Tag Archives: cleveland browns

NFL

Miller, Billy

sco03 millerCards: Topps 2004, Score 2003, Score 2004
Acquired: 2013, C/o Elite Performance Factory
Sent: 6/1   Received: 7/8   (37 days)

Billy Miller is best remembered by Texans fans for scoring the franchise’s first TD against the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. His reaching grab on the opening drive of the game, (an eventual 19-10 victory) served notice of Miller’s determination to be accepted as a football player on the pro stage. It also was the first touchdown scored at Houston’s Reliant Stadium. Miller was originally drafted by the Denver Broncos as a wide receiver out of USC in 1999. The 7th round choice did not see any playing time through 2001, and was so upset about being cut that season by the Broncos that he used his ‘turk buckslip’ as motivation, taping it to the inside of his locker.

Basically adopting a “Will do anything mentality”, Miller arrived in Houston before the team took the field its inaugural season, not even really registering a blip on the free agent signee radar. sco04 millerShifting to TE, Billy supplanted Rod Rutledge in the lineup and quickly developed a rapport with quarterback David Carr as his safety valve. With his soft hands and speed, he provided a mismatch against nearly all opposing linebackers and defensive linemen that might shift into coverage to stop him, forcing most teams to deploy a DB in coverage when he released out into the flat. Billy became the team’s first receptions leader, finishing the 2002 season with 51 catches (for 613 yards and 3 TDs), in 7 starts. In 2003, he added another 40 receptions to his team leading total, but already with the emergence of Andre Johnson by 2004, Miller’s reception accomplishment has been rendered to an interesting footnote.  An injury riddled 2004 limited Billy to 17 receptions and a touchdown. He’d score that final touchdown with the Texans, in a 31-21 rout of the Tennessee Titans, as the franchise finished 7-9.

The Texans in 2005 decided they were ready for primetime football with the big boys, after their impressive 2004 season. To further this theory they decided to purge their roster of many of their expansion draft players. Billy in the meantime signed with the Cleveland to04 millerBrowns, suiting up for only 3 games but getting no play time.  In 2006 he’d join the roster of the New Orleans Saints and his statistics saw a slow but strong rebound. Over the next 3 seasons, he’d record 86 receptions for 1036 yards and 3 touchdowns. Resigning with the team in 2009, Miller blew out his Achilles in training camp. While he’d win a Super Bowl ring for the Saints victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Billy decided that it was fine time to retire.

Miller currently runs Elite Performance Factory, a strength and conditioning facility gym in California. In 2013, Miller was named the strength and conditioning coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

G/Gs  114/36      Rec 200     Yds 2248    Avg 11.2   Td 10    Lg 57

 

NFL, WLAF

Clack, Darryl “Darryl Clackers”

to88 clackCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992, Topps 1988.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Texas Autograph Club Promotion*
Sent: 7/1      Received: 9/28  (89 days)
Failure:  TTM 2010, C/o Home

Darryl Clack had an outstanding career for the Arizona Sun Devils. His freshman season he ran for 606 yards on 111 carries and followed it up with 932 yards and 9 touchdowns his sophomore year. Running for 1052 yards his junior year, it looked like everything was on the up and up for Darryl Clackers, but with a broken leg, he’d be sidelined for nearly his entire senior season.

The Dallas Cowboys were looking for an heir apparent to aging runningback Tony Dorsett in 1986. The Cowboys used their second round pick to select the electrifying Clack (who was still rehabbing from that broken leg that he sustained during his senior season). Still things looked great for Clack, until fate intervened -and the USFL imploded. You see the Dallas Cowboys had shrewdly invested a 6th round pick in runningback virtuoso Herschel Walker, hoping that wcwlaf92 clackhe’d become available, so instead of becoming the Cowboys back of the future, Darryl became the kick returner of today with the arrival of Walker in camp. Clack was seldom used during his rookie season. He’d lodge 19 kick returns for 421 yards including a 51 yard long.

In 1987, with Dorsett and Walker firmly entrenched now as starters, Clack didn’t see anytime at runningback but in 1988 with Dorsett signing with Denver, Clack made 17 receptions for 126 yards and his first professional touchdown. Darryl also had 690 yards on kick returns for the Cowboys, marking a career high 870 yards from scrimmage. After the season with Jerry Jones in place as the new owner, longtime coach Tom Landry would be fired after a  3-13 season, and with Jimmy Johnson in as head coach, the Cowboys traded Herschel Walker to the Vikings. While playing only half the season for the team in 1989, Clack did not see any significant playing time, and was cut. Darryl signed with the Browns in 1990, however he did not make the squad.

Out of football for a whole season, Darryl was given a second ult92 thunderchance to play by the WLAF’s Orlando Thunder in 1992, who were retooling after a mediocre 5-5 season under new head coach Galen Hall. Clack put up great numbers for the Thunder and finished as the league’s 3rd leading rusher, helping the team make an appearance in World Bowl II. He’d earn All World League honors for his efforts. As the league reorganized after the season, Darryl officially hung up his cleats and retired.

He’s spent time in the banking industry for a while there at Compass in Arizona. I had tried in vain to get him but had gotten no response. Recently the Texas Autograph Club hosted a signing through the site and I jumped at the chance to get him on 3 cards. I had hoped that Clack would answer my questions for me about his playing time in the WLAF, but all I got back were the autographs.

NFL     G/Gs  51/1     Rush 29    Yds 113     Avg  3.9      Td 2      Lg  17
Rec  22  Yds 213  Avg 9.7   Td 1   Lg 44
Kr 83    Yds 1802   Avg 21.7    Td 0   Lg 51

WLAF  Rush117     Yds 517    Avg 4.4   Td 6    Lg 23t
Rec 27   Yds 250    Avg      Td 0   Lg 22

NFL, University of Texas

Braggs, Stephen

tosc91 braggsud92 braggs

Cards: Action Packed 1992, Upper Deck 1992, Stadium Club 1991
Acquired: 2/16/2013, Longhorn Neighborhood Foundation Bowling Tournament

Stephen Braggs quietly entered the NFL in 1987, as a 6th round pick of the Cleveland Browns from the University of Texas. He played 7 seasons in the NFL, 5 of them for the Browns at FS and CB, (where he split time with another former Longhorn, Raymond Clayborn,) and then later with the Dolphins from 1992 to 1993. Stephen started 18 games in his career, recording 4.5 sacks and 5 picks. Valued for his special teams play, ability to block kicks and his speed, Braggs was a nice find for the Browns, and a pretty fiesty defensive back for a guy who stands at 5-9, 180.

ap92 braggsBraggs was the first one I got at the Bowling Tournament. He had a team of coworkers with him who were also getting footballs signed. He gave them a word of advice by saying, “Hit them up as soon as they leave the showroom.” Taking his advice, I promptly walked up to him and asked him to sign 3 cards for me. He smiled and penned them all for me. I then helped his coworkers ask players for autographs when they were too nervous to which they all appreciated. Since football, Braggs has sworn off head coaching stating that he likes to sleep. Currently he’s a defensive coordinator at Harmony, a private school institution for learning.

Braggs had actually quite a few cards over his career, and I’m sure I’ll track him down at another event since he is an active NFL and Longhorn alum. In his spare time Stephen (at least used to) enjoy hunting rattlesnakes- a hobby he picked up while at the University of Texas.

G/Gs 83/18   Tac N/a  Sac 4.5   Fum 0 |
Int 5     Yds 28    Avg 5.1   Td 0    Lg 16