Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

CFL, NFL

Gaylor, Trevor

bow02 gaylorCard: Topps 2005
Acquired: 2012, Target Autograph Memorabilia Edition

Another Miami of Ohio product, from over the turn of the century to go along with notables Ben Rothlisberger and Martin Nance, -Trevor Gaylor experienced moderate success in the CFL after being drafted by the San Diego Chargers with their #3 pick of the 2000 draft. Starting 2 games his rookie season and seeing mostly scrub/ back up time, Trevor made 13 receptions for 182 yards and a 62 yard touchdown.  His 2nd year in the league, he’d improve marginally on his numbers with 14 receptions for 212 yards.  Traded to the Falcons in 2002, Gaylor proved to be a nice budget find by Atlanta, making 25 receptions for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns, while starting only 2 games.  He didn’t get any playing time in 2003, and was a surprising release prior to the 2004 season. The enigma about Gaylor was that he could make the tough reception, but dropped the routine pass. Signed by the Lions after tryouts with them and the Bengals, Trevor lost out on one of the final wide receiver spots in camp late that season and was waived.

The Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL made their pitch to Trevor, and he signed with them in 2005.  His rookie season he had 929 yards receiving and 74 receptions, in 18 contests, winning the 93rd Grey Cup. He wound his way into Coach Danny Maciocia’s doghouse the following season, and his numbers would dwindle down to 24 receptions for 382 yards and 2 touchdowns. In his final season in 2007, Trevor recorded 56 receptions for 644 yards and 4 touchdowns.

NFL  G/Gs 34/7    Rec  52    Yds   784   Avg 15.1   Td 4    Lg 74t
CFL   Rec  152     Yds  1955     Avg  12.9        Td  11     Lg 63

NFL, University of Texas

Nobis, Tommy “Mr. Falcon” (1943-2017)

udlgd97 nobis to78 nobis

Cards: Topps 1971, Topps 1977, Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2    Received : 3/6 (58 days)

Tommy Nobis is considered one of the greatest linebackers in the University of Texas’ history winning the Outland and Maxwell trophies in 1965 as the best all around linebacker in the country. (What was even more amazing was that Nobis also was the offense’s starting guard as well.) A proven star against big name talent, Nobis helped the Longhorns win the 1963 Cotton Bowl for the college’s first College Football National Championship against Roger Staubach and Navy. Nobis later helped the Longhorns defeat famed quarterback Joe Namath and Alabama in 1965 in the Orange Bowl.

Tommy was wooed by both the NFL and the AFL after the 1965 season. In one of his more grander schemes during the AFL’s renegade days, Houston Oilers owner Bud Adams courted Nobis on board an airplane flight over Texas. Nobis was the #1 overall pick of the NFL Atlanta Falcons, and the #5 pick overall of the AFL Houston Oilers. Tommy opted to sign with the Falcons, becoming their first ever draft choice and earning his nickname, “Mr. Falcon”.

to71 nobisNobis immediately made an impact for the team, recording an unofficial and unprecedented, 294 tackles his rookie season, and earning NEA NFL Rookie of the Year honors.  A lone bright spot on a very lousy team, Tommy had a motor that just wouldn’t quit, and he anchored the Falcons defense down almost single-handedly in those early years. He actually understood and could call defensive formations, covered the run or pass with ease, and hit like a Mack truck. Tommy finished his NFL career with 5 Pro Bowl nominations and one AP nod. He retired after the 1977 season. Tommy’s numbers are all the more impressive considering that he had 2 seasons fairly marred by knee injuries.  Very few football fans talk about Nobis on the measure of the other greats of the late 60s, but during that time, he was considered one of the best in the business. What guys like Butkus had over Nobis was big market exposure, and despite Mr. Falcon’s efforts, he has never gotten into the NFL Hall of Fame. In fact Butkus and Nobis had very similar numbers, and played for astonishingly equal bad teams. Punishing runningback Larry Czonka once even stated, “I’d rather play against Dick Butkus, than Tommy Nobis.”

Nobis’ number 60 is officially retired at the University of Texas alongside Earl Campbell‘s number 20. It comes out of retirement semi-periodically when the team has had an outstanding talent at the position that they wish to honor, such as Britt Hager during the late 80s and Derrick Johnson more recently during the early 2000’s. A member of the NFL All-1960s team, Tommy has also been honored by the Atlanta Falcons as well, and worked in their front office for many years.

Tac  1183      Sac N/a     Fum 13       Int 12     Yds 182   Avg     Td 2    Lg  41

UPDATE 12/13/17- Tommy Nobis passed away today at the age of 74. No immediate cause of death was provided.

NFL

Montgomery, Alton

aprks90 montgomeryCards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Score Supplemental 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent:  1/22     Received: 1/31  (9 days)

Alton Montgomery played collegiately for the University of Houston during the final years of the SWC, garnering a reputation as a physical headhunting defender, and earning a nomination for the Jim Thorpe Award. A first team SWC choice in 1988 and 1989, he played his first two years at Northwest Missississippi Junior College where he made 14 interceptions. Montgomery is well remembered for the curbstomping that Houston inflicted on the University of Texas that year; A game in which he recorded 10 tackles, 4 sacks, and 4 hits behind the line in a 47-9 drubbing. He also had a memorable 72 yard interception return of a Timm Rosenbach pass in the 1988 Aloha Bowl against Washington State.

Montgomery parlayed his accolades into a late second round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 1990 draft. The pick seemed a slightlysco90 montgomery odd one, as the team was already set with Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater playing safety, so the team listed him as ‘defensive back’ initially before officially giving him a cornerback designation. Montgomery’s combine results showed that he had great change of direction, which led scouts to peg him as an excellent man to man defender. He came along quickly as a rookie, as he racked up 37 tackles, and intercepted 2 passes to tie for the team lead. Montgomery also saw some spot time at returner, averaging 20.4 yards on 14 returns, including a 59 yarder. Over the next two seasons the team used him sparingly at defensive back and more for the return game.  As the team cleaned house after the departure of Dan Reeves in 1992, Montgomery hit the free agency market and signed with the Atlanta Falcons, playing there through 1995.  He is best known by Falcons fans, for returning a Scott Mitchell interception 71 yards for a touchdown against the Detroit Lions as the team won 34-22 in his final season in the league. Currently, he lives in the greater Atlanta area and works in human resources.

sco90sup montgomeryAlton is another member of the Action Packed Rookies 1990 club that I was after. I was pleased to add Montgomery to the Hall in a very short amount of time. An absolutely marvelous photo of the safety probably doing punt return duties, the autograph really shows up well on the embossed and dark canvas. The Score 1990 card shows him in his college threads, and while it is not in an action pose, it still resonates a strong presence with Montgomery’s stance. Alton’s Score Supplemental 1990 card is an exciting one, and easily stood out from what felt like an inferior Pro Set offering.

G/Gs  68/6     Tac  114    Sac 3.0   Int 3     Yds 114    Avg  38.0      Td   1    Lg 71t
Kr  65        Yds  1351         Avg 20.8        Td 0       Lg 64