Tag Archives: buffalo bills

AFL

Groman, Bill (1936-2020)

Cards: Fleer 1961, Fleer 1962
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 3/4   Received: 3/11   (7 days)

Bill Groman was one of the original AFL Houston Oilers hailing from tiny Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH.  During his time at the school he showed versatility playing End, Flanker, Offensive End, and Split End. Bill earned All-American Honors in 1957.

He signed with the upstart AFL Houston Oilers in 1960 and was a part of a powerhouse offense that included George Blanda, Charlie Hennigan, and Billy Cannon. The offense lit opposing teams up scoring 379 points that season in only 14 games.  Early on Bill became a star on the team and in the league. He’d dispense with opposing team’s defensive backs with ease. In 1960, he recorded 1473 yards on 72 receptions, to go along with 12 touchdowns- one of them for 92 yards.  His yards, yards per reception, yards from scrimmage, and long catch, all led the league. He was a shoe-in for All-AFL his rookie year, and the team walked away that season with the championship.  In 1961, he only had 50 receptions, but for a mind boggling 23.5 yards per reception, and 17 touchdowns to lead the league- in only 12 games. Again he was named All-AFL and the team won its second championship. Between he and Hennigan over those two years, they combined to be one of the best duos in early modern history with over 5,000 yards and almost 50 touchdowns. Groman’s rookie season for yards, combined with his Sophomore season, have never been bettered, even by modern pass-happy offenses with guys like Anquan Boldin and Randy Moss last taking their shots.

Groman suffered a grizzly knee injury during the 1962 AFL Championship Game, and an equally bad surgical repair that next year. He later signed with the Denver Broncos, playing there for one season in 1963, and the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965, where he provided depth for the young receiving corps. The Bills won the AFL Championship those two seasons as well. Groman all told, appeared in 5 AFL Championship games in his 6 seasons in the league, winning 4 of them. He is the only player in the history of the league to be able to make that statement.

G 66     Rec 174        Yds 3481      Avg  20.8       Td 36        Lg 92t

UPDATE: 6/22/20- Bill Groman passed away of natural causes this week at the age of 83.

NFL

Beebe, Don

pac91 beebeCards: Pacific 1991, Pro Set 1989, Topps 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 1/7       Received: 1/25  (18 days)

Don Beebe is a wide receiver best known for his Super Bowl moment, (during his stint with the Buffalo Bills,) when he swatted a football out of Dallas Cowboys Leon Lett’s embarrassed hands in Super Bowl XXVII.

Don sorta came out of nowhere, playing only two years of college football for Western Illinois (1987) and then at Chadron State (1988). While playing at Chadron, Don had 49 receptions for 906 yards and 13 touchdowns. With his breathtaking speed, Beebe averaged 18.5 yards per catch, and 25 yards per kick return, taking an additional ball to the house. His performance for the Eagles earned him Little All-America second team honors, and an invite to the NFL combine. He wowed the scouts there with his incredible speed, leaping, and work ethic, translating his efforts to a 3rd round pick of the Buffalo Bills in the deep 1989 draft. (In fact, it was so pset89 beebesurprising, that Pro Set struggled to find a photo of  Don settling for this granulated photo of him on his rookie prospect card.)

Don made his first catch against the Houston Oilers- a 63 yard barn burning touchdown. He then repeated the effort with another 63 yarder against the Dolphins that next month. He’d finish his rookie season with 17 receptions for 317 yards, an 18.5 yard average, and those 2 touchdowns. Occasionally Beebe got some time at returner his rookie season, posting an 85 yard kickoff return against the Falcons. His 1990 season was marred by injury and sitting behind incumbents Andre Reed and James Lofton didn’t help. Still he managed 11 catches for 221 yards and a touchdown. 1991 was a great season for Beebe, as he’d record a career high 6 touchdowns on 32 receptions. Through 1994 Beebe was pretty automatic to lock in for 30+ receptions recording a career high 40 in that final season with the Bills.

