Tag Archives: chicago bears

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Singletary, Mike (2)

aprks92 singletaryCard: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: 2015, Future Considerations
See Also: Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary went from being a golden boy in coaching cirlces to a pariah after his tenure as the head coach in San Fransisco. Fired with one game left in the 2010 season,  it’s hard to accept sometimes how harsh the mistress of football can be.  Mike joined Leslie Frazier’s  staff on the Minnesota Vikings in 2011. He’d hold the unique position of Linebackers Coach/ Special Assistant to the Coach.

When the Vikings cleaned house after the 2013 season, Mike was not retained.  In the meantime, Mike went on an introspective journey of sorts, shouldering the burden of his shortcomings in San Fransisco. He has spent time travelling to and learning from former coaches, former players, and even trainers, trying to refine his knowledge, preparation, and communication skills.  Mike wants to coach again, and at this point, it’s a crime that he hasn’t come closer to coaching opportunities around the league, with only an interview for the Giants in 2016.

My friend Nathan was at the Baylor vs Texas football game in 2015 that I couldn’t attend. He was nice enough to spot me on this autograph I needed for the Action Packed 1992 Rookies set.  It was important that I get an in person autograph of Singletary as it has long been rumored that he uses a ghost signer.

NFL

McKinnon, Dennis ‘Silky D’ (2)

aprks90 mckinnon sco89 mckinnon

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Score 1989
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Work
Sent:  11/10   Received: 11/25   (15 days)
See Also: Dennis McKinnon

Dennis Super Bowl XX victory in 1985 still holds a special place all these years later. He works with the Chicago community and runs Bearly Active Production- an outreach and services program that he and his former Bear teammates are involved in.  Dennis is a civic leader and role model, both at the city and state level.  Previously Dennis served as the offensive coordinator at Illinois Bendictine University where he was a man of many hats from recruiting to marketing. He also worked for the Chicago Bandits (women’s professional softball team) in their front office in corporate sales. McKinnon signed these two gems in about two weeks time.

NFL, usfl

Spencer, Tim

to90 spencerCards: Score 1990, Fleer 1990, Topps 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o The Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sent:  9/22  Received: 10/9     (17  days)

Tim Spencer was another one of these unheralded runningbacks from the mid-80s. He had his shining moment as one of the players in the rival United States Football League, then popped up again briefly as a fullback and change of pace back for Marion Butts, Gary Anderson, Lionel James or whomever else was in the lineup.

After finishing second in Ohio State rushing history behind Archie Griffin,  Spencer was drafted by the Chicago Blitz of the USFL where he quietly racked up 300 carries for 1,157 flr90 spenceryards and 6TDs in 1983.  In his second year with the league, he had a career best 17 TDs rushing and 1,212 yards with the Arizona Wranglers. As the league imploded, Spencer continued to run hard, this time for the Memphis Showboats. He’d contribute another 789 yards and 3 TDs.

The Chargers wisely invested an 11th round choice in Spencer in 83. This paid dividends immediately following the disolution of the USFL in 1985.  He’d hop in as a short yardage blocking back rushing for 478 yards and an NFL career high 10 TDs. Tim played for the Chargers through the 1990 season with his best yards from scrimmage season coming in 1989 when he logged 521 yards rushing. At that time Score, Fleer, and Topps all created cards of sco90 spencerTim. Since I did not have his USFL issue- these 3 fit the bill nicely.

Tim has gone into coaching. He joined Ohio State’s staff in 1994 and gained valuable experience on their staff as a runningback coach. He jumped to the NFL level in 2004 with the Bears, holding that position until 2012. He joined the Buccaneers coaching staff in 2014 and remains on their staff as of 2016.

USFL   54       RUSH  725    YDS 3158     AVG  4.4    TD  26  LG  n/a |
REC  72     YDS  1047    AVG  14.5    TD 4       LG n/a

NFL 78/46    RUSH 474    YDS 1792   AVG  3.8    TD 19    LG 24  |
REC   53    YDS  432    AVG 8.2     TD 0    LG 43
KR 6       YDS 97       AVG 16.2       TD 0     LG 21