Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Noonan, Danny

Cards: ProSet 1989, Action Packed 1990
Acquired: In Person 1990,1991, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

A Home grown All-American defensive lineman at Nebraska, Danny Noonan was selected in the first round of the 1987 draft by the Tom Landry era Dallas Cowboys. He’d be the 4th DL off the board in the top 12 coming behind Reggie Rucker, Jerome Brown, and Shawn Knight.

Noonan had a difficult time living up to the team’s expectations, as he was frequently injured and had trouble keeping up with the speed of the game. He’d have a decent season in 1988, making 7.5 sacks and pulling in an interception for a touchdown, but as Jimmy Johnson took over as head coach in 1989, Danny by then had additional problems maintaining his playing weight. (It was then later revealed that Noonan had been a steroid user in his playing days at Nebraska and had tested positive before the combine- something the Cowboys had to have known before they drafted him.)

After his 1988 season, everything seemed to unravel, and by 1991 he had been cut by Dallas. Signed by the Packers, who needed defensive line depth, he’d play there for a season. He’d retire after a short 2 game stint with the Broncos in 1993.

A criminal justice major, Danny went back to school and got a business degree with a specialty in e- business. He also did some web management, helping to originate huskerpower.com and is now a financial advisor in the greater Omaha area. To stay in shape he does some jiu-jitsu and martial arts to keep up with his kids.

I got Danny’s autograph twice during training camp that first year during the first or second day, near the entry way of the St. Edwards campus building that they went into at the end of practice. At first this seemed like the primo place to get autographs, then we realized it was all about the fence line near the edge of the practice field that was the best spot to nab autographs.

G/Gs 73/41   Tac n/a     Sac 15   Fum n/a
Int  1  Yds 17   Avg 17.0   Td 1   Lg  17T

CFL, NFL, WLAF, XFL

Moore, Shawn

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Score 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Birmingham Fire
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o The University of Virginia

After the Birmingham Fire lost to the San Antonio Riders that humid night I tromped onto the field and got Shawn’s autograph on his Action Packed Rookies and Score 1991 card. You could see on his face the frustration of being buried on the depth chart and the relative annoyance he felt about being there, but he still managed to sign these two cards for me.

In the early 90’s, Dan Reeves decided that he was going to pull rank and find the heir apparent to John Elway after tensions boiled to the surface between the two seasoned professionals. Dan drafted not one, but two quarterbacks in the 1991 draft. Highly regarded Tommy Maddox from UCLA and Shawn Moore from Virginia. Shawn had finished 1st in passing efficiency in the nation and broke most passing records for the Cavaliers in 1990. Moore would be drafted in the 11th round of the draft and back up both Maddox and Elway.

The Broncos would loan Moore to the Birmingham Fire for the 1992 season where he was expected to compete for the starting job, however he never saw any time off the bench sitting behind Mike Norseth. Shawn returned to the NFL for the 1992 season throwing for 232 yards and 3 picks in injury relief for John Elway. Afterwards he’d return to the bench of the Broncos, where he’d stay through 1993. In 1994, Shawn signed with the Arizona Cardinals, but saw no playing time. He’d then head North to Canada for the 1995 season, splitting time with the Blue Bombers and Stampeders before retiring from professional football.

Since then Moore has spent time in administration working as a national scout for the XFL and an enforcement representative for the NCAA. Currently he’s the wide receivers coach for his alma mater, The University of Virginia.  I sent two cards out to Moore last year, hoping to get his autograph on two final cards but at this point am still waiting hopefully for a response.

NFL

Davis, Andre

Card: Score 2008
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

Andre Davis was a second round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns that came off the board after the Texans took Jabar Gaffney in 2002. Davis would play for the Browns from 2002-2004. In his rookie season, Davis would serve primarily as a returner, and log 1000+ yards on kick returns, scoring a touchdown ironically against Houston that season.  He’d finish with 1500+ yards from scrimmage that season. His sophomore season would be roughly more of the same in 2003, logging roughly 1400 yards. Blessed with lightning fast speed, Davis would notably make a 99 yard touchdown grab against the Bengals in 2004 starting 7 games at wide receiver, but not make any returns. After the season he’d bounce around but end up on New England’s roster in 2005 and Buffalo in 2006. Signed primarily for depth, these two seasons would be a wash and Davis would drift more towards the fringe.

However 2007 would see the  return of Davis, as the Houston Texans signed him in the offseason in 2007. With injuries plaguing go to receiver Andre Johnson– Davis would step into the starting line up for the team and perform surprisingly well. He’d log 583 yards receiving for the Texans and 3 touchdowns.  He’d also replace troubled and oft injured Robert Mathis at returner. Davis would be incredibly dangerous at kick returner averaging 30.3 yards a return (top 35 all time) on 32 returns. He’d also log 3 touchdowns (a league high) including two against the Jaguars that season but would miss the Pro Bowl roster. 2008 would result in Davis logging another 1200 yards from scrimmage and his always dangerous return skills would help the Texans make good field position throughout the season but injuries would begin to take their wear and tear on the receiver. In 2009 Davis would have another 782 yards from scrimmage for the Texans, but by 2010 he spent the whole season on the shelf due to a hip pointer which could be career ending. Over his career Davis has over 7,000 yards from scrimmage in 9 seasons. In early March 2011, Andre would be released by the Texans and it remains to be seen if he will return to the league.

G/Gs  104/33        Rec 156      Yds 2470      Avg  15.8      Td 17      Lg 99t  |
Kr 205      Yds 4821    Avg   23.5       Td 4         Lg 104t |
Pr  8           Yds  40       Avg   5.0          Td 0         Lg 15 |