NFL

Byars, Keith

Cards: ProSet 1989, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Work
Sent:  1/13     Received: 2/16   (34 days)

Bruising tailback Keith Byars was drafted from Ohio State by the Buddy Ryan regime in Philadelphia after losing out on the Heisman Trophy race to Doug Flutie in 1985. A do all back, Byars was an absolutely devestating receiver out of the backfield and a solid blocker.  His effectiveness was limited by lisfranc injuries and coach Buddy Ryan used this to scare other teams away from him so they could take him with the 10th overall pick of the 1986 draft. Although injured from time to time, Keith never failed to give it his all, rarely running out of bounds to avoid a hit, playing with such offensive weapons Keith Jackson and Randall Cunningham. From time to time Byars would be used to make trick plays, throwing 6 touchdowns in his career. In his final season with the team in 1992, Byars would amazingly line up at runningback, fullback, and tightend in almost an H-Back role.  After 7 solid seasons for the Eagles, Byars would sign with the Dolphins as a free agent in 1993 where he’d make the transition to fullback playing there for over 3 seasons. Keith would then sign with the Patriots playing for two seasons and making his only SuperBowl appearance there before one season with the Jets in 1998. After football Keith has been involved with broadcasting and enjoys coaching high school football in Boca Raton, Florida.

G/Gs 189/161     Rush 865      Yds  3109        Avg 3.6      Td 23      Lg 77     |
Rec 610     Yds 5661        Avg 9.3         Td 31      Lg 60

NFL

Edwards, Dixon

Cards: ProSet 1991, Classic 1991
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991, 1992

Neither of these cards probably do Dixon Edwards enough justice. The ProSet pose feels obviously staged and faked, while the Classic 1991 is just one of the ugliest cards I’ve ever seen. Whoever convinced the Classic card corporation that grey on grey leopard print on a football card would be good looking should be thrown down a hole.

Dixon Edwards was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1991 draft with a pick that was directly related to the Herschel Walker trade. When we got his autograph at training camp he had this very odd hair style and pencil thin mustache. A rangy linebacker with good speed and coverage ability, Edward’s strength was playing weakside lienbacker, but he had the ability to play inside, outside, or the middle linebacker position. He’d contribute at left linebacker and special teams for the Dallas Cowboys organization through their SuperBowl years starting for the team from 1993-1995 after two years as a backup. After his stint in Dallas, Edwards would play for the Viking organization from 1996-1998 where he would excel. In 1999 Dixon would then sign with the Dolphins where Jimmy Johnson was building ‘Dallas South’. Edwards would be diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in training camp and would retire soon thereafter.

G/Gs  120/90        Tac 347       Sac 7.5        Fum  6       Int  2       Yds  54        Avg 27.0       Td 1         Lg 36T

NFL

Tippett, Andre

Cards: ProSet 1991, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

The New England Patriots when they were the trapped in the doldrums of the AFC East were always very good with their fans about signing cards. Andre Tippett played both defensive end and linebacker over his college and pro career. Complicated by the fact that glitz and glamor linebacker Lawrence Taylor was drafted a season before him and a quiet rookie season in 1982, Tippett’s versatile abilities were often overshadowed and overlooked. Once acclimated to the pro game and inserted into a proper ‘tweener’ role, Tippett quickly established himself as a sackmaster, making the ProBowl in 5 seasons, named All-Pro twice, and was named NFL Defensive player of the year in 1985. Humbly and quietly, Andre continued to compile an impressive resume, making 18.5 sacks in 1984, and 16.5 in 1985- the highest back to back season sack numbers in NFL history. While his lone SuperBowl appearance in 1985 ended in defeat to the vaunted Chicago Bears, Tippett continued to crush opposing quarterbacks from his LOLB position until injuries took their toll. A catastrophic shoulder injury took his complete 1989 season away and a good portion of 1990, where he received consideration for comeback player of the year honors (losing to Barry Word). Tippett would finish his stellar 12 year career in 1993, as the Patriots all-time leading sacker with 100 sacks and 17 fumbles.

Since his playing career has ended Andre has moved into the front offices of the Patriots organization working as part of their community affairs and outreach program. He was enshrined by his college – Iowa in 2007, and in 2008 after a very long wait- Andre Tippett was inducted into the Pro Football HoF. Andre is also a member of the NFL’s All 1980’s team, the Patriots 35th anniversary team and the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999. He enjoys coaching Pop Warner football in his spare time, playing golf, is a renowned 4th degree black belt, and is a Baptist convert to Judaism. In 2011 he was honored with the announcement of New England’s 2nd round pick during the NFL draft.

G/Gs  151/139      Tac  N/a        Sac 100          Fum 17      Int  1   Yds 42    Avg 42.0    Td 0    lg 42

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