I had never gotten Rick through the mail over the years, but I started stacking up a pile of cards that I wanted to get his autograph on. A perennial standout TTM, Rick inked all 6 of these cards for me. I normally don’t abuse players for so many autographs- as I’m usually a 3 and done kinda guy per letter, but since I’ve seen him get tapped for 10 before, I didn’t have too much of a problem with that.
Classic 1993 was a low hanging fruit for me for a long time, but there’s been some fun gems to mine from that set. Around that time I was tapping out of trading cards and autographs so I missed out on a lot of these sets.
Finished second all-time in total all purpose yards (3,834) and rushing (3232) in Georgia history, behind only Herschel Walker.
Set SEC records for points, TDs, rushing TDs, and per carry average.
Cardinals traded Johnny Johnson and their first round pick to the Jets, moving up to select Hearst with the 3rd overall pick of the 1993 NFL Draft.
Ran for 257 yards and a TD, but a knee injury sidelined him for a majority of the season.
Had a 57 yard carry- the longest by a Cardinal since Stump Mitchell in 1985.
Another knee injury marred Hearst’s season early in 1994, as he finished strong rushing for 169 yards over the final 4 contests.
Topped the 100 yard barrier for first time in career in 1995, rushing for 121 yards against the Saints.
Broke the 1k barrier that year rushing for 1070 yards, and catching 29 passes, the best by a Card since 1982.
Released by the Cardinals and signed with Bengals in 1996.
Played one season with Bengals, initially as a backup, but pounded the rock for 847 yards.
Signed with 49ers in 1997 and rejuvenated SF’s rushing game.
Ran for 1019 yards on 236 carries (4 TDs) in ’97.
Had an even better ’98, running for a career high 1570 yards.
In Week 1 against the New York Jets in OT, had one of the greatest runs in NFL history, rushing for a 96 yard TD.
Broke his ankle during the 1998 playoffs- an injury that would keep him out of the league for two seasons.
Amazingly returned to form again in 2001, despite facing a career threatening injury, rushing for over 1,200 yards.
Played for the ‘9ers an additional two seasons, before playing a final year in 2004 with the Broncos.
ACCOALADES:
Doak Walker Award 1992
Second Team AP 1998
Pro Bowl 1998, ’01
NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2001
Florida-Georgia HoF
College Football Hall of Fame 2023
NOTES:
During this time of my life I was still going to training camps, but I started ratcheting down my card purchases. Whether it was cost, an over saturated market, or just discovering girls- this card came from one of those last packs I bought before I went into a long hibernation. When I came back to the hobby and went through all those boxes this card immediately went into the ‘priority box’. And 12 years later from that, I finally got Garrison’s autograph. Strange how accomplished it feels.
Big (6’6″, 357), man-mountain Lincoln Kennedy was an outstanding lineman for the Washington Huskies from 1988-92.
First team All-American in his senior campaign, earning player of the game honors 7 times that year.
Started originally as a defensive lineman, but was quickly moved to OL after redshirt freshman season, deployed effectively at both G and T.
First round pick (9th overall) of the Atlanta Falcons in 1993.
Had a rough transition to the NFL and by ’95 was traded to the Raiders for a 5th Round pick.
Moved to right tackle and solidified himself as an upper echelon player, playing for the Raiders for the next 7 seasons.
Joined the NFL Network in 2004 on NFL Total Access.
Toyed around with a comeback in 2005 with the Dallas Cowboys, but failed his physical.
Played in the Arena Football League for the Tampa Bay Storm from 2007-’08 and 2010.
Currently is in radio, working for Fox Sports.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 2000-02
All-Pro 2002
College Football HoF 2015
NOTES:
Kennedy was a great player who quietly flew under the radar until his retirement for me. I love his love for the sport, and how after he retired he decided to come back, so much so he opted to play in the Arena League to keep it sated.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
