a cousin of Preston Pearson.  At this time Rodney remains the all-time leader in career receptions for the Bengals at tight end with 318.

G/Gs 212/146     Rec  365    Yds  4771    Avg 13.1       Td  36       Lg  73t

NFL, ufl, University of Texas, usfl, WLAF

Bradley, Bill “Super Bill”

Card: Topps 1972, Upper Deck UT 2011
Acquired: In Person, 11/9/11 Card Traders of Austin UD 2011 UT Football Card Launch Party

A tried and true athlete that found his position of calling while at the University of Texas, “Super Bill” as he was dubbed (for having ambidextrous passing skills) came in originally as a quarterback to the vaunted school in 1965. Unable to crack the lineup there or at wide receiver, he found his true calling at defensive back for the Longhorns. He’d go on to become perhaps one of the best secondary personnel in the history of the school and make an SWC record 4 picks in one game.

Super Bill was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 3rd  round of the 1969 draft. The rest is history. The multi-purpose Bradley was inserted into the lineup at free safety, but along the way would play as a kick returner, punt returner, and punter for the Eagles who truly got their money’s worth out of Bradley.  Unfortunately these were also some of the leanest years of the Eagles’ storied franchise.  His 1970 and 1971 seasons stand among the best in NFL history, recording 11 picks in 1970 for 248 yards and making 2 FR leading the NFL, and then following it up in 1971 with 9 picks for 73 yards to lead the NFL again in interceptions. (No other player in history has lead the league twice in picks.) In 1973 he’d add 4 picks to the total but teams would begin to look the other way in fear of Bradley’s ball-hawking skills. For the 3 seasons, he’d be awarded AP or Pro Bowl honors. He’d again make 5 picks in 1975 before finishing out his career with Philadelphia the following year. Bill would sign with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1977 playing one final season and retire. He is tied as the franchise’s all time leader in interceptions with 36.
He’s been active in coaching working with the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL, crossing paths with me briefly as a defensive backs coach of the San Antonio Riders, and along the way as well with the Bills, Chargers, and Jets (in no specific order).  He also served as defensive coordinator of the Baylor Bears for 2004-2006.  As of late, Super Bill has also worked in the UFL with the Florida Tuskers and the Hartford Colonials as a secondary coach and is a member of the ‘suspended operations staff’ in Hartford.  Bradley has been inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame and also into the Philadelphia Eagles Honor Roll.

I had been following Sports Cards Traders of Austin for a few weeks and it really paid off. When they posted up that Bradley was going to be appearing, I did not hesitate to call them and have the store pull a few cards of him from the racks. I grabbed a Topps 1972, and then heard that he would be in the UT set. After breaking open a few packs, I was happy to find Bradley inside one of them. I gave an extra to him which made him really happy since it was the first time he saw it. The photo that they used was from his Freshman year at UT. He knew it because he was wearing a helicopter pilot’s helmet and apparently they had run out of ones for their players. We also talked about the Riders, and he told me that Coach Riley owns a house down the street from him. Bradley also loved talking about the hail storm game with me against the Ohio Glory back in 1992. It was a great interaction with a great player who was willing to personalize my cards. Here is Super Bill’s statistics:

G 114      Tac  N/a      Sac  N/a     Fum  7    Int   34    Yds  536   Avg 15.8      Td  1    Lg 56t
KR 27      Yds 564       Avg 20.9         Td 0    Lg 42
PR 122    Yds 953       Avg 7.8         Td 0       Lg 60
P  213      Yds 8316     Avg  39.0     Lg 61