CARDS: Fleer 1990, Game Day 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, 2022 C/o Home SENT: 10/27/21 RECEIVED: 2/13/23 (474 days) SENT: 1/25/22 RECEIVED: 2/19/22 (25 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
EJ Junior played from 1977-’80 at defensive end for Alabama.
Over his college career he had 190 tackles and 21 sacks.
He’d be the 5th overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft by the St Louis Cardinals who shifted him to OLB.
Had 49 tackles, 10 pass deflections, an interception and a sack his rookie year.
Displayed versatility seeing action at OLB and MLB.
In ’84 led the team in tackles with 99- and had 9.5 sacks, and 6 pass deflections.
His 5 interceptions in ’85 were the most by a Cardinals LB since 1956.
Ranked second on the team with 106 total tackles, 2 sacks and 8 pass deflections.
From 1986-’88, EJ was hampered by a series of injuries.
Signed by the Miami Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in 1989.
Found new life as the Dolphins designated pass rusher, posting a total of 11 sacks between 1990 and 1991.
Joined the Bucs in 1992- finishing his season with the Seahawks dressing for 5 contests.
Played one final year in 1993 for the Seahawks, dressing for 4 games, before transitioning to the team’s linebackers coach for the ’94 campaign.
Over NFL career played in 170 games- starting 120.
Worked as the Director of Player Development for the Dolphins from 1996-’98.
Spent a season with the Vikings (’03), and Jaguars (’05) as a minority intern coach.
Earned first assistant coaching gig working in the NFLE with the Rhein Fire in 2005.
Returned stateside in 2006 and served as a linebackers coach for Southwest Baptist until 2008.
Head coach at Central State (OH) from 2009-’13 finishing with a 9-45 record.
After a brief hiatus, served as defensive line coach at Delaware State from 2015-’17.
ACCOLADES:
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2012
College Football Hall of Fame
Senior Bowl Hall of Fame 2007
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2010
NFL All Rookie Team 1981
Pro Bowl 1984, ’85
NOTES:
I sent to EJ to try and get him on these two cards. After I sent to him I saw a lot of RTSes from that address. I turned around and mailed these two same cards a few months later to his new address and he kindly responded. I must have been the last mail he got before his forwarding address expired, as over a year later the original cards I sent out in 2021 came back autographed.
CARDS: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Classic 1991, Star Pics 1991 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: RECEIVED: 11/4/24 (850 days) FAILURE: TTM 2016, C/o Work
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Kanavis McGhee played OLB at Colorado from 1987-90.
He alongside fellow linebacker Alfred Williams were an imposing linebacker duo in college.
McGhee accumulated 297 tackles, 38 tackles for loss, 3 forced fumbles, and 15 sacks over 41 contests in Boulder.
3rd round pick of the New York Giants in the 1991 NFL Draft.
Started his first game at the tail end of his rookie season in place of Carl Banks, but for the majority of his time in New York, only saw action on special teams.
Suffered a knee injury in 1993, and was released by the Giants in ’94.
Played a season in Cincinatti in 1994, and closed out his career playing for his hometown HOUSTON Oilers in 1995.
Spent some time at the high school level, before coaching in the NFL Europa with the Amsterdam Admirals as a defensive assistant.
Returned to the high school ranks, and then joined Colorado as a defensive line assistant.
Currently is coaching at the high school level in the Houston area.
NOTES:
I saw a recent success or two come back for Kanavis on SCN, and I guess he decided to mail mine out as well. Near the end of my PO Box usage I started putting my home address on envelopes as well as the PO- saving this success from the unclaimed letters bin at USPS.
I got Kanavis and Keith McCants confused, as I swore the Oilers signed Kanavis much earlier than the 1995 season.
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.
tac
sac
fum
int
yds
avg
td
lg
700
132
21
3
27
9.0
1
17t
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
