Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL

Hill, Drew (1956-2011)

Cards: Topps 1982, Fleer 1990, Proset 1990, Proset 1991.
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1990, TTM, C/o Home 2010
Sent: 3/26    Received 4/6  (11 days)

Drew Hill is a receiver who has gotten no respect. Barely a blip went by when in the 12th round the speedster out of Georgia Tech was selected by the Rams in the 1979 draft. In the beginning of his career the LA Rams used Hill primarily as a kick returner. By his final season with LA in 1984 Drew would finally be getting some credit as a receiver pulling down a monstrous 27.9 yards per catch on 14 receptions. Hill was traded to the very bad Houston Oilers squad in 1985 and immediately started paying dividends as Warren Moon‘s primary receiver. Over the course of the next 7 years Hill grabbed 634 receptions and 7477 yards and stretched defensive secondaries to their limit, averaging an electrifying 15.5 yards per catch, including a 20.2 yard average on 49 receptions in 1987.  He went to the ProBowl in 1988 and 1990 and tied Haywood Jeffires for the AFC lead in receptions with 72 catches. In 1992 the Oilers let Drew go via free agency. The knock on him was that he was too old at 36. He signed with his homestate Falcons, being reunited with former Oiler coach Jerry Glanville and put over 1000 yards into his Falcon career, retiring after the 1993 season as an Atlanta Falcon. Hill at the time of his departure from the Oilers was the all time leader in catches and yards, and second in touchdowns. He averaged an amazing 70.5 yards per game with the Oilers. (Since then his records were broken by Haywood Jeffires and Ernest Givins.)  Among Drew Hill’s lesser known accomplishments is that he is the first person to score a touchdown in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s beating HoF member James Lofton by a game and ironically (to Bud Adams chagrin,) he was the first player to notch four 1,000 yard seasons after the age of 30.

Drew since retirement has returned to his Georgia roots where he lives in relative anonymity. I sent for his autograph TTM after locating his address on another site. I did a bit of research on him and was dismayed that somebody with the same name had been posing as him claiming to be a fine artist. When Drew wrote back, he informed me that the artist “wasn’t me.” Although slightly embarrassing to me, I hope it called attention to him that there was somebody out there usurping his good name.

I got Drew’s autograph after training camp in 1990 one day where he was thoroughly exhausted. He was a really nice guy, but of few words. His autograph felt like his personality (understated) and I really wanted to get it again when I decided to mail out to some of my favorite Oilers earlier this year.  I was really angry when the team let him go via free agency and felt when they did it exposed a chink in the team’s armor.

Games  147      Rec 634         Yds 9831           Avg 15.5          TD 60         LG  81t

FOLLOWUP:

11/25/2010

Less than two weeks after I wrote this, I was contacted by Jerry Crowe of the LA Times for an interview about ‘the real Drew Hill’. Apparently Mr. Crowe had been visiting the Men’s Central Jail poking around about ‘the artist’ Drew Hill being in jail, not knowing his fake identity. When he asked them about Mr. Hill, the corrections officers revealed to Jerry that ‘the artist’ was not the real Drew Hill, referring to my website as supplemental proof.  (Thanks corrections office! You know who you are.)

Amused, Jerry tracked me down, and contacted me for an interview since I was living locally in the area so that he could have ‘more ammo’ for his talk with the artist inmate. We discussed my brief involvement in the situation, how I had been in touch with the ‘real’ Drew Hill via the mail, and that Jerry had indeed spoken to and interviewed ‘the real’ Drew Hill in Georgia. He said that he may use my information in a further interview with the inmate and was amazed by what a small world this was with the coincidental timing of the situation, my post and the fact I lived in the greater LA area, but none of this unfortunately ever made the article and thusly I get no props for my super ‘sleuthiness’. You can read the article in its entirety here. A second article is a follow-up from the Santa Monica Daily Press, where the original call for help was issued for the impostor.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/26/sports/la-sp-crowe-20100927
http://www.smdp.com/pdf/100110.pdf

3/19/2011

On Thursday March 17th, 2011, Drew was golfing and fell ill. Although he was transported to the hospital shortly thereafter, Hill suffered two strokes and passed away on March 18th, 2011.  He was 54. It should be noted that the Associated Press even got some of his information wrong, stating not only the wrong date on his All Pro seasons, but also that he was an artist, – a claim that he disputed when I sent him mail last year.

NFL, WLAF

Mohr, Chris

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF Special Teams 1991, Proset WLAF 1991 LL, Proset WLAF 1991, Athletes in Action
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home.
Sent: 5/10   Received: 8/6    (88 days)

Chris Mohr was born in tiny Thompson, GA, ironically the same town of former punter great Ray Guy.  In college, Mohr would attend Alabama where he ranks as one of the best punters in the school’s history. After being drafted in the 6th round by the Buccaneers Mohr would be their punter/holder for 1989. He was named to the All Rookie team that year.

