Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Tippett, Andre

Cards: ProSet 1991, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

The New England Patriots when they were the trapped in the doldrums of the AFC East were always very good with their fans about signing cards. Andre Tippett played both defensive end and linebacker over his college and pro career. Complicated by the fact that glitz and glamor linebacker Lawrence Taylor was drafted a season before him and a quiet rookie season in 1982, Tippett’s versatile abilities were often overshadowed and overlooked. Once acclimated to the pro game and inserted into a proper ‘tweener’ role, Tippett quickly established himself as a sackmaster, making the ProBowl in 5 seasons, named All-Pro twice, and was named NFL Defensive player of the year in 1985. Humbly and quietly, Andre continued to compile an impressive resume, making 18.5 sacks in 1984, and 16.5 in 1985- the highest back to back season sack numbers in NFL history. While his lone SuperBowl appearance in 1985 ended in defeat to the vaunted Chicago Bears, Tippett continued to crush opposing quarterbacks from his LOLB position until injuries took their toll. A catastrophic shoulder injury took his complete 1989 season away and a good portion of 1990, where he received consideration for comeback player of the year honors (losing to Barry Word). Tippett would finish his stellar 12 year career in 1993, as the Patriots all-time leading sacker with 100 sacks and 17 fumbles.

Since his playing career has ended Andre has moved into the front offices of the Patriots organization working as part of their community affairs and outreach program. He was enshrined by his college – Iowa in 2007, and in 2008 after a very long wait- Andre Tippett was inducted into the Pro Football HoF. Andre is also a member of the NFL’s All 1980’s team, the Patriots 35th anniversary team and the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999. He enjoys coaching Pop Warner football in his spare time, playing golf, is a renowned 4th degree black belt, and is a Baptist convert to Judaism. In 2011 he was honored with the announcement of New England’s 2nd round pick during the NFL draft.

G/Gs  151/139      Tac  N/a        Sac 100          Fum 17      Int  1   Yds 42    Avg 42.0    Td 0    lg 42

NFL

Langhorne, Reggie

Cards: Action Packed 1990, Action Packed 1991
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o The Indianapolis Colts

In 1985, the Cleveland Browns selected Reggie Langhorne out of little known Elizabeth City State College in the 7th round to be paired along with new quarterback Bernie Kosar. Overall the ’85 draft is well regarded, and Langhorne would be drafted along with such notable wide receiver talent as Andre Reed and Eric Martin.  After a rough first season, Reggie would get more playing time in 1986 and would provide a long bomb threat for the team, averaging 17.4 yards a catch on 39 receptions, but perhaps his best season with the Browns was in 1988 where he would catch 7 touchdowns on 57 receptions. Langhorne would continue to provide the team with help from the slot, but in 1992 hopped over to Indianapolis via Plan B. Reggie would immediately help out young quarterback Jeff George over the next two seasons, recording a career high 1038 yards in 1993 – leading the AFC in receptions. After the team only won 4 games that season, the Colts would purge their veteran roster along with him. Langhorne would retire but is most well remembered by fans for his playing time with the Cleveland Browns and the touchdown he caught against the Oilers to help them make the playoffs in 1988.

Since football Reggie has managed over a variety of charitable activities including former teammate Eddie Johnson’s Charitable Fund and does commentary on Browns games for WOIO. In 2010, Reggie was badly injured in a biking accident when he was hit by a car. He broke his clavicle, fibula, a rib and had a massive concussion, and will be in physical therapy for 7 to 9 months. Ironically this injury post football put him out of commission longer than any injury he got while he was playing.

G/GS 134/109      Rec  411        Yds 5406        Avg 13.3      Td 19        Lg 77T

CFL, NFL, Pro Football HoF, WLAF

Moon, Warren


Card: Action Packed 1991
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992
See also: http://n8d.flywheelsites.com/2011/moon-warren-2/

Warren Moon’s career is a long and storied one, that while it didn’t end in a SuperBowl appearance, certainly it was worthy of the Hall of Fame induction that he received in 2006.  Warren Moon’s career in football spans amazingly 4 decades of the sport. After a standout performance for the Washington Huskies that culminated in a Rose Bowl appearance and MVP honors, he was told by NFL scouts that he’d be better suited to play defensive back or tight end. You see back in the 70’s there was still the stigma at the pro level that black players couldn’t play quarterback. Frustrated and ready to prove people wrong, – Moon packed his bags and headed to Canada to play for the CFL, where he’d be signed by the Edmonton Eskimos. He went on to shatter CFL league records leading the Eskimos to 5 consecutive Grey Cup Championships from 1978-1982, and winning Grey Cup MVP honors in 1980 and 1982. He’d also set the record for most yards passing in a game,(broken in 2005,) and most yards (career) in league history.

