NFL

Meads, Johnny

Cards: Topps 1990, Fleer Ultra 1991, Pacific 1991, ProSet 1991, Score 1991
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1991, TTM C/o The Tennessee Titans 2010
Sent: 4/3 Received: 4/16  (13 days)

Okay, here’s a guy with a middle name worthy of a linebacker, Johnny “Sand” Meads. Thibodaux, LA is home to tiny Nicholls State, and the Houston Oilers would call Johnny’s name near the top of the 3rd round. This draft was a good defensively at linebacker and yielded names such as Carl Banks, Wilber Marshall, Gary Reasons, and Fredd Young. In fact it was so good 3 of the Oilers starting linebackers came out of this draft. Robert Lyles, John Grimsley and… Johnny Meads. The draft really represented defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville‘s vision for the Houston Oilers- an attacking defense led by quick and aggressive linebackers. In 1986 Johnny would score 111 tackles from his outside linebacker position and record 4 sacks. He also had extra value. At 6’2″ 232 with a wide wingspan, Johnny was a great special teamer, blocking 2 punts in 1989. By 1990, Meads was the senior member of the Oilers defense and made the transition from the 3-4 to the 4-3 defense anchoring down his starting position at linebacker. Johnny would be named defensive player of the week for his 1990 performance against the Saints in which he recorded 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception and 3 forced fumbles and amazingly he’d play most of the season with a broken thumb in a cast, and would still make 95 tackles and 5 forced fumbles.  1991 would see his final season as a starter, as the team was determined to go younger at the position. They’d bring in Eddie Robinson and Joe Bowden the next season and by the 4th week of 1992- he’d be cut and find himself on the roster of the Redskins for two weeks before retiring. Since football Meads has worked in the Tennessee Titans organization and is currently a scout for the organization. I’d get the Fleer 1991 Ultra autographed while at camp that year and he’d kindly sign the others for me in 2010. Great autograph with the way the “M” sweeps under the rest of his last name. The points of the “M” indicate his alertness, drive, and intelligence. A perfect linebacker autograph.

G/Gs  119/97    Tac  528     Sac 23.5    Fum 1    Int 1     Yds 32   Avg 32.0   Td 0    Lg 32

NFL, XFL

Golic, Bob

Card: Action Packed 1990
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991

After an All American career in 1977 and 1978, big Bob Golic was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the 2nd round of the 1979 draft from Notre Dame. At 6-2, 264, during some points he played right inside linebacker in the Patriots’ 3-4 defense. After a not so spectacular 3 seasons- where he started only 12 games, Bob would sign with Cleveland where he’d find his home amazingly as a space eating nose tackle. Golic would play the majority of his career in Cleveland making 14 sacks over 7 seasons.  Bob would be named to the ProBowl from 1985-1987 and AP in 1985 and 1986. He’d start 97 games for them before leaving Plan B for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1989.  The Raiders would move Bob to defensive tackle where he’d start for another 2 seasons before an injury plagued finale in 1992.

Bob after retirement went into acting and broadcasting. He’d play a stint on the TV show “Saved By the Bell”, was into talk radio as well as did commentary for the XFL and recently, opened a sports bar and grille in Cleveland. Bob Golic also is the older brother of former Philadelphia Eagle and host of “Mike & Mike in the Morning”, Mike Golic.

Nice, big broad strokes on the signature with a full press on the autograph the whole way through. They say sometimes you can tell things about a personality by their handwriting and Bob has a gigantic ‘G’ for ‘Golic’. The lower zone of the ‘G’ (the huge lower part of the letter,) and the straight line are indicative of his confidence and his independence. The  shape of his ‘o’ in his first and last name are indicative of his openness and willingness to talk. Interesting stuff.

G/Gs 187/160   Tac N/a    Sac  22.5    Fum 5    Int  1   Yds 7    Avg  7.0   Td  1   Lg 7T

NFL

Butts, Marion

Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Fleer 1990, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent: 2/3  Received: 3/26  (51 days)

The Chargers found a steal when they reached in the top of the 7th round of the infamous 1989 draft for little known Marion Butts out of Florida State. In his rookie season in 1989 he’d come in off the bench during the last 5 games rumbling for  683 yards and 9 touchdowns, including a game in which he single-handedly dominated the Chiefs rushing for 176 yards. Slipping under the radar when he was drafted, many had pegged Butts as purely a blocking fullback or perhaps special teams hitter (with his 6-1 248 frame)  however his style would define the Chargers run game for nearly 5 seasons. Marion’s sophomore season would prove that his surprising rookie season was not a fluke as he galloped for a career high 1225 yards making his first ProBowl.  Butts would follow this season up with an additional ProBowl in 1991- but would only start 8 games. With the emergence of Natrome Means, Butts would play for the Chargers through the 1993 season and finish up his career there with around 4300 yards. In 1994 Marion would hop over to play for Bill Parcells and the New England Patriots helping the team make the playoffs with his stout running and 1995 would see Marion’s final season played with the vagabond Houston Oilers where he started 2 games and retired after the season’s conclusion. Since football Butts has tried his hand at coaching the sport at the high school level.

Marion is apparently a great through the mail signer and although I had to wait sometime, he graciously signed 4 cards for me. Butts had some great cards, and the ProSet franchise really framed his running style well. The Tecmo SuperBowl franchise represented him well. One of the vaunted and feared ‘popcorn’ runningbacks, (Heyward, Mack, and Okoye also come to mind) you could literally run at or dive at Butts and he would throw you up in the air like popcorn.

G/Gs 104/73    Rush 1345   Yds  5185   Avg 3.9    Td  43    Lg  52 |
Rec  68    Yds  471    Avg 6.9   Td  1   Lg  46

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