Tag Archives: classic 1993

NFL, NFLE, University of Texas

Gunn, Lance

Cards: Classic 1993, ProSet 1993, Playoff 1994
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 10/25 Received: 11/5 (11 days)

Lance played college ball for the Texas Longhorns from 1989-1992 at safety. A hard hitting rangy product and solid special teams contributor, he had 298 total tackles, 6 sacks, and 10 interceptions (1 TD) over his 4 years in Austin.

He’d be selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 7th round of the 1993 draft. Lance ended up starting 8 games for Cinci at strong safety recording 25 solo stops and 3 assists, along with one fumble recovery- before a knee injury ultimately cut short his season and his NFL career.

Lance reappeared on the football scene in 1997 playing one year for the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFLE. He decided to hang up his cleats in 1998 after he donated a kidney to his father.

As a footnote, Lance decided to give football one more shot in 1999 with the Texas Terminators of the IPFL. He made it through training camp and was going to be their starting safety, but right before the first game of the season, Frito Lay made him an offer to come on board that he could not refuse. As of 2019, Lance lives in the Austin area.

I was pretty much ducking out of trading cards by this point. The price to value ratio, combined with the design was just not that great. I do remember being at Cowboys Training Camp at St. Edwards that Summer in 1993, and picking up a few packs of Classic 1993 at Mr. K’s Sports Cards. I was happy to pull the Classic 93 card of Lance while walking back to camp- and then now getting it signed a bit over 26 years later.

NFLTACSACFUMINT YDSAVGTDLG
8/8280100-.-0-.-
NFL, XFL

Potts, Roosevelt

Cards: Topps XFL 2001, Classic 1993, ProSet 1993, GameDay 1993
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home (x2)
Sent: 2/27 Received: 3/28 (31 days)
Sent: 4/18 Received: 4/27 (9 days)

Bruising fullback Roosevelt Potts reminded many of Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward coming out of college from NE Louisiana. A tireless runner with a low center of gravity, Potts had 558 carries for 3,061 yards and 17 TDs- finishing as the school’s all-time leading rusher, and earned the Southland Conference Player of the Year Honors in 1992 when he ran for 1,266 yards.

Potts was selected in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He’d finish his rookie year with 900 yards from scrimmage- 771 on the ground on 179 carries used primarily as a RB his rookie year. With the arrival of Marshall Faulk in 1994, Potts switched primarily to a blocking role. He scored his lone rushing TD of his career in 1994, posting 336 yards on 77 carries and catching 26 passes for 251 yards. After a 1995 with relatively the same results- Potts was a restricted free agent with a few caveats. First he had to have reconstructive knee surgery, and second, he had been found in violation of the league’s drug policy. It was his 3rd strike and he had to serve a mandatory season long suspension covering all of 1996.

Roosevelt returned to the Colts in 1997, but for the most part that season was a wash too. He played 2 games for the Colts, and 6 games for the Dolphins. He took his skills to Baltimore in 1998 where he served another 16 game stint at fullback, rushing 36 times for 115 yards, and catching a career high 30 passes. A sneaky backfield option with a downfield bulldozing motor- Potts caught 4 TDs in his career on 106 receptions.

But wait- Potts story doesn’t just end there! He joined the XFL in 2001 playing for the Memphis Maniax after a 2 year layoff. Still displaying his hard nosed and devastating blocking up front, Potts played in 4 games catching a pass for 5 yards.

He signed this Topps XFL card for me very quickly- but included a nice note indicating that he had accidentally sent my other cards to somebody else, and if I wanted to send more- he’d be happy to sign. Eager to take him up on his offer I dropped another Gameday 93 and Classic 93 into the envelope along with this ProSet 93. He signed in no time flat and kindly answered my questions telling me that he loved watching the Alliance and will watch the new XFL when it comes out. What a guy! I feel like I could sit down with Potts, have drinks and talk Spring football with this guy all day.

Potts is an Honorary Horseshoe Legend for the Colts, and was named into the ULM 2016 HoF class.

NFL G/GSRUSHYDSAVGTDLG
71/6135914754.1152
RECYDSAVGTDLG
1068638.1452
XFL GRECYDSAVGTDLG
4155.005
NFL

Bledsoe, Drew

Card: Classic 1993
Acquired: TTM 1995, C/o The New England Patriots

Drew Bledsoe was officially the last TTM  autograph I received in 1995, until I started collecting again in 2010- a period of some 15 years. The overall #1 pick of the 1993 draft, and first choice of then coach Bill Parcells, Bledsoe was a consummate professional and an avid student of the game, with a cannon for an arm. Bledsoe would start immediately, being thrown right into the fire by the Patriots but responded respectably, winning 5 games his rookie season. It didn’t take Bledsoe long, as in 1994 the team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1986. He’d be named to the Pro Bowl and set the NFL record for most pass attempts in a season with a monstrous 691 attempts. Drew led the team to the Super Bowl in 1997 against the Green Bay Packers and was named the starter for the ProBowl. His consistency continued, leading his team to numerous playoff appearances and Pro Bowl nominations, but things changed in 2001, when Bledsoe was hit by Jets linebacker Mo Lewis. The catastrophic injury caused internal bleeding, and Tom Brady replaced Drew in the lineup. Tom never looked back, leading the team to a SuperBowl victory. Bledsoe was a consummate professional about the whole thing, and never complained about losing his starting job.

After discussions with management about what he wanted- Bledsoe was traded to in-division rival Buffalo and played there admirably for 3 seasons, setting the team record for most passing yards in a game.  In 2005, Bledsoe signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, and was reunited with his former head coach Bill Parcells. He’d play well there for an additional season, but by this point his mobility had disintegrated to such a point that he was getting brutalized in the pocket. Additional erratic play emerged and in 2006 he was replaced in the lineup by Tony Romo. He’d retire after that season.

Bledsoe’s statistical legacy in the NFL is impressive. He’d finish at that time 5th in career attempts and completions, and 7th in yards. Drew since retirement has been active in his community, charitable events and has returned to his college roots in the Walla Walla area, where he owns a small vineyard, (Flying B Vineyards).

G/Gs  194/193   Att 6717    Comp  3859    Pct  57.2   Yds 44611
Td  251    Int 206    lg 86T    Rat  77.1