NFL

Toon, Al

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, ProSet 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 3/26    Received: 11/23  (242 days)

An incredible track man who actually had great hands, Wisconsin found a steal in Al Toon where he excelled at wide receiver for the Badgers over a 4 year career. Considered a world class athlete he competed for the 1984 Olympic trials in both the triple jump and the hurdles. The most well-rounded wide receiver prospect on the board of the 1985 draft, Al went 10th to the New York Jets. (This draft was a strong draft for the position with notables Eddie Brown, Jerry Rice, Eric Martin, Andre Reed, Jessie Hester, and Steve Tasker all being drafted after him.)

After a respectable rookie season, where he posted a career high 78 yard touchdown, Al had an even better 1986 catching 85 balls for 1,176 yards and 8 touchdowns. It’d be his first AP and Pro Bowl mark. Narrowly missing the 1,000 yard mark in 1987, Toon led the NFL in receptions but still earned his second and third Pro Bowl and AP nominations for his 1987 season and his banner 1988 season, in which he had 93 receptions for 1067 yards. The 93 catches led the NFL and were a Jets record, and he was named the AFC Player of the Year. Brutal 1989 and 1990 seasons limited Toon’s production, but he rebounded in 1991 to lead the team in receptions with 74 and post 963 yards. Lingering concussions ended Al’s playing career after the 1992 season and he became one of the first players to publicly retire due to them and then by 1994 entered the league’s ‘sponsored’ concussion study program as one of its earliest patients.

Al is another great story cut short by the scourge of injury. He is a player that I speculate could have finished his career with near identical numbers to Andre Reed, if he hadn’t have suffered from so many concussions. Also Al played for some horrid Jets teams that had their share of bad quarterbacks as the team collapsed back into anonymity after their miracle 1985 run. During his playing time it was recorded that Toon received some 13 concussions while playing football.

He has suffered from post-concussion syndrome, but has not let it stop him from attempting to remain physically fit and active, and involved with the Badgers. Al was named to the 40th anniversary team of the Jets and has been inducted into the team’s ring of honor. His son, also a WR was recently drafted in the 4th round of the 2012 draft by the New Orleans Saints.

G/Gs 107/95     Rec 517    Yds  6605   Avg  12.8    Td  31   Lg   78t

College Football HoF, NFL, WLAF

Rocker, Tracy

Card: Score 1989, Score 1990, ProSet 1990
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Tracy Rocker was a monster for the Auburn Tigers from 1985-1988 at defensive tackle and finished his career there with 21 sacks, 354 tackles, and a consensus All-American. The 1989 draft was extremely deep, and although Rocker won the Outland and Lombardi Awards in 1988, it wouldn’t be until the 3rd round when the Washington Redskins called his name.

He started in 10 games his rookie season clogging up the running lanes, with his solid- if not unspectacular play, and recorded one fumble. It was good enough to earn him All-Rookie honors that year. In 1990 Tracy had 3.5 sacks in an injury shortened 7 game season. Tracy had a training camp battle with Darryl Grant and then suffered an injury. It became a game of numbers on the deep Redskins roster that Rocker ended up losing. A few teams gave him a look over, including the Dolphins, but did not make an offer.

Tracy was contacted by the fledgling WLAF in 1992. The Orlando Thunder, (who had a prolific offense but a feast or famine defense,) selected Rocker with their first round pick. He was eager to show that he still had what it took and to return to the NFL level, no matter what path he needed to take. During training camp though he slipped untouched on wet grass, and injured his knee.  Doctors later determined that Tracy needed arthroscopic knee surgery. It didn’t take long and by April, -two months after being drafted, Rocker was cut by the Thunder.

Rocker loves football, and decided to go into coaching defense and defensive line starting at the high school level that year. Tracy then moved on and has seen stints at: West Alabama, Troy State, Cincinnati, Arkansas, and Ole Miss. Eventually Tracy made his way back to his Alma Mater, Auburn, in 2009 remaining there through 2011. Rocker has also participated in the NFL coaching minority fellowship with the Colts (01) and Bucs (06). At this time, he’s returned to the pro ranks and currently coaches defensive line for the Tennessee Titans.

Despite not being successful as a player at the professional football level, Tracy Rocker is a great example of somebody who has really dug deep and overcame obstacles and adversity. Tracy was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

G/Gs 24/17   Tac N/a    Sac 3.5    Int  0   Yds  0   Avg -.-   Td 0   Lg -.-

NFL

Lafell, Brandon (2)

Cards: Score 2010 Hot Rookies, Adrenaline 2010
Acquired: In Person, 6/10/12, 610 Houston Fan Fest III
See Also: Brandon LaFell

Lafell came out with a Detroit Lions hat on to the event. I was naturally a bit shocked as he is a member of the Carolina Panthers. When I got to the front of the line and asked him he said he was wearing it because it matched his hat. I came through the line a bit later again and got the second card signed. I probably could have gotten a third but I gave the Score 2010 Rookies card away to another fan who did not bring anything of him to the event. Brandon is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the Panthers offense. Of course he is overshadowed by guys like Cam Newton and Deshawn Foster, but his speed and hands are a great asset to this young and upcoming Carolina squad. I was surprised that he was at the event. Late last year I had gotten an autographed rookie box breaker of him that set me on a card buying binge.


These are great cards. Not only do they showcase great design, they are great to get autographed and really portray LaFell in action packed poses. Both of these cards are very original looking. The Adrenaline card goes so far as to post the card number on the front and abandons the traditional mantra of putting the company logo there too. The type is strong, and there is no fade anywhere to be found on these cards near the bottom of the player. While it seems that the card companies are moving away from showcasing the players in front of crowds, I still really like both of these cards. I may need to get a few more Adrenaline autographed later on.

 

 

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.