Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Hill, Anthony

Card: Upper Deck Star Rookies 2009
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

The Texans collect tight ends like they are going out of style. Anthony Hill is a devastating blocker out of NC State taken in the 4th round of the 2009 draft by the Houston Texans. He earned 2nd team ACC honors his senior season and at 6’6″, 277 make him a Antonio Gates sized target. Unfortunately Hill caught Swine Flu his rookie season and although he has recovered, has not seen any extensive playing time outside of the preseason for the Texans since being drafted. He also needs to improve his speed off the snap and improve on his durability to warrant more play time by the team. Anthony is also buried on the depth chart behind Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen, James Casey, and Garrett Graham.

NFL

Williams, Aeneas


Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Pro Set 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent:  5/11   Received:  5/23  (12 days)

Aeneas Williams was drafted out of tiny Southern in the 3rd round of the NFL draft in 1991 by the then Phoenix Cardinals. A ball hawk in college, the knock on him was that he played inferior talent at the I-AA school, where in his senior graduate season, he finished with 11 picks. Williams would shock the NFL by becoming one of the leagues elite corners but would not win the RotY award in 1991 (losing to Leonard Russell, NE) despite tying for the league lead in interceptions. Over his 10 seasons with the Cardinals franchise Williams would make 46 interceptions, before leaving the team in 2001. He is considered one of the great finds of the NFL draft during the 1990s. Unfortunately during this time period, the team would only make the playoffs once, however he’d make it count with 3 picks in 2 playoff game appearances. Aeneas would be traded to the St. Louis Rams on draft day in 2001, where he’d provide the defensive stability in the secondary for the Rams that they needed to allow them to return to the Super Bowl in 2002. During this time Aeneas would be converted to free safety, and he’d remain with the franchise through 2004 and then retire. At the time of his retirement he was ranked second all-time with 9 interceptions returned for touchdowns (since surpassed).

Widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive backs during the 1990s, Aeneas has received multiple awards since retirement. He was named to the All Time team of the 1990s, enshrined in the Cardinals Ring of Honor and was an 8 time Pro Bowl selection over his career. Aeneas also tied an NFL record with a 104 yard fumble return in 2000. Williams also presented the Cardinals with the NFC Conference Championship Trophy in 2009. After watching Aeneas during the draft in 2011 announce the Cardinals second round draft choice, I dug up the envelope that I had sitting on my desk from 2010 for him and decided to send off for him. Currently Williams lives in the St. Louis area where he is a minister in a congregation.  He is considered a voracious TTM signer and he signed these cards in 12 days. A Hall of Fame semi-finalist in 2010, it is an absolute shame that Aeneas has not been inducted despite having more career interceptions than recent inductees Deion Sanders and Darrell Green.

As Tecmo Bowl made its way to the Genesis and Super Nintendo, Williams was well rewarded by the Tecmo gods, but he does not appear in Tecmo Super Bowl on the Nintendo, as it was finished before the 1991 season began. Instead the secondary consists of  Jay Taylor and Cedric Mack at cornerback.

I loved the Action Packed series, especially the Rookies set from 1991. Maybe it was because Action Packed was a relatively smaller set it was easier to collect, but I would always go into the 7-11 after school and buy a pack of cards with my nachos. The embossed players, rounded corners, college statistics, and simple designed layout, really screamed at me. Action Packed also had a good scouting department, frequently pinning impact rookies in their team uniforms. You also never got a head shot or a sideline stretch shot of a player. It was truly “action packed”. The Pro Set 1991 card wasn’t bad either, and I’d consider this to be the height of the company’s card designs, before they came crashing back down to Earth with their abysmal Pro Set 1992 series 2 cards.  Good framing, color and a nice emphasis on the round of the draft are the hallmarks of this card, really delivering as much information about Williams without cluttering the page.

Williams was kind enough to inscribe the card with a passage from the Bible from Romans 10:9- If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

G/Gs  211/207     Tac 677      Sac 3.0     Fum 8    Int 55      Yds 807     Avg  14.6    Td  9    Lg  65

 

NFL

Smith, Rod (DB)

Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

I got Rod’s autograph as part of a blitz of the New England Patriots back in the early 90s. He signed the card and put “Go Irish!” on it.  Drafted in the second round of the 1992 draft, Rod was a bit undersized at 5’11”, but made up for it with his explosive hitting and speed. A track man, Smith possessed great closing speed and was once clocked at 6.35 in the 55.  During his time with the Irish, Smith even took some time in starting 7 games at strong safety, but would see his time in the NFL at corner. He made one pick his rookie year for the Patsies in 1992, and 2 in 1994, playing mainly on special-teams.

In 1995, Rod was left exposed by the Patriots and was selected by the Carolina Panthers in their expansion draft. He was the Panthers’ first selection. Smith would sign with the Vikings in 1996, but quickly returned to the Panthers during that season. He’d make 2 interceptions in 1998 and finish out the season with the Packers where he retired after the season.

Since retiring, Smith has done some charity work, was the President of the Alumni Chapter of NFL players in the Carolina area, and recently appeared at a NASCAR Track Walk event as the Grand Marshall in 2011.

(Rod Smith from Notre Dame is not to be confused with the CB with the same name drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1st round during the 80s or the WR drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1994.)

G/Gs  102/27     Tac 225    Sac 1.5    Fum 1   Int 5     Yds  53    Avg  10.6     Td 0     Lg 43