After being disappointedly cut in 1990, Mohr was drafted by the Montreal Machine of the WLAF, in their inaugural positional draft. Chris would become one of the Machine’s most notable players and he would capitalize off of the opportunity given to him by the WLAF to lead the league with 2436 yards on 57 punts (being named All-World in 1991.) Chris was signed at the end of the season by the Buffalo Bills in 1991. Mohr would stay with the Bills throughout the remainder of the 90s and 2000. He’d play from 2001- 2005 with the Falcons, and officially announced his retirement in 2007 after signing a one day contract with the Bills.  (Although many former WLAF players now pepper the coaching and minor league ranks, Chris would be the last of the original WLAF players to retire from professional football.)  Since retiring Chris has been active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and is an accomplished country songwriter. I was able to track him down with the power of Google, and he signed my 4 cards, including one of his own, in about 3 months time. Included are his WLAF statistics.

WLAF  P   57       Yds  2436       Avg  42.7     lg    58       in20   13       blk   2

NFL

Favre, Brett

Cards:  Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre is the definition of a gunslinger and has left a lasting legacy on the NFL with an inhuman 285 consecutive starts. He played his best statistical season (2009) with the Vikings almost returning to the Superbowl. Favre at the time of this post (2009 season) is #1 in wins (181), completions (6083), passing yards (69329), passing touchdowns (497), and also notably interceptions (317). He triumphed over injury (intestinal injury from car wreck) before being drafted in the second round by then Jerry Glanville of the Atlanta Falcons (-who actually thought Brett was crazy) from Southern Mississippi where he played with wide receiver Michael Jackson. After his rookie season in 1991, the Falcons traded him to the Packers (as Glanville claims) to sober him up. The change was good for him, as he quickly took over for local legend Don Majkowski, and never relinquished the starting role until he was traded to the Jets in 2007. In his career with the Packer faithful, Brett led them to two consecutive Superbowls (XXX, XXXI) winning Superbowl XXXI, being named NFL MVP 1995-1997, 9 Pro Bowl nominations and a variety of achievements along the way.  Brett has a cannon for an arm, (breaking 8 different fingers on receiver Antonio Freeman’s hands,) a love for the game, and an insatiable desire to win.

Favre however, battled inner demons most of his Packer career. Over his playing time, he was wracked by alcoholism, painkiller addictions, hurricane Katrina destroyed his family home, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and his father who had a strong influence on his life passed away during the 2003 season. His wife recovered and somehow he made it through all of these personal tragedies. Favre retired regrettably and prematurely in 2007, creating an uncomfortable rift between him and the Packers, when Brett returned to camp unexpectedly. Brett was traded to the Jets and played one subpar season with them in 2008 and then retired again, but was coaxed out of retirement for another run with the Minnesota Vikings, riling the Packer faithful. He played his best season in his career in 2009, having his best statistical season and leading the Vikings to the NFC championship game. Brett Favre announced his retirement again on August 3rd, 2010, (at the age of 40) possibly due to a lingering ankle injury that he felt had not fully healed. He promptly unretired after a visit from players at his home on the 17th of that month, ending his 4th and shortest retirement from football, but would retire finally once again after the 2010 season.

Brett is a character and has many memorable moments and interesting trivia about his career. Once he bet Jerry Glanville 100.00 that he could throw the football into the upper deck of Fulton County Stadium. (Brett won.) He missed the team photo in 1991 because as Brett claimed, “There was a car wreck.” Jerry Glanville responded,”You are a car wreck.”  When the Falcons traded him to the Packers, the Packers could have failed Brett’s physical, as he was diagnosed with the same hip condition as Bo Jackson, but Ron Wolf, (Packers GM) overruled. Brett completed his first career pass- to himself. The ball was deflected and he caught it for a -7 loss. He was actually booed by fans during first home contest who started chanting for Ty Detmer, (Favre’s backup) to come into the game. Favre has thrown an interception in his final attempt for every team he has played for (Vikings, Packers, Falcons, and Jets). Brett has a penchant for butt slapping- extremely hard- to motivate players.  Brett in early 2010, became the first ever grandfather in the NFL.

I sent off for Brett’s autograph after hearing Ron Wolf talking Brett up on the radio as the team’s QB of the future. The request represents the epitome of what methodology I used at the time of collecting autographs at the time- to draft my own future prospects. To show my friend Josh what a fiend I had become collecting autographs through the mail, I had Brett sign two cards, and return one to Josh TTM also. Favre is a great example of somebody who’s autograph has changed over the years, as his ‘B’ and ‘E’ have become more detached, looped, and more stylized.

Games 289    Att 9811      Comp 6083        Yds 69329
Td 497       Int 317         Rat 86.4