NFL, University of Texas

Jeter, Tommy

Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: In Person 1994, Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp

Tommy Jeter played for the Texas Longhorns during the waning days of the Southwestern Conference, (which consisted at that point of a bunch of teams from Texas after Arkansas left). He’d be drafted in the 3rd round by the Philadelphia Eagles, where I’d get his autograph in West Chester in 1995.  Although he was well sized at 6-5, 285, Jeter would rarely get playing time under Rich Kotite and Ray Rhodes, and injuries took its toll on the young defensive lineman as he spent the greater part of his final season with the Eagles on IR before being released. Jeter would then sign with the Arizona Cardinals and be cut in training camp and then end up with the Panthers before retiring in 1996.

I think I got like 14 or 15 autographs on my trip to West Chester that year. My parents felt bad because I wanted to go to the Pro Football HoF but we were unable to go even though we were in the general area.  I think the biggest haul I got from this group was Herschel Walker, but Randall Cunningham completely denied me, by dropping my card on the ground outside the fence and insisting I already got one from him, – even though I hadn’t.  Training camp there was set up much the same way as Cowboys training camp, with a long metal fence that players walked by, but a lot less fans. It was interesting too because the player’s wives came out with them too, almost like they were trying to show them off to the crowd. Tommy was a really nice guy. He saw that I was wearing my high school hat, and asked me, “What I was doing here and how was Austin?”

G/GS  32/0    Tac  15    Sac   1    FF  0     Int 0   Yds 0   Avg -.-  Td 0

NFL

Buckley, Terrell

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Sky Box 1992
Acquired: TTM 1994, C/o The Green Bay Packers

When Buckley came out of Florida State, he had a lot of buzz surrounding him as the second coming of Deion Sanders; Rightfully so since he was a dazzling punt returner and cornerback. The Packers quickly nabbed him with the 5th pick of the first round of the 1992 draft. He’d have 3 picks and 4 fumble recoveries his first season, and be an electrifying punt returner. He’d average 10 yards a return and be the youngest player in the league to score a touchdown on a punt return. With luck getting quite a few Packers through the mail in those years I made a stab at Terrell Buckley in 1994, his final year with the Packers. Within a month or two I got these two back in the mail.

Buckley’s career was underrated to say the least.  After three seasons in Green Bay, he headed out for greener pastures in Miami and played there for the next 5 seasons, pulling down 22 picks and 2 touchdowns. In 2000, he’d hop ship for the Denver Broncos for an impact year with 6 interceptions, and then New England for the next two where Buckley would earn a Superbowl ring. Terrell bounced around for the next three seasons playing again for the Dolphins in 2003, the Jets in 2004 and the Giants in 2005, where he retired at the age of 34. Buckley’s statistics are surprising as he had 50 interceptions in his career, but no Pro Bowl appearances or Hall of Fame nominations to his resume. (He currently is the only defensive player in the league with 50+ interceptions not to be enshrined, ranking him 31st all time.)  After football Buckley returned to Florida State, where at the time of this post he is working on their staff as a strength and conditioning coordinator. Buckley signs his cards ‘TBuck’, a name affectionately given to him by radio and tv personality Jim Rome.

Games 209     Tac  465   Sac 2    FF 15
Int 50        Yds  793       Avg 15.9       Td  6       Lg 91T

Pr  79          Yds 748        Avg  9.4     TD 1      lg 58t

CFL, NFL

Fernandez, “Swervin’” Mervyn

Card: Fleer 1990
Acquired: Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1992

Mervyn Fernandez got a better offer so he packed his bags and headed to the Great White North of the CFL, where he became the poster child for the British Columbia Lions in 1982 winning the Western Division’s honor for the most outstanding rookie. He’d help the team win the Grey Cup in 1985 finishing a monster season up with 1727 yards and won the Most Oustanding Player award that season. In 1987 Al Davis would convince him to join the Raiders organization, where he’d play for the next 6 seasons and the burner would lead the NFL with a monster 26 yard average per catch in 1988. In 1989 he’d follow that up with 1069 yards on 57 receptions. In 1992 I’d get Swervin’ Mervyn’s autograph at Cowboys training camp along autograph alley when the Raiders came to town. He’d then head back up north in 1994 and rejoin the BC Lions for one final season and retire.

Mervyn since retirement has amassed a long line of awards from his time in the CFL, being inducted into the British Columbia Lions Wall of Fame, the Lions All-Time Dream Team and named in 2006 as one of the CFL’s Top 50 players of the modern era. Surprisingly Fernandez has not been inducted into the CFL HoF, but hopefully his time will come soon. Listed below are his Raiders statistics.

Games 86    Rec 209      Yds 3764       Avg 18.0       Td  19      Lg 85T

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

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