Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL

Pedersen, Jacob

leaf12 pedersenCard: Leaf Draft 2014
Acquired: Box Breaker, 2014.

Jacob was a 2013 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection at Wisconsin, where he racked up 541 yards on 39 receptions and 3 touchdowns. His 17 career touchdowns, are most ever for a Wisconsin tight end- a tall order, considering names like Owen Daniels and  Graham Garrett both proceeded him there and went on to become productive pros in the NFL. For his frame, Pedersen gives it his all on blocking downs, and has great hands, locating the ball in traffic and catching the off-errant throw, but needs to put on more bulk to survive the wear and tear of a full NFL season. After the draft Pedersen signed a Free Agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons.

NFL, usfl

Gagliano, Bob ‘Goose’

to90 lionsCards: Topps 1990 Lions, Score 1990, Fleer 1990
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Work
Sent: 10/22/14     Received: 1/23/15 (90 days)
Failure: 2011, C/o Home

The Goose, as Gagliano is affectionately known by the Detroit Lions, earned his nickname during the team’s late season surge in 1989 under head coach Wayne Fontes. The Lions were bad – very bad, and the 1989 season started out like any other with 1 win in 9 games, but things changed in week 10.  The team rallied and won 6 of their next 7 contests. Gagliano was a big part of that going 4-3 as a starter, replacing the oft injured Rodney Peete. Sure his numbers were not all that sexy, throwing twice as much interceptions as touchdowns in the Silver Stretch Offense of the Run ‘N Shoot. When Gagliano was on though, the Lions won in exciting fashion, but when he wasn’t Bob failed to post above a 60 QB rating.

flr90 gaglianoIn 1990, Bob continued to battle Peete at quarterback for the starting job, frequently coming in as a change of pace. He’d start 9 games that season and throw for a career high 10 touchdowns. Gagliano was allowed to sign via free agency with the Chargers in 1991, starting game in 1992.  For the next three seasons Bob served as an insurance policy for the Falcons (1993), 49ers (1994) and Packers (1995).

sco90 gaglianoBefore the Goose’s time in Detroit, he was originally a 12th round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1982. After getting no traction on the roster through 2 seasons, He then played for the rival USFL Denver Gold in 1984 and 1985. Gagliano returned to the NFL in 1986. He was signed by the San Fransisco 49ers and started one game as a scab player.  In 1988 he also spent time on the rosters of the Houston Oilers and Indianapolis Colts.

Bob Gagliano is a great piece of NFL trivia.  He is one of only three starting quarterbacks to play for the San Fransisco 49ers during the 1980s- alongside Joe Montana and Steve Young.  That’s some great company to be in!

G/Gs 32/13   Att 486   Comp 289    Yds 3431    Pct  51.2    Td 17     Int 27    Rat 62.7 |
Rush 93     Yds 352    Avg 3.8   Td  4   lg 22

NFL, WLAF

Baker, Tony (2)

pset91 baker LLultwlaf92 tbaker PromoCards: Pro Set 1991 WLAF League Leader, Ultimate WLAF 1992 Galaxy Team card, Ultimate WLAF 1992 Promo Card
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o home
Sent: 1/29    Received: 3/13
See also:  Tony Baker

ultwlaf92 galaxyOutside of Stan Gelbaugh, I think the card companies were betting early on that Tony Baker was going to be a star of the young WLAF. Counting all the ones I’ve had signed, I think Baker had 8 cards or so.

I had gotten the Ultimate WLAF promo card inside a copy of Gametime Magazine back during a game back in 1992. There was very little difference between this card and the regular issue card. The regular issue had the team flag in purple, not orange, and the back promoted their contest for a $1,000,000- (that I seriously question whether or not anybody actually won).  I had gotten Kerwin Bell previously in person, but otherwise there was Gelbaugh, Eric Wilkerson, Pete Mandley, and Peter Najarian that I was aware of.

I had gotten Tony back in 2010, and realized after I had dug up the lion’s share of my cards, that I had missed one or two. I threw in the Galaxy team card- since he symbolized the team most to me in those early years, and sent it out with an extra promo for him to keep. Much to Tony’s credit he signed these 3 cards for me in about 40 days.