Tag Archives: cleveland browns

CFL, NFL, NFLE

Stacy, Siran (2)


aprks92 sstacycla92 sstacy
Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Classic 1992 Blister, GameDay 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home*
Failure: 2012, C/o Home
See Also: Siran Stacy
* Donation Enclosed

gday92 sstacyI had been after Siran Stacy for sometime and I was very happy to add him on these three cards.  After failing on him back in 2011 using an address list, it took some old fashioned connect the dots Googling to finally track down Stacy.  Siran continues to be active in the ministry and so I felt that a donation to his church was appropriate in order to get these three really cool cards signed.

Stacy’s 1989 performance is still remembered fondly by Alabama fans. He rushed for 1,079 yards and had 17 touchdowns, helping propel the Crimson Tide to a share of the SEC title and earn a Sugar Bowl berth.

 

NFL

Lansford, Mike

to90 mlansfordCards: Topps 1990, ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Work
Sent: 11/16/15     Received: 2/1/16 (77 days)
Failure: 2014, C/o Home

With the amazing mustache, mullet, and barefoot kicking style, Mike Lansford was a great compliment for the LA Rams look. A California native, who kicked in college for Washington and Pasadena CC (CA), before being selected by the New York Giants in the 12th round of the 1980 NFL draft. Unable to make the team, he had tryouts with the Raiders and 49ers and then finally landed on the Rams roster in 1982 where he played in 9 games and went 9 of 15 on field goals.  His best season came in 1984, going 25 of 33 on field goals. He then had solid seasons in 1988 and 1989. With the Ernie Zampese offensive machine in full swing Mike led the league in 1989 with an astounding (at the time) 51 extra points made and scoring a career high 120 points.

pset89 mlansford

Lansford ran into contract issues with Rams management that year. He was being paid a pittance based on his performance and vested years in the league. Mike could’ve held out, but instead out of good faith, came in and kicked for the team anyway while they negotiated a new deal with his agent. The Rams came back with a salary that put him near to slightly above the league average, but the kicker rebuffed the team.  In October, he and the team put it all behind them as he signed a 2 year deal.  While Lansford’s 1990 was considered a down year, in short, it was still a banner year by most kicker’s standards.

pset90 mlansfordLansford has been quoted as saying that, “He wanted to kick for the Rams until his toe turned blue.”, but unfortunately all good things must come to an end.  He signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 1991 season, losing out to Matt Stover for the job.  Mike is the All-Time leading scorer in Los Angeles Rams history, and was an outstanding kicker when the game was on the line, never missing a game winning kick.  In at least 8 contests he put away the opposing team with ice in his veins.

I had been wanting to get the iconic kicker for sometime on a few cards, and was disappointed when I missed out on him TTM back in 2014.   He is involved in kicking camps for kids, where I finally got a response from him early in 2016. A big time LA Rams fan, Lansford attended the city rally to bring back the Rams, where he was quoted as saying that, “I bleed blue and gold, just like you guys do!”, to a cheering crowd.

G 124     XPA 325    XPM 315
FGA 217   FGM  158   PCT 72.8%    LG 52     PTS 789

 

NFL

Smith, Rodney (WR)

leaf12 rsmithCard: Leaf Draft 2013
Acquired: 2013, Box Breaker

Rodney Smith was an intriguing prospect coming into the 2013 draft. On paper he has many of the athletic tangibles that many teams desire of their prospects at wide receiver, clocking in at 6’5″, with long arms (84″ wingspan) , and a decent 40 at 4.51.
Still the knock on Smith was his lack of production at the college level, and his inability to outmuscle competition at the line of scrimmage (225 lb), especially in press coverage. This comes as quite a mixed bag as he has also been hailed for his aggressive blocking, and his production numbers didn’t really gel until his junior and senior seasons. It is thought that he needs at least another season to develop and put on the bulk that he needs to compete at the pro level and may see a conversion to tight end in the future.

Smith seemed to have fallen into good hands, being reunited with his college quarterback Christian Ponder on the Vikings, after going undrafted in the 2013.  He’d hang onto the practice roster through October of 2014, and after being released,  quickly be signed by the Browns, only to be cut in August of 2015.

Rodney is currently a member of the  Dallas Cowboys practice squad.