NFL, WLAF

Elkins, Mike


Card: Proset WLAF 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, Houston Oilers Training Camp

Mike Elkins went to Wake Forest, where he raised the Demon Deacons from the dead. His impressive play allowed him to parlay his game into the 34th pick, (near the top of the second round) for the Kansas City Chiefs. The 1989 draft was an incredible draft, and Elkins was thought to perhaps be the quarterback of the future for the team. He’d be the second quarterback taken off the board after Troy Aikman (who went #1 overall), but after Aikman, the only names that came off the board that year that was worth mentioning at quarterback was Detroit quarterback Rodney Peete and San Diego draftee Billy Joe Tolliver. In fact, combining all the statistics of the quarterbacks in that draft, does not even come close to Aikman’s final numbers. In essence this draft- despite the names that came out had one Super Bowl winning quarterback and two journeymen. That is really it.

Elkins was the consensus number two by scouts, with his strong arm, quick release, and intelligence that impressed the scouts. Yet the view of him that emerged was of a raw talent from a small school, and an enthusiastic kid who toiled in two different offensive schemes—pro-style, followed by the option—during the four seasons he played at Wake. Elkins attempted 2 passes in his NFL career throwing one for a pick. He would be cut after the 1990 season.

He’d sign with the WLAF playing for the Sacramento Surge in 1991 in a quarterback rotation with Ben Bennett. Mike had a relatively decent season for the team throwing for 13 touchdowns on 312 attempts. This would be the highlight of his professional football career. After his lone season in the WLAF, Elkins signed with the Cleveland Browns where he played 1 season, before the Oilers signed him in 1992 where I got his autograph on his WLAF card at training camp. He never attempted another pass in the NFL.

Although not drafted in the 1st round, many consider Elkins’ career a bust because of his lofty rating behind Troy Aikman and his high second round card. Elkins at last glance since football has a small band and lives in Central Texas.

Att 312   Comp 153   Yds 2068   Pct 49%
Td 13     Int 13     Rat 67.1   Lg  60t

NFL

Wallace, Aaron

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1990, 1992 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Aaron Wallace was part of the Texas A&M “Blitz Brothers” back in the late 80’s with John Roper. Setting a Texas A&M record for career sacks (42), he was selected as a Lombardi semifinalist in 1989. His critical 10 yard sack of Andre Ware set the tempo and preserved a victory over the high scoring Houston Cougar offense. Combining great size (6’3″, 245) and speed, Aaron was a pass rushing force from the outside his rookie season, and he ranked second among rookies with 9 sacks after being drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Raiders. He’d be named to numerous All-Rookie teams after the season and led the team in forced fumbles.

Inexplicably, Al Davis had the team sign Winston Moss and Wallace was relegated to even more backup duty in his next season. Finally allowed to start in 1992  Wallace started 36 games for the Raiders over the next 3 seasons, before he was relegated to backup duty again in 1995. Aaron would retire after 8 seasons with the Raiders in 1998. Since then he’s done some coaching at the high school level and travels to San Diego to watch his son play regularly. Below you’ll find his stats, plus a video when he sacked Andre Ware and ripped off his helmet.

G/Gs 102/36   Tac n/a   Sac 21   Fum n/a     Int  0  Yds  0  Avg -.-   Td 0   Lg –

Wallace takes out Andre Ware in that 1989 game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac9AI-mpsMM

NFL

Montgomery, Greg (1964-2020)

Card: Topps Stadium Club 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, Houston Oilers Training Camp

An incredible punter with a booming leg, Greg Montgomery rarely, if ever, got his due. Try it on a prolific offense where you never got the chance to punt.

Drafted in the 3rd round in the 1988 draft out of Michigan State where he set numerous records, Montgomery was inserted right away into Jerry Glanville‘s raucous cast and crew of personalities. His rookie season would be his worst- at 38.8 yards a punt. In fact, over the next 8 seasons of Montgomery’s stellar career, he’d never average below 42 yards. Most notably, Greg averaged an incredible 46.9 yards a punt in 1992 (but he didn’t have enough punts to qualify because the Oilers offense scored so often). -This tied him for the highest punting yard average during the 1990s, while his 43.6 yard career average is one of the highest over that period.

Seeking a big dollar contract from the Oilers after his All-Pro season in 1993 in which he averaged 45.6 yards a kick, the Oilers opted to find another punter. Greg was cut, and signed with the Lions where he played one season in 1994 averaging 44 yards a punt. Out of football that following season, he’d return to play for two more seasons punting for the Baltimore Raviens in 1996 and 1997, before retiring at the age of 33.

G/SPYDSAVGBLKLG
142/142 5242283143.6877

UPDATE 9/4/20- Greg passed away on August 22nd, 2020 at the age of 55. The cause of death was not revealed.

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