In 1995 the expansion Carolina Panthers were building their roster, and offered Beebe a free agent contract. While he played to90 beebesparingly that single season in Carolina making just 14 receptions for 152 yards, the team boasted a decent receiving corps led by Mark Carrier, Willie Green, and Eric Guliford. Don was cut after the season.

Don’s final two seasons were spent at Lambeau as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Returning to form in 1996, with Brett Favre at the helm, Beebe recorded 39 receptions for a career high 699 yards and 4 touchdowns, in 6 starts. Also after his Superbowl heartbreaking stint in Buffalo, Don finally got his ring in after the season. He’d play one final season in 1997 and retire. It is of note that in 5 out of his 9 seasons, Beebe caught a long pass greater than 60 yards.

A well rounded and respected member of the NFL community, Don is the maestro of operations for “The House of Speed”. He also coaches high school football, and has written a book about his journey to the NFL titled: “Six Rings from Nowhere”. Don suffered numerous hits over his playing career including a frightening one against Browns safety Felix Wright during the NFL Playoffs where he landed on his head (Pro Set 1990 card). Beebe has suffered numerous concussions over his playing time in the NFL and is one of the major names lending credence to the current concussion related lawsuit.

G/Gs  116/51      Rec 219     Yds 3416      Avg 15.6     Td 23      Lg 80t
Kr 81     Yds  1735     Avg 21.4     Td 1    Lg 90t

 

NFL

Vincent, Troy

spics92 vincentaprks92 vincent

Card: Star Pics 1992, Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Love Thy Neighbor
Sent:   Received:   (days)*
Donation: $5 per card

Troy was one of the top defensive backs out of the 1992 class. At Wisconsin, the former Badger finished his career as a runner up for the Jim Thorpe Award, a 1st Team All-American, and the school’s all-time punt yardage leader.  With rumors of him going as high as #5 to the Green Bay Packers, Vincent was on the up and up in the hours before the draft.  Although the Packers took equally impressive Terrell Buckley off the board with their pick, Vincent didn’t fall far as the Miami Dolphins were there to scoop him up with the 7th overall pick.  He immediately was slotted into the lineup in the team’s retooled defensive backfield that was competing in an arms race with the dominant division leading Buffalo Bills wide receiver corps.

Turning in a strong rookie season, Troy finished with 2 picks for 47 yards, 77 tackles and a forced fumble, earning All-Rookie Team honors. Although a solid DB, it wouldn’t be until 1994 that Vincent really made a splash- with a 5 pick season and a spectacular 79 yard return for a touchdown against the Chiefs. Then in the following season Vincent had 5 more interceptions, including a 2 pick performance against the Jets, one which he returned for a touchdown as well. With big bucks free agency in session, Troy left the Dolphins in 1996 destined for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles were in a similar circumstance with the Dallas Cowboys, and eager to stay up with them, needing a lockdown opposite Bobby Taylor to replace recently departed blue chipper Eric Allen. Vincent fit the bill of what they direly needed. Troy played the majority of his career for the City of Brotherly Love. There he went on to perhaps have his greatest success, rattling off a string of successive Pro Bowl appearances (1999-2003), led the NFL in interceptions (7- 1999), and earned an AP nomination for his 2002 season.

In 2004, Vincent signed with the Buffalo Bills where he was moved to free safety. The move allowed him to extend his career another 3 seasons. A brief stint in Washington brought him back to Buffalo during 2006, and he’d retire after the season having logged some 15 seasons.

Troy has immersed himself in charity operations through his “Love Thy Neighbor” campaign and has been involved in the NFLPA for many years. When Gene Upshaw retired, Troy’s name was indeed among the rumored candidates for the job. Vincent has also received some support for the HoF but due to the lack of glamour statistics associated with the position, Vincent has not made it past the semi-finals.

G/Gs 207/200    Tac 738    Sac 5.5    Fum 12  Int 47   Yds 711   Avg      Td 3     Lg 90t