Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Crockett, Donald “Ray”

Cards: GameDay 1992, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 6/23   Received: 7/1 (8 days)

Ray Crockett is another in a long line of defensive players that came from the University of Baylor in Waco, Texas. For some reason, Baylor always had the luck of having some immense talent with Mike Singletary, Robert Blackmon, Thomas Everett, Santana Dotson, James Francis, and Vann McElroy all being drafted and having some great playing careers during the 80s and 90s.

Originally a 4th round pick of the Detroit Lions during the deep 1989 draft, Ray didn’t get much playing time in the starting lineup his rookie season. In 1990, he’d make three interceptions starting opposite Leroy Irvin. Solidifying the secondary in 1991, Crockett became a feared defender during the final years of the last Lions’ playoff runs. He’d make 6 picks and return one 96 yards for a touchdown against the Cowboys.

In 1994 Ray signed with the Denver Broncos. As teams would throw to the other side of the field avoiding Ray, his statistics suffered, but he’d continue to provide blanket coverage against unfortunate receivers.  In 1998 and 1999, as a member of the Broncos Ray won Super Bowl titles with the franchise. Over his time with the Broncos, Ray logged 17 picks and a touchdown. After a nice season in 2000, in which he had 4 interceptions and a touchdown, Ray signed as a free agent with the rival Kansas City Chiefs for the 2001 season.  He’d wrap up his career in 2002 with his 35th and 36 pick.  Crockett over his career was also a fearsome corner blitzer, and was the career leader (surpassed by Rhonde Barber) at the position with 15.5 career sacks at his retirement in 2002.

Since retirement Ray has done a variety of things. Touched by the paralysis of his friend and teammate Mike Utley, Ray’s participated on Morgan Spurloch’s show “30 Days”,   spending 30 days in a wheelchair focusing on the everyday challenges that physically challenged people deal with in their lives. Ray has also done some game show work as well and currently lives outside of Dallas, Texas.

I got these two cards signed by Ray in no time flat. This Action Packed 1992 card is an exceptional photo with great lighting and focus and it’s among my favorite of the set.

G/Gs 214/174      Tac 802      Sac  15.5   Fum 9   Int 36     Yds 460      Avg 12.7       Td 3    Lg  96t

Arena, NFL

Willis, Peter Tom

 

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, ProSet 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 5/4 Received: 7/2  (59 days)

A strong-armed, mobile quarterback with outstanding accuracy and touch, Peter Tom Willis served as backup on the Seminoles from 1987-1988 before he received his break to become a starter in 1989. In only his first true season as leader of Florida State’s offense, he threw for 3124 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 6 TD passes against Memphis State would set a school record and he would be voted MVP of the Fiesta Bowl when he threw for 422 yards and 5 touchdowns over Nebraska. At the time of his graduation, his 4291 career passing yards ranked 3rd on the school’s all-time list.

The Chicago Bears drafted Willis in the third round of the 1990 draft. He’d be the fourth quarterback off the board after Jeff George, Andre Ware, and Tommy Hodson. Expected to be the quarterback of the future, he sat on the bench behind Jim Harbaugh and Mike Tomczak seeing a little mop up action his rookie and sophomore seasons. In a 27-14 loss to Cleveland in 1992, Willis threw for two touchdown passes and 279 yards in relief of Harbaugh, however his 5 game performance and 0-2 record as a starter still meant the jury was out. In 1993 with new head coach Dave Wannstedt in place Peter Tom would see backup duty again throughout the season, in a lackluster performance against Tampa Bay.

In 1997, Willis resurfaced in the AFL with the Tampa Bay Storm playing 3 commendable seasons with the franchise.  In 1998 he’d throw for 70 Tds and only10 picks, and follow that up in 1999 with 65-8. He’d retire from the sport after the season and enter into the radio booth with the Seminoles where he did radio color commentary from 1998 to 2008. He currently resides in the Tampa area.

I sent to Peter about 2 months ago and where he signed these 3 cards. I was a bit disappointed in the signatures. They appear to be from a dried up sharpie. I don’t think it’s a stamp however because the the ink of the signature would pool recognizably on the Action Packed card.  Action Packed, Pro Set and Score were the 3 companies that I enjoyed collecting cards of back in the early 1990s. I especially like this Score card of Peter in his college uniform.  Below are Willis’ NFL statistics:

G/Gs   21/3    Att  183   Cmp 104   Yds 1261   Pct 56.8     Td   6     Int 15    Rat  54.9 |

 

NFL

Cody, Shaun

Card: Topps Heritage 2006
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

At 6’4″, 306 Shaun Cody was a member of  USC, originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 2005 draft.  A 4 year starter for the Trojans, he was a consensus All- American and had 21 sacks, 8 blocked field goals and 31.5 total tackles for losses for the team.  The Lions slotted him in at defensive tackle but he’d only start 11 games over 4 years, unable to scale the team’s depth chart playing under 3 different defensive coaches.  Detroit would expose him during free agency in 2009 and the Texans would sign him to play left defensive tackle with Travis Johnson on the way out. In those 2 seasons for the Texans Shaun has made .5 sacks, 1 pass defensed, and 33 tackles.

After the Texans decided to blow up their defense and shift back to the 3-4, new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is adamant that he can rotate Shaun Cody in at nose tackle as an undersized speed rusher (in the model of Jay Ratliff from Dallas), and has gone so far as to sign him to a 2 year extension in 2011.  A high motor lineman with a fast first step, the hope is Shaun’s best days are still ahead of him,  but he needs to continue to bulk up and improve on his fundamentals. At the time of this post he was being employed in a platoon with Earl Mitchell.

Shaun has a tattoo of ‘SC’ on his bicep that is in the same typography as USC. While it was rumored that this was a tribute to his former Alma Mater, it indeed has been reported it is merely an abbreviation of his name.