Alabama has a great and wonderful legacy of linebackers and Eddie Robinson, well he went to Alabama State so he played under the shadow of this colossus. Undeterred, Robinson would excel playing for the Hornets and parlay his tremendous career there into a second round choice by the Oilers. The Oilers were looking for new blood at linebacker and Robinson was a competent and versatile fit for the team. The 1992 draft was not a strong draft by any regards outside of the first round, but the team made the most of their selections- especially with Eddie, who was a shrewd selection by the team. Although never making the ProBowl during his tenure, Robinson was consistent and his longevity would allow him also to endure for 11 seasons at linebacker. He was also adequate in coverage, replacing the venerable Johnny Meads at linebacker. Robinson would sign with the Jaguars in 1996. He’d start on defense for the Jaguars when they’d make their first two playoff runs in the then AFC Central. Eddie would soon thereafter resign with the Oilers- who were then the Tennessee Oilers under defensive coordinator and now head coach Jeff Fisher. He’d play for the team as it changed its name to the Tennessee Titans and made a SuperBowl run in 1999 and through 2001. Robinson would play one final season for the Bills in 2002 and retire. The GameDay card here is a really superior card as it really frames his figure well in the long portrait style. Its a shame that the football card market imploded the way it did because the Action Packed and GameDay cards were really a unique foray into trading cards.
G/Gs 175/164 Tac 805 Sac 23 Fum 6 Int 6 Yds 94 Avg 15.6 Td 1 Lg 49t
Drafted out of tiny New Hampshire in the 5th round of the 1992 draft by the New England Patriots to play linebacker, Dwayne Sabb has had quite an interesting and lively career. He’d play for the Patriots initially through the 1996 season. A good backup for the team, he’d start 24 games over 5 seasons making 7 sacks, 3 picks, 92 tackles and 3 fumbles. After he left New England he’d sign with the Chargers for the 1997 season, but not make the squad. In 1998 he signed with Buffalo and had the same result.
Sabb would sit out a few seasons until the XFL arrived. He’d sign with the New York/New Jersey Hitmen in 2001 and would be one of the league’s leaders in sacks before it folded at the end of the season. He’d finish the season with 26 tackles and 4 sacks for the team. Dwayne afterwards would spend the remainder of his career in the Arena leagues playing fullback and linebacker for the New Jersey Gladiators in 2001 and 2002. After a moderately successful time there, he’d play one season for the Buffalo Destroyers (2003) and Philadelphia Soul in 2004 before retiring.
Speedy defensive back Jerome Henderson was taken out of Syracuse in the 2nd round of the 1991 draft by the New England Patriots. He would provide valuable depth for the team also acting as a punt returner that initial season. Things looked good for Henderson who made 5 picks, 2 fumbles, 101 tackles and 201 punt return yards over two seasons, but by 1993 he was already playing for the Buffalo Bills, where he’d remain through 1994. In 1995 Henderson would sign with the Eagles, where he recovered one fumble and returned it for a touchdown, before he returned to the Patriots in 1996. 1997 would see him step up to a new challenge as he moved into the free safety position for the New York Jets, where he’d finish his career after 2 more additional seasons in 1998. At last check Henderson is the defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns. It’s interesting looking at the certainly journeyman like career of Henderson and where he has been as he has spent his whole college career and pro career within a 500 mile radius of New York City with 5 teams and 6 stops.
G/Gs 98/33 Tac 205 Sac 1 Fum Int 9 Yds 118 Avg 10.9 Td 0 Lg 45
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
