Tag Archives: buffalo bills

NFL

Moulds, Eric

pp96 emouldsCards: Presspass 1996, Playoff Contenders 2002
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 2/8     Received: 2/20  (12 days)
Failure: 2012, C/o Home

Eric Moulds was an exceptional receiver for the Mississippi State Bulldogs during his time there at the college. At the time of his departure from the school, he was their all-time leading receiver with 17 career TDs. He also set the single game school record with 15 receptions against the Volunteers.  Overall he played in 31 contests and had 118 receptions for 2,022 yards and 17 TDs.

The 1996 draft was one of the deepest receiver drafts in modern memory.  Among the other names in this draft were: Marvin Harrison, Terry Glenn, Keyshawn Johnson, Amani Toomer, Mushin Muhammed, Eddie Kennison, Joe Horn, Terrell Owens, and Jermaine Lewis.  The Bills drafted him at 24th overall, and he’d bide his time as the heir apparent behind future HoFer Andre Reed playing on special teams.

In 1998, Eric became the face for a new generation for Bills fans with a breakout season. Starting 15 games he made 67 receptions for 1,368 yards, a gaudy 20.4 yards per reception and 9 TDs.  (His 1,368 yards led the AFC.) While the team experienced inconsistency at quarterback, Moulds continued to produce, and was named to the Pro Bowl again for his 2000 and 2002 campaigns respectively. Notably his 2002 season would be the first time any Bills receiver recorded 100 or more receptions.
poff02 emouldsBy 2005 Moulds contract numbers were reaching over 10 million a year for a 30+ year old receiver. The Bills and Eric came to terms that it was time to move on and traded him to the Texans for a 5th round pick. Eric chose the Texans over the Eagles because he wanted the opportunity to play alongside upcoming receiver Andre Johnson. It seemed to be a win/win situation as the Texans also wanted Moulds to bring a veteran presence to the wideout corps. I remember being extremely excited about this move.

It was a time of transition for the Houston Texans. Gone was former coach Dom Capers, but the remnants of Charlie Casserley’s decisions were still there in quarterback David Carr.  The Texans hoped that Moulds could take pressure off of Johnson, who was drawing double and triple teams from defenses, but things didn’t work out that way. He finished with 57 receptions for 557 yards and a career low 9.1 yard average. In 2007 the Texans decided to  reshuffle their receiver corps. With  free agent Andre Davis signed, Kevin Walter starting to come into his own, draftee Jacoby Jones in the fold, and David Anderson making noise, the writing was on the wall for Moulds. He’d be cut ending his brief tenure with the Texans.  The always receiver needy Titans kicked the tires and decided to bring Moulds in. He started 8 games for Tennessee in 2007 recording 32 receptions for 342 yards.

Moulds is still remembered fondly by Bills fans. Perhaps if his career didn’t straddle over the late 90s and early 00s, on such bad teams with quarterback issues, he’d also be regarded with much more fanfare throughout the league. Still- Eric made an impression with the Bills faithful and was honored by Buffalo as a member of their 50th Anniversary Team in 2009.

I hoped that way back in 2012, Moulds would be my first success of the year. Unfortunately I got an RTS instead. I bode my time until he resurfaced this year and shot out the cards again and surprisingly got these great autographs back in 12 days flat.

Rec 764    Yds 9995      Avg 13.1     Td 49    Lg 84t
Rush 29    Yds 163     Avg 5.6    Td 0   Lg 29
KR   52     Yds 1205    Avg 23.2   Td 1   Lg 97t

NFL

Jackson, Steve (2) (DB)

to94 sjacksonCards: Topps Stadium Club 1994, Topps 1994, GameDay 1994
Acquired: IP 7/11/15, Houston Oilers 25th Anniversary Party
See Also: Steve Jackson

All smiles from Steve Jackson, the matridee of the Houston Oilers 25th Anniversary Party and president of Steve Jackson Foundation as everything for the event seemed to go off perfectly. Dapperly dressed in a plaid jacket, Steve was incredibly friendly, even going so far as to invite any and all Houston Oilers fans to the afterparty at Prospect Park. Once I finally got to him, he was more than happy to sign all these cards for me.

gday94 jacksonHe knew I was a true fan when I talked to him about the Oilers 10-3 win over the San Fransisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in 1993. It was the first time in over 10 years the 49ers had been held without a TD in their home stadium. Jackson would seal the deal, picking Steve Young off in the endzone as TE Brent Jones committed a flagrant facemask to try to get Jackson to drop the ball.

Jackson also knew exactly what moment the Topps 1994 took place as well, telling me that if they had instant replay back then in 1993, this play would have sealed the game against the Chiefs in the playoffs. Still Steve managed to pick off Joe Montana as well, but the Oilers fell 28-20. A valuable and impressive special teams contributor, Steve played with the Oilers through their transition to Tennessee, and has since spent time coaching at the pro ranks.

tosc94 sjacksonAt the time of the production of these cards, I was completely out of the market. Both of the Topps relesases (base Topps and Stadium Club) are daring in presentation, but garish by today’s standards. The Stadium Club entry is a complete departure from their previous entries. Abandoning the style completely that distinguished Stadium Club from other entries, I’m not really sure if it had a positive impact on sales.  The Topps 1994 base card with its rounded design is a nice departure from the angular designs that Topps settled into there over the last 15 years or so, but the type feels completely out of place, with the formal script and the square sans serif occupying the same space so near eachother. Again nothing but good things to say about Gameday. The card lets the picture do most of the talking and keeps everything neatly at the bottom.

NFL

Hughes Jr., Jerry

sco10 hughesCards: Score 2010
Acquired: IP, Aaron Williams Lone Star Showcase 2015

So I went to the local card shop to find a card of Jerry Hughes Jr off of his short card list, only to have been beaten there by a friend who was also going to the event. Kindly enough he offered me this Score 2010- a set that is thoroughly unappreciated, and a nice transition from the well designed Score 2009.  Hughes was approachable enough, and signed every card that was placed in front of him with a huge smile. We talked briefly about the Bills, and I told him that Rex Ryan has me the most excited about the franchise since the 90s. We then confirmed the mantra that, “You gotta believe,” with big Kool-Aid sharing smiles.

Hughes has always been battling uphill for respect, despite his natural athleticism and production. Jerry was shifted to defensive end when he arrived at TCU in 2006.  It’d be  in 2008 when Jerry settled in, with 52 TT, 19.5 TFL, 15 Sacks, and 2 interceptions- one of which he returned for a TD. He returned to TCU for his Senior season and again had a banner year with 58 TT, 16.5 TFL, and 11.5 sacks.  The Colts made Jerry the first Horned Frog to be Drafted in the first round since LT, with the 31st overall pick in 2010.

Jerry didn’t play that much for the Colts over his first three seasons. The Colts liked to use their defensive ends as tweeners, and had him set up at OLB. In 2013, he was traded to the Buffalo Bills. With that chapter closed of his career, Hughes had 5 sacks and 31 tackles in 3 seasons with the Colts.

Given the opportunity to play with the Bills was just what Jerry needed. The change of atmosphere allowed him to blossom into a solid pass rusher alongside Mario Williams. In 2013, Jerry had 10 sacks, 32 tackles, and 2 forced fumbles, playing in all 16 games.  Allowed to start all 16 games, Jerry had 36 tackles, 10 sacks, and a pick for 18 yards that he returned for a TD against the Cleveland Browns, in 2014.