Category Archives: NFL

Arena, NFL

Kosar, Bernie

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, GameDay 1992, Score Hot Gun 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 7/19   Received: 7/27  (8 days)

Playing for the Miami Hurricanes with his unique side arm delivery, Bernie Kosar would have teams salivating to get him when he declared for the draft in 1985 with the Oilers, Browns, Bills and Vikings sending shockwaves through the draft board with their maneuvers. After getting wind that Kosar only wanted to play for the Browns, the Oilers traded away their spot to the Vikings, and then Kosar dropped the real bomb before the draft, by not filing the formal paperwork to declare. Everybody threatened to sue everyone in the ensuing melee, but in the end Kosar skipped around the draft and declared for the Supplemental draft that year where he was signed by the Cleveland Browns.

In Kosar’s rookie season, coming off the bench Bernie would help the team enter the playoffs with an 8-8 record and be immortalized in the original Tecmo Bowl. In 1986, playing full time the famously immobile quarterback would lead the team to a 12-4 record throwing a record 489 yards in a playoff game against the Jets, but losing in the championship game to the Broncos.  The 1987 season would present the same scenario, with a Pro Bowl nomination and a championship game loss to the Broncos again.  Despite injuries, Bernie would again take the Browns to a 3rd and final championship game appearance in 1988. After losing a squeaker in the playoffs to the Oilers in 1989, head coach Marty Schottenheimer would be fired, and the Browns would appoint Bud Carson head coach. Kosar would set another NFL record with 286 pass attempts without an interception between the 1990-1991 season but the team would collapse in 1991 to 3-13.


Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Browns would open up the coffers with the advent of free agency in 1993, signing University of Miami alum and quarterback Vinny Testaverde to compete against Kosar. Despite his popularity Bernie would be cut midway through the 1993 season.  The Dallas Cowboys quickly snapped up Kosar to fill in for an injured Troy Aikman where he won a Super Bowl title with the team after the season.

After his short stint in Dallas, Bernie would sign with the Miami Dolphins as Dan Marino‘s backup (after the departure of  Scott Mitchell to Detroit), retiring in 1996.  Since retirement,  Bernie has remained a popular personality in the Cleveland area. An avid golfer, Kosar was the owner of the Arena football franchise Cleveland Gladiators. Despite facing financial difficulties Kosar has remained steadfast, and was named as a consultant to the Cleveland Browns.  I was surprised to get Kosar’s autograph in such a short period of time. It had been rumored that he was charging a stiff autograph fee, but that proved to be untrue.

Kosar  is one of the select players in Tecmo Superbowl that is not identified by their name. Instead he is identified as “QB Browns” to avoid any legal issues. The only way that you know it is him is based on his abilities and the fact that he is white. Regarldess he is represented accurately in the game with great pass control but some awkward abilities but should have about 0 run speed.

G/Gs 126/108   Att  3365    Comp 1994    Yds 23301  Pct 59.3   Td  124   Int 87   Rat 81.8 |
Rush 180    Yds  265   Avg  1.5    Td 5   Lg 23

NFL, WIFL, WLAF

Mitchell, Lyvonia “Stump”

Cards: ProSet 1989, Topps 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o Southern University

Stump Mitchell was drafted out of the Citadel by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 9th round of the 1981 draft.  A slashing runner with nice hands, he’d be a great bargain and compliment to incumbent runningback Ottis Anderson also getting in time on kick and punt returns. Stump’s best year would be in 1986 when he’d have 1006 yards rushing and 502 yards receiving for St. Louis and 1950 yards from scrimmage.  His 5.5 yard average would lead the NFL. Mitchell in the end, would play his entire career with the Cards racking up almost 12,000 yards from scrimmage before retiring from a bum knee after 1989.

In 1992 while attending San Antonio Riders games I would always get the program and saw that one of the assistant coaches was Mitchell. Eventually I found that I had a few of his cards in my collection and was able to get him to autograph these two cards. Right after the season ended I got a few more cards to have him autograph but the league folded and I was never able to do so.  The ProSet 1989 is one of the best looking cards from that set, but I suspect due to his name it was not a profiled feature picture on the box.

He was owner of the failed WIFL’s St. Louis Lightning and had Mouse Davis in place as his coach before the league quickly imploded. Stump would then return to high school and the college ranks before coaching the Seattle Seahawks runningbacks from 1999-2007. He’d spend 2008 and 2009 with the Redskins before going to Southern University where he at this time he remains the head coach (as of 2011). Along with Mike Johnson, Stump is considered a member of the Mike Riley tree.

I sent off for Stump’s autograph earlier this year in January to get those final cards signed but it came back return to sender. I turned around and sent it care of Southern University back in February, but as of this post I am still waiting on a reply.

G/Gs  116/53     Rush 986     Yds 4649      Avg  4.7       Td 32   Lg 64  |
Rec 209    Yds 1955     Avg 9.4     Td 9     Lg  46   |
Kr 177    Yds 4007     Avg 22.6    Td  0    Lg  67 |
Pr 156     Yds 1377      Avg 8.8      Td 1      Lg  50

 

NFL

Rhodes, Ray

Card: Topps 1977, Topps 1978
Acquired: TTM 2010, Texans blitz

Apparently when my friend on the Texans approached Ray with his cards to sign he reacted by being quite amused. Ray Rhodes was an amazing athlete and former coach at a variety of pro levels during his tenure in the NFL. Originally a wide receiver drafted in the 10th round by the New York Giants in 1974 he’d switch to cornerback in 1977. He’d continue playing for the Giants through 1978 at which he was traded to the 49ers (for Tony Dungy) and played one season for them before retiring. Ray would stay with the 49ers and become an assistant coach where he served the team through 1991. In 1992 he’d leave the 49ers to join Mike Holmgren in Green Bay where he’d be the defensive coordinator through 1993. Rhodes would return again to the 49ers for an additional season in 1994, before being made head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995- a position he’d hold through 1998, until he was replaced by Andy Reid. In 1999 he’d be head coach of the Green Bay Packers for one season, before being unceremoniously released. From there stints with the Redskins, Broncos and Seahawks would occur until he was signed to be an assistant defensive backs coach for the Houston Texans in 2008.  Ray would remain with his native Texans through the 2010 season and now serves on the coaching staff of the Seattle Seahawks. Ray is considered a member of the Bill Walsh coaching tree.