Tag Archives: baltimore ravens

NFL

Daniel, Eugene

Card: ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 1993, Colts Blitz

Speedy defensive back Eugene Daniel was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 8th round of the 1984 draft. Another one of these Louisianan products to sneak through to the NFL from LSU, Eugene Daniel was a highly underrated cornerback during his career and was considered a long shot to make the team roster. He turned out to be a complete cover corner, that had the speed to play both man to man defense and zone coverage.

His NFL debut was a splash, as he made 14 interceptions from 1984-1985. Over the rest of Daniel’s career he wouldn’t come close to attaining those numbers, but was relied on for his durability and consistency as a cover cornerback who could fence the run. Eugene Daniel and Wayne Capers in 1985 were the first team duo from the Colts to be named defensive and offensive players of the week together against the Packers that season. In 1986, he’d recover a blocked punt and return it for a touchdown against the Falcons. It would prove decisive as the Colts would win 28-23 and kickoff a 3 game winning streak for the team. Eugene in 1993 also made a critical interception of Boomer Esiason that set up the game winning score against the Jets. It’d be his only pick of the season.

Daniel played for some garishly bad Colts teams which never finished with more than 9 wins. This probably led to him not receiving as much acclaim as he probably should have gotten. He’d play one final season in Baltimore (for the Ravens) in 1997. This is interesting to note, because Daniel was drafted the year the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis, but he’d retire from the NFL in Baltimore.  Over his career Eugene led the Colts in interceptions 3 times, and tied for the NFL lead in 1985 with 8 thefts- but never made the Pro Bowl or was named AP.

Regardless, Daniel did in the meantime sneak into the Colts record books for most games played consecutively (185) which has been since taken by the venerable Peyton Manning. He also appeared on Tecmo Bowl, Tecmo SuperBowl, and Tecmo SuperBowl Final Edition.

A great autograph, Daniel signed this card during one of my early bulk team send outs in the 1990s. Otherwise, word is that he is an elusive TTMer.

G/Gs 207/191    Tac 735   Sac 2   Fum 2
Int 38   Yds 483    Avg 12.7   Td 3    lg 97t

NFL

Montgomery, Greg (1964-2020)

Card: Topps Stadium Club 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, Houston Oilers Training Camp

An incredible punter with a booming leg, Greg Montgomery rarely, if ever, got his due. Try it on a prolific offense where you never got the chance to punt.

Drafted in the 3rd round in the 1988 draft out of Michigan State where he set numerous records, Montgomery was inserted right away into Jerry Glanville‘s raucous cast and crew of personalities. His rookie season would be his worst- at 38.8 yards a punt. In fact, over the next 8 seasons of Montgomery’s stellar career, he’d never average below 42 yards. Most notably, Greg averaged an incredible 46.9 yards a punt in 1992 (but he didn’t have enough punts to qualify because the Oilers offense scored so often). -This tied him for the highest punting yard average during the 1990s, while his 43.6 yard career average is one of the highest over that period.

Seeking a big dollar contract from the Oilers after his All-Pro season in 1993 in which he averaged 45.6 yards a kick, the Oilers opted to find another punter. Greg was cut, and signed with the Lions where he played one season in 1994 averaging 44 yards a punt. Out of football that following season, he’d return to play for two more seasons punting for the Baltimore Raviens in 1996 and 1997, before retiring at the age of 33.

G/SPYDSAVGBLKLG
142/142 5242283143.6877

UPDATE 9/4/20- Greg passed away on August 22nd, 2020 at the age of 55. The cause of death was not revealed.

NFL

Dafney, Bernard “Big Daf” (1968-2006)

Card: StarPics 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992

Bernard “Big Daf” Dafney was a popular player at the University of Tennesee- scoring a touchdown on a trick play (‘fumblerooskie’) against Mississippi State where he gallopped for 32 yards. A verified man-mountain who had the physical size to translate to the next level (6’5″, 325), Dafney played in the Senior Bowl in 1992 before being drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round. The Houston Oilers had an imposing and established offensive line and while Bernard played well in training camp, he wasn’t able to crack the lineup and was cut after training camp. He’d be signed by the Vikings, and remained with the team from 1992 through the 1994 season before continuing his journeyman career playing for the Cardinals, Steelers and Ravens and Panthers, before retiring in 1997. Bernard would take what he learned and apply it to coaching starting at the high school level, where he had a passion for teaching and learning seeing some time with two local campuses- before he was sadly struck down by a heart attack in 2006.