NFL

Duncan, Curtis ‘CD’


Cards: Pacific 1991,Pinnacle 1992,Topps 1992,Topps 1988, Score 1991, Proset 1990
Acquired: In Person, 1991,1993. TTM 2010 c/o home.
Sent: 2/15   Received: 2/26  (11 days)
See Also: Curtis Duncan (2), Curtis Duncan (3)

A 10th round selection out of Northwestern, nobody really gave Curtis a chance to make the Houston Oilers’ roster in 1987 but he ended up contributing for a 7 solid seven seasons. Considered the quietest member of the Run and Shoot wide receivers, Curtis was the ‘hands man’ of the group of Ernest Givins, Haywood Jeffrires, and Drew Hill/ Webster Slaughter. Never actually going over the 1,000 yard plateau, his best season came in 1992 when he had 954 yards on 82 receptions.  He’d play out the 1993 season with the Oilers, and then play through the preseason the next year with the Packers. (Among his more notorious accomplishments is holding the NFL record for receivers of most catches without a touchdown, at 106- probably since broken.) Duncan is now a member of the Houston Texans Ambassador club- (spokesmen for the organization that appear at a variety of local events to increase public interest in the Texans) and also plays golf and writes poetry in his spare time.

When Duncan first started, he was a touchdown threat every time he touched the ball his rookie season. After his rookie season, he settled into his role as the possession receiver. By the end of his career he was more comparable to Kelvin Martin only occasionally running the deep route. CD was also pretty good on Tecmo Super Bowl. The game always had him set up to go deep and you could just bomb to him all day long.

Curtis signed four cards for me in near record time. The inscription from Matt 6:33. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Games 102     Rec 322    Yds 3935    Avg 12.2   Td 20   Lg 72

CFL

Burgess, Tom


Cards: All World CFL 1991
Acquired: TTM c/o the CFL

Tom Burgess was a prolific passer in college playing for tiny Colgate university in 1985 where he received the Andy Kerr trophy for the team’s most valuable player, and  also to the Colgate Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Undrafted by the NFL, Burgess continued to follow his dream of playing professional football to the CFL where he played for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1986-1987. He’d then spend roughly two seasons each with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Ottawa Rough Riders again, and finally finishing out his career with the Roughriders (again) in 1994-1995. Burgess played in two Grey Cups, winning it in 1989 and earning the MVP Honor in 1990.

After retiring to Phelps, New York Tom was inducted into the Roughriders plaza of honor in 2009.

Games N/a    Att 4034    Comp  2118      Pct  52.5%
Yds 30308       Td  190      Int 104      Rat 82.1

NFL

Smith, Steve “Rhino” (1964-2021)

Card: Skybox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

As a big fan of the sport, I literally carry every card of every player I can find to camp. On occasion I’m asked, “Why do you have that guy’s card?” I was asked that exact question before I got Steve’s autograph back in 1993 at Cowboys training camp. There’s a few reasons why I do that, but the most prevalent is I love the sport, and by getting a player’s autograph I am honoring my memory of the sport with them. In a way players I get the autographs of are my signed draft choices. Some are future prospects, or have a special place already in my mind, or some like Steve Smith, have a purpose or a need to educate us after their playing days are over.

Initially at Penn State, Smith was a runningback but because of his tenacious blocking and depth at the position, he was converted to fullback where he played the remainder of his career in football and was the team captain of their National Champion Team in 1986. (Not expecting to be drafted, Steve was in the shower when the Raiders came a calling in the 3rd round of the 1987 draft with fullbacks being a dime a dozen.) Despite his initial impressions Steve would see a significant role in the offense as not only a blocker but a short yardage back and receiver. He garnered the nickname ‘Rhino’ from his teammates, and scored 3 touchdowns in 1988. In 1989 he’d meet a Raider cheerleader, that Steve would eventually marry. After playing with the Raiders for 7 seasons, Steve signed with the Seattle Seahawks, where he finished his career in 1995.

After football, Steve was struck with what he hoped initially was Lyme disease (when he started suffering symptoms in 2002,) but over the years has been unfortunately ALS, or Lou Geherig’s Disease.  Steve fought nobly and courageously with his wife steadfast by his side. (Lou Geherig himself lasted only two years after the initial diagnosis, but Steve fought it for almost 20 years.) Many of his friends and former teammates came to his aid over the years, such as DJ Dozier, Howie Long and Shane Conlan.

Steve Smith was once quoted as stating that “God has a purpose that has brought me to this point,” and perhaps it is to educate us about the increasing proof that ALS could be linked to concussions, as Steve was a  focus of an episode of  “Real Sports” on HBO documenting his life and daily struggle.

While Steve welcomed letters, donations, and words of encouragement, he had been unable to physically sign for many years. It is safe to assume that his wife had been ghost signing for him since at least 2010- if not further back. 

Games 128   Att 429     Yds 1627    Avg 3.8     Td 9    Lg  21   |
Rec 131   Yds 1250    Avg 9.5    Td 13    Lg 45

UPDATE  11/20/21- Steve passed away today after a lengthy battle with Lou Geherig’s Disease. He is survived by his wife and two children.

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