Category Archives: NFL

NFL

O’Neal, Leslie

CARD: Pro Set 1990
ACQUIRED: 2020, Gift

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Leslie played DT for Oklahoma State, where he anchored some of the best defenses in that college’s history playing at the school from 1982-’85.
  • He finished his college career with 34 sacks, 393 tackles, and 47 tackles for loss.
  • 8th overall pick by the San Diego Chargers in 1986.
  • Coaches identified his abilities to rush the passer, and kicked him outside to defensive end.
  • Saw action in 13 starts, contributing 12.5 sacks, 82 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions.
  • Set Chargers record with 5 sacks in a game against the Dallas Cowboys that year.
  • Blew out knee in 1987 and spent the entire year on IR.
  • In 1989, as the Chargers converted to a 3-4 O’Neal saw action primarily at ROLB.
  • Returned to form with a 12.5 sack season and 96 tackles, followed by a 13.5 sack, 81 tackle performance in ’90.
  • In ’92, again moved back to RDE, and this time saw a career high 17.0 sacks and 78 tackles.
  • From 1993 to ’95 O’Neal tallied 12.0, 12.5, 12.0 sacks, respectively.
  • Joined the Rams in 1996, posting 17 total sacks and 97 tackles over two seasons.
  • Finished his career on the Chiefs, playing his final two years in the league there (1998, ’99).
  • Added another 10 sacks and 73 tackles to his resume before retiring.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 1986
  • San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame
  • San Diego Chargers 40th Anniversary Team
  • San Diego Chargers 50th Anniversary Team
  • All Pro 1990, ’92, ’94
  • Pro Bowl 1989-’90, 1992-’95
  • Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
  • Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor

NOTES:

Leslie has been one of these players I’ve been after for many years. He’s got some set needs I keep staring at, particularly the Action Packed Rookies 1992 card. Playing on some really talented defenses but bad Chargers teams, probably took their toll on him and his HoF chances. A dominating player, I’ve known a few people who’ve gotten his autograph in person as he loves dispensing his knowledge to players on even a semi-pro level. He currently is a motivational speaker and OSU annually hands out a trophy in his honor.

Again my friend Bryan came through for me on this one. He sent me a care package one week thanking me for being his friend, keeping the autograph group alive, and also for helping him on some autographs. I haven’t heard from him in a while now as he’s dipped back off the radar. I hope he is okay.

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NFL

Brown, Nathan

CARD: Score 2009 Gold Zone Inscriptions
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • QB Nathan Brown is sorta a folk hero at Central Arkansas.
  • In his senior campaign he threw 31 TDs to just 4 picks, on 255 of 376 passing.
  • As starting QB from 2005-’08, Brown threw for 10,558 yards and 100 touchdowns in his career- posting a 30-10 record as a starter.
  • Set and broke many of the records for the school, and was the first UCA player to go to the East-West Game.
  • An UDFA after the 2009 draft, he’d spend time with both the Jaguars and Saints.
  • Nathan quickly jumped back to his alma mater as a QB Coach in 2010.
  • He then worked up to OC in 2014, before ultimately taking over the head coaching reins at the school in 2018.
NFL

Gruber, Paul (2) ‘Groobs’

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Fleer 1990, Topps 1990, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2019, C/o Home
SENT: 11/23 RECEIVED: 12/5 (12 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I had gotten Paul through the Canton Acquisition way back in 2013, and posted it almost immediately to my feed. After many years I pulled out these cards and decided to send to him, knocking off all my set needs in one fell swoop. -Gruber is very kind to the TTM community and signed every card.

My friends and I used to call him ‘Hans’- after the titular bad guy from the film ‘Die Hard’. We’d frequently say, “SHOOT DA GLASS!”, When Paul was mentioned in any format or when we were playing Tecmo Super Bowl. -Those were the days.