Moon would decide to enter the NFL in 1984 where a bidding war ensued for his services. The Houston Oilers stepped up to the plate, offering the most attractive opportunity for Moon. With Hugh Campbell (his former CFL coach,) and a million dollar a year salary on the table, Moon immediately became the centerpiece for the long suffering Houston franchise. Moon quickly set the team season passing record in his first year under center, but Campbell would be fired after two losing seasons. With a new coach in Jerry Glanville, the Oilers began to take on a new tough personality, and Warren became the prime beneficiary of the team’s change. With the Red Gun offense firmly in place, Warren led the Oilers to their first winning record with him under center and the beginning of the team’s consecutive playoff appearance streak. 1989 saw Glanville’s last season in Houston, and the new Sheriff in town in 1990, who installed a new sense of discipline, and the Run ‘N Shoot offense- Jack Pardee. Over the years, the team built an impressive receiver corps in Drew Hill, Haywood Jeffires, Curtis Duncan, and Ernest Givins. Warren Moon would set new career highs leading the league in a variety of categories, and tied the record with 9 300 yard games. In his greatest moment, Warren trodded out onto the frigid Arrowhead stadium field in 1990, (a place they had gotten whupped a year earlier 35-3) and threw for 527 yards against a staunch Kansas City defensive unit.  1991 again saw  Moon set a new NFL record for attempts with 655 attempts (since broken), and during the offseason Warren would also help on USA broadcasts for the WLAF games.  The team won its first divisional title in 1991 and again in 1993 with a league best record 12-4- but the team advanced no further than the divisional round in any season. By the end of the 1993 season, Warren virtually held every team passing record.

In came meddling owner Bud Adams during 1994, (- a recurring theme in Oilers history), who decided that the team was too old and wanted to change the direction of the franchise. Bud decided that much of the team was too old, so he traded Warren to Minnesota for a few draft choices.  In the meantime the team slumped to 2-14 behind Bucky Richardson and Cody Carlson at quarterback as Jack Pardee quit. Warren however went on to prove Adams wrong throwing for over 4200 yards in each of his first two seasons with the Vikings.  By 1997, Moon was a free agent again, signing with his college hometown Seattle Seahawks. He’d be the oldest player to score a touchdown at the age of 40. After two seasons there (he’d play in the movie “Any Given Sunday” as head coach of the rival New York team and then,) he’d head to Kansas City to serve as backup, retiring in 2001.

Warren over his career was named to 9 ProBowls, ProBowl MVP once, Man of the Year in 1989, NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1990, Pro Football HoF in 2006, and the Canadian HoF in 2001, in addition to numerous other accolades. Warren was also named #5 on the all time list of greatest players  in CFL history. Warren also at one point was ranked in the top 5 of nearly every NFL category, (including career fumbles and fumble recoveries- since passed by Brett Favre in career fumbles). Since football he continues to do commentary for the Seattle Seahawks, and wrote a book “Never Give Up on Your Dream: My Journey”. Recently Warren Moon was mentioned in an episode of “30 Rock”, and he has struggled from time to time with domestic issues. To give perspective of Warren’s career, he threw for over 25 miles in 4 decades of football from 1978-2001 (23 seasons) and he is the first and only black starting quarterback in the NFL HoF. A stoic presence on the field and a shrewd negotiator of contracts, Moon had an amazing arm, longetivity, and displayed quick release and smooth velocity on his throws. His combined CFL and NFL statistics are listed below along with some great videos of his work.

G 312   Att 9205  Comp 5357   Yds  70553   Pct 58.2%     Td 435  Int 310  Rat 84.2

A Moon highlight video playing for the Huskies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp7hh52GBXE
Houston Oilers highlight video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxNuAcL2H74&feature=related
HoF video: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d8012ef58/Hall-of-Fame-Warren-Moon