Category Archives: NFL

NFL, WLAF

Teeter, Mike

Cards: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent:  8/27/10  Received: 1/10/11  (130 days)

At 6’2″, 266 defensive end seemed more fitting for the former Michigan alum who was incredibly speedy (4.6) and strong (bench 600 lbs) for his size, but in the end Mike Teeter would play nose tackle in the 3-4 alignment for the Frankfurt Galaxy’s top rated defense in 1991. He’d be named second team All-World after making 3 sacks that season. After his WLAF stint Teeter would return stateside landing on the Houston Oilers roster in 1993. He’d make a sack that season but would not see any real significant playing time through 1994. He’d sign with Carolina in 1995, and then the Cardinals in 1996 before retiring. He also had short stints on the Eagles and Colts. Teeter afterwards would spend time coaching defensive line at Indiana, and was named to the Muskegon Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. I love getting WLAF autographs, especially the teams based in Europe so I was happy to get this one in the mail over 100 days after I sent it out. Below are Mike’s WLAF stats.

G/Gs  10/10   Tac  N/a   Sac 3.0  Fum N/a

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Marino, Dan

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Score 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament

The crown gem of my celebrity golf tournament autograph requests, I’ve been dreading doing the bio for Dan Marino as he has so many accolades, it’s easy to miss some of them and his write up would be huge.

Well Dan Marino was quite nice at the tournament. He literally got swarmed and I dived into the fold. When he realized he was being surrounded he asked us to all line up in an orderly line and he’d sign a limit of 3 cards a piece for us. (The SkyBox and the Score cards are two of my favorite cards, while the Action Packed was just part of a set that I swore to complete and know I never will.) Anyway, I know now that Marino gets so overwhelmed with requests TTM it’s basically a waste of time now- and any sender gets their cards returned with a thanks but sorry letter, so I consider myself quite lucky in that regard to not only have 1 but 3 autographs from him.

Dan Marino went to the University of Pittsburgh, where he virtually shattered all the college quarterback records while leading them to some of their most memorable seasons ever but was unable to ever win the Heisman. Marino would be a part of the historic 1983 draft, that would include such notables as John Elway, Ken O’ Brien and Jim Kelly with so far 6 Hall of Famers have come out of this draft. His stock would plummet before the draft, and Dan would be passed up in favor for such notables as Todd Blackledge and Tony Eason. At #27 Dan Marino would drop out of the sky and into the Dolphins lap. Don Shula‘s Dolphins were at that time still a traditionally strong running team, but Marino’s imprint on the franchise would be so indelible, that the team would quickly become one of the most prolific air attacks in the league over the next 15 seasons. Dan Marino encompasses the definition of a traditional drop back passer. With a powerful arm, lightning quick release, great pocket awareness, and an intelligent understanding of the intricacies of the game, Marino would be named to the ProBowl and AP 9 times while making the playoffs 10 times out of 17 seasons. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, he held virtually every passing record when he retired, being the first player to throw for over 5000 yards in a season. In 2003 he was inducted into the college football hall of fame, had his number retired and has a statue also bearing his likeness outside of the Dolphins’ stadium. Dan has gone into broadcasting, been involved in charitable work, and has had lucrative endorsement spokesperson for Weight Watchers, Isotoner gloves, and Papa John’s Pizza.

G/Gs  242/240   Att 8358    Comp 4967   Yds 61361   Pct 59.4    Td 420   Int 252  Rat 86.4

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Munchak, Mike “Munchie”

Card: Action Packed 1990
Acquired: In Person 1991, Houston Oilers Training Camp

I got a stack of autographs out at camp that year, and future Hall of Famer Mike Munchak was one of them along with Bruce Matthews. Together they formed one of the greatest 1 2 combinations in the NFL on the offensive line, and these two were basically inseparable it seemed, on or off the field once Bruce was drafted in 1983.

Munchak was a heavily decorated lineman coming out of Penn State in 1982 and had all of the skills, metrics, and size that you could want out of a prototypical guard (6’3, 281). The 8th pick taken in the first round by the Houston Oilers, he’d play his entire career in Houston and by 1984 had established himself as a formidable force. In a day when defenses could do a lot more to limit production of the passing offenses, the Oilers typically ranked near the top of the passing charts and near the bottom in sacks allowed with Munchie nailing down the left guard position.

Equally adept at the pass or run, Munchak was named to 9 Pro Bowls and first or second team AP 10 times over his distinguished career. He’d see the rebirth of the franchise from the doormat of the AFC Central (2-14, 1983) to the dominant power of the AFC (12-4, 1993) as injuries to his knees eventually forced his hand into retirement after the 1993 season. Named to the 80s All NFL Team, Munchak had his number retired by the Tennesee Titans (who he never played for).  

He has worked his way up the staff of the Titans and after Jeff Fisher’s departure from the franchise in 2011, Munchak was a shoe in for the job. Ironically in 2010, the Texans attempted to steal Munchak off the staff of the Titans to pair him up with Matthews as coaches again in Houston, -but the Titans refused to grant an interview. The Titans then turned around and hired Bruce Matthews off of the Texans’ staff to be offensive line coach reuniting the inseparable linemen again but this time in Tennessee.