Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL, University of Texas

Metcalf, Eric (2)

pset89 metcalfap90 metcalfsco90 metcalf HC

Cards: Score 1990 Hot Card, ProSet 1989, Action Packed 1990, Fleer 1995

Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  4/4  Received: 4/21  (17 days)
See Also: Eric Metcalf
Failure: TTM 1992, C/o The Cleveland Browns

With these four cards, I pretty much have knocked Eric Metcalf’s cards off my list- that is his Browns cards. Getting Eric’s autograph in any other uniform other than a Browns uniform would be like asking for Brett Favre on a Jets card to me. When I ran out to get Eric at Third Base a few years ago, I grabbed as many cards as I could, but didn’t have these, since three of them were lost in the mail all those years ago.  I had forgotten how nice these cards that I missed out on were.I reloaded and waited for a suitable time to shoot these cards out. Eric is very good to TTM fans- at least since I scolded him about it a few years ago. He’s one of my favorites from my childhood, so it was fitting I come around for a TTM hit.

Eric’s been busy in Seattle since returning there. He’s been involved in coaching track and field, most recently joining the staff at Washington as a volunteer assistant for horizontal jumping. Eric had an amazing track career at UT, winning the NCAA Championship in the long jump in 1986, and again in 1988.  A four-time All-American and that still holds the Texas school record for the outdoor long jump with a best of 27-8.25, Eric qualified for the finals of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials, placing eighth. 

 

CFL, NFL

Hill, Kahlil

Card: SP Authentics 2002
Acquired:  Target Authentic Autograph Memorabilia

Kahlil Hill was a 2002 6th round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons from the University of Iowa, where he displayed consistency, tallying at least a catch in all 35 contests he was active for. At the end of his career for the Hawkeyes, he recorded 152 receptions, 1892 yards, and 15 touchdowns and also received the Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Player of the Year Honors in 2001.  Hill provided quarterbacks a large, slender target, at 6-3, 195, but his 40 speed didn’t  showcase his game speed that well, so he slipped to the Falcons as the 16th best rated receiver. Unable to crack the Falcons squad in ’02 after playing in one game, he spent his time on the rosters of the Saints, Lions, and Bills through 2004.   Kahlil experienced some mild success when he went to the CFL to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2005 and 2006 as a punt returner and back up receiver. A brief off-season with the Jags later in 2006, returned him to the CFL this time as a member of the Roughriders in 2007, and finally the British Columbia Lions in 2008 before he retired.

NFL, usfl

Zendejas, Tony “The Z”

flr90 zendejaspset90 zendejaspset89 zendejassco89sup zendejasap92 zendejas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cards: Score Supplemental 1989, ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Fleer 1990, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 10/31            Received:  12/13     (43 days)

The Zendejas clan has had an impactful history on the league during the 80s and 90s, as Tony has been one of four members of the family (Max, Louis, and Joaquin) to play in NFL. Of Mexican descent, Tony eventually landed at the University of Nevada at Reno. After setting records at the school he was picked up by the Los Angeles Express of the USFL in 1983.  He’d play in the league until its implosion, and be drafted by the Washington Redskins in the USFL Supplemental Draft in 1985.

The Redskins immediately turned around and traded his rights to the Houston Oilers, who had inconsistency at the position with Florian Kempf over the past 2 previous seasons.  The Z took the starting job and quickly established himself as one of the best kickers in the league.  Zendejas stayed with the Oilers for the next 5 seasons through short lived Hugh Campbell era, the Jerry Glanville years, and briefly into the Jack Pardee era. Things were looking good until Tony cracked his fibia against the Saints during the 1990 season- a year in which he was off to a surprisingly slow start. After completing his rehab and being given a clean bill of health, the Oilers left him surprisingly exposed in free agency.  Z signed with the Los Angeles Rams (,replacing longtime barefooted kicker and franchise leading scorer, Mike Lansford). The Oilers in the meantime were left in the lurch and opened the job to a competition between Teddy Garcia and Ian Howfield. While the Oilers struggled all season at kicker, Tony ironically went on to hit 17-17 field goals that year. An unusually strong and accurate kicker from over 50 yards, it was obvious the Oilers and myself had been spoiled by Zendejas’ ability. Tony remained with the Rams through 1994 and then play with both the Falcons and 49ers as an injury replacement retiring after the 1995 season. Zendejas is most notable for sharing the NFL record for consecutive completed field goals of greater than 50 yards with 11.

G 149     XPA 327    XPM 316      PCT 96.6%     FGA  252   FGM  186     PCT 73.8%     LG 54   PTS  874