Tag Archives: buffalo bills

NFL

Mularkey, Mike ‘Inspector Gadget’

CARDS: Pro Set 1991 HoF Photo Contest, Fleer 1990, Score 1992, Playbook
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 6/13/22 RECEIVED: 6/24/22 (11 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Mularkey played college ball at Florida from 1980 to ’82.
  • He caught 55 passes for 628 yards and 3 TDs over his college career.
  • In 1983 signed with the San Fransisco 49ers as a 9th round pick, but ultimately finished the season on the roster of the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Caught first TD pass against Buccaneers in 1984, for one yard.
  • Known as a blocking TE, played for the Vikings through the ’88 season, catching 42 passes for 464 yards and 5 TDs.
  • Signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989 and had a career high 22 receptions for 326 yards and a TD.
  • Recorded career highs again in ’90 catching 32 receptions for 365 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Retired after the 1991 season.
  • After a year off, went into coaching with Concordia University (MN) and was there for two years.
  • Quickly moved back to the NFL in 1994 working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a quality control and then later a TE coach.
  • Returned to Pittsburgh in ’96 as a TE coach, and then later as the offensive coordinator (2001-’03).
  • In 2004 took his first head coaching job in Buffalo and coached the team to a 14-18 record over two seasons as the team had to manage a QB controversy in 2005.
  • After an odd season with the Nick Saban Dolphins as OC in 2006, and then Cam Cameron as his TE coach in 2007, Mike hopped over to the Falcons in 2008 where he was OC again.
  • Head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for one season in 2012, posting a 2-14 record.
  • Stayed in the AFC South as the TE coach for the Tennessee Titans in 2013.
  • Then after Ken Whisenhunt was fired during the season in 2015, Mularkey finished out the season, posting a 2-7 record.
  • Kept on board as the HC, Whisenhunt rebuilt the Titans, and in 2016 and 2017 posted a 9-7 record- making the playoffs in the latter.
  • Served as a TE coach for the Falcons in 2019, retiring from coaching after the season.

ACCOLADES:

  • Assistant Coach of the Year 2001
  • Offensive Coordinator of the Year 2010

NOTES:

Yes! What a play drawn up by Mike! Randle El Shovel 68 (Pitch to Randle El. Shovel to Jerome.) Pretty neat! He even wrote in a few player names including Bettis, Hines, Kordell Stewart and Randle El. So we know for certain this play came from his golden era with the Steelers between 2001-’03. Mike’s nickname ‘Inspector Gadget’ came from his penchant for gadget plays during his time with Pittsburgh.

To be honest, Mike got no respect. I remember when the Titans hired him as their head coach, everyone, even flaming tacks fans were snickering or uninspired by the choice- but much to Mike’s credit, he did build a successful team, and then he was run out of town.. after making the playoffs!

NFL

Bell, Greg (2)

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: eBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Chipping away here at my set needs for Greg Bell, I’d still try to nab him on a few more cards if he popped up for a paid signing. Since I was able to get him on both of these cards at a real nice price via eBay, I jumped at it since he doesn’t sign through the mail often- if at all.

NFL

Fulhage, Scott ‘The Cannon’

CARDS: Topps Stadium Club 1992, Fleer 1990, Topps 1990, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 12/26/23 RECEIVED: 1/22/25 (393 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Scott Fulhage punted for Kansas State from 1981-’84.
  • He punted 254 times for 10,284 yards.
  • Signed as a free agent by the Bills (1985) and the Redskins the following season (’86) , but did not make the opening day roster.
  • Signed by the Bengals in ’87, then the Packers, and then back to the Bengals that year.
  • He averaged 41.7 yards per punt (2,168 yards) on 52 attempts.
  • Joined the Falcons in 1989, where he pinned opponents 24 times inside their own 20- leading the NFC (on 84 punts).
  • After bouncing around between 5 teams from ’85-’89, Fulhage found consistency with the Falcons, whom he punted for through the 1992 season.
  • In 1991, punted 81 times for 3,470 yards and dropped 21 inside the 20.
  • He’d see career highs in net yards (2,963), Average (42.8), and net average (36.6) that season.
  • After a shaky start with 3 blocked punts in under three seasons, Scott punted successfully 192 times until the 1992 season.
  • At the time of his retirement, Scott was ranked second all time on the Falcons all-time list with a 41.8 yard average per punt.

NOTES:

I knew I’d be in for a wait for Scott. Consistent, yet slow, I wasn’t worried about these getting back to me. He was of special interest to me as he appears in 1991’s Tecmo Super Bowl on the NES with the Falcons. Scott also appears on two set needs so it was a no brainer to get these cards out the door to him.

Funny note, on many of his cards, it’s noted that Scott farms and harvests wheat when it’s not the football season. Makes sense since he’s from Beloit, KS.