Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Dickerson, Eric (2)

sky92 dickerson aprks92 dickersonCards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Skybox 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 6/10   Received: 7/13  (33 days)*
See Also: Eric Dickerson, Eric Dickerson (3)
*included donation of $10 per card.

Really pumped about these 2 coming back to me as I had followed this address on a hunch. At his website,  it stated very plainly that he does not sign free autographs, so I sweetened the pot a bit to see if I could game a response. It worked like a charm and I was shocked to receive a response in such a short time, as both of these cards were ones I really wanted signed. The Skybox was just a great photo of Dickerson. It really screams ‘poster card’. The Action Packed Rookies 1992 is from a set that I unabashedly collect. It is from his one season with the Los Angeles Raiders and I wouldn’t have gotten it signed otherwise.

I had decided to write Eric after going to the Houston Fan Fest this year. We were driving through Sealy, Tx on the way home from the event and passed by the stadium he ran to High School glory on, which prompted me to start thinking about Eric’s legacy.  A few days later Eric got into a brouhaha on Twitter with an unnamed child musical artist who can’t seem to drive safely in their shared neighborhood. I took it as though fate was slapping me on the face and took pen to paper that evening.

Dickerson is unabashed when asked about Adrian Peterson’s recent run at his record 2,106 single season rushing record, and said that he’s glad he still holds the record. While other more… let’s say modest… players might say otherwise, I actually agree with Eric. There are certain records that I hope never fall again. Some things such as 2,106 should stand the test of time, and I am glad Dickerson (HoF Class 1999) holds it. Eric is also a member of the 2,200 strong NFL alum that won litigation against the NFL for concussion related injuries. His name is the largest name in the hat, statistically, as he piled up over 13,000 rushing/receiving yards in his career.

At this time he does a lot of charity work, speaking, and golf tournaments to pass the time.

NFL, WLAF

Hopkins, Mark

ult92 hopkinsCards: Wild Card WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent:  7/20   Received: 10/10    (84 days)

A two time Mid-American Conference choice for the Central Michigan Chippewas, Hopkins caught 26 receptions for 326 yards in 1989. Hopkins was signed in 1990 as a free agent by the Atlanta Falcons but did not make the squad.

wcwlaf92 hopkinsThe World League of American Football’s Birmingham Fire made him the first pick of the second round among tight ends. A skilled H-back, Hopkins fit quite nicely into Chan
Gailey‘s ball control offense.  In 1991 Mark caught 6 passes for 86 yards. He returned to the team again in 1992, and followed up with 11 more receptions for 94 yards. Equally adept at blocking as well as catching the ball, Hopkins frequently would bookend with fellow TE Phil Ross and the combined duo provided a safety valve for quarterbacks Brent Pease, Eric Jones, and Mike Norseth. The league reorganized after the 1992 season.

I enclosed a few cards in the envelope for Mark to keep after searching high and low to find out where he was at. He wrote me a nice letter and thanked me for bringing back some great memories. Mark also told me about how he was shocked the first time he saw his own card and how it brought him a great deal of joy, and his kids now that they are old enough to see them.  Mark has been working in the human resources industry for quite a while now and is the Executive Vice President of Wealth Management Services at WorkLife Financial.

Rec 17    Yds  180   Avg 10.6     Td 0    Lg 25

College Football HoF, NFL

Green, Tim

Cards: Pro Set Platinum 1992, Score 1992
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Tim Green is almost as famous for what he has done off the field since retiring from football as he was during  his heyday playing years for the Syracuse Fighting Orangemen and the Atlanta Falcons.  Tim Green had a great career at Syracuse. The star defensive end finished his time there with 341 tackles and set the school mark for sacks in a season (15), and in a career (45.5).  Atlanta was direly trying to shore up their 3-4 defensive front, and took Tony Casillas #2, and Tim at #17 during the 1986 NFL Draft. Injuries really wrecked Green’s first 3 campaigns as he’d only start 11 contests over that period. It’d be in 1989 that he was finally able to show his stuff. Injury free, he ranked 3rd on the team with 5 sacks, and 111 tackles. Considered undersized for the position at 6-2, 249, Tim used his quickness and a variety of moves to put constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks.  He’d lead the team in 1990, with 6 sacks and 37 quarterback hurries.  Green again repeated the feat in 1991 as the team leader in sacks with 5. He’d add 3 more sacks to his resume in 1992, and switch to linebacker in his final season during the 1993 season.

Since then Tim has put his pen to paper and written many books. Green also revealed that he suffered some 12 concussions over his playing time in the league. He finished his law degree in 1994 and has been involved with a few firms, but has been active in coaching and commentating on TV, as well as radio for NPR. At one point his name was linked to the open Syracuse job, but ultimately he nobly recommended competing candidate Doug Marrone. Green was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame in 1995 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

G/Gs 99/71      Tac N/a      Sac 24.0     Fum 9       Int 0    Yds 0     Avg -.-    Td 0    Lg -.-