Tag Archives: cleveland browns

NFL

Davis, Andre

Card: Score 2008
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

Andre Davis was a second round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns that came off the board after the Texans took Jabar Gaffney in 2002. Davis would play for the Browns from 2002-2004. In his rookie season, Davis would serve primarily as a returner, and log 1000+ yards on kick returns, scoring a touchdown ironically against Houston that season.  He’d finish with 1500+ yards from scrimmage that season. His sophomore season would be roughly more of the same in 2003, logging roughly 1400 yards. Blessed with lightning fast speed, Davis would notably make a 99 yard touchdown grab against the Bengals in 2004 starting 7 games at wide receiver, but not make any returns. After the season he’d bounce around but end up on New England’s roster in 2005 and Buffalo in 2006. Signed primarily for depth, these two seasons would be a wash and Davis would drift more towards the fringe.

However 2007 would see the  return of Davis, as the Houston Texans signed him in the offseason in 2007. With injuries plaguing go to receiver Andre Johnson– Davis would step into the starting line up for the team and perform surprisingly well. He’d log 583 yards receiving for the Texans and 3 touchdowns.  He’d also replace troubled and oft injured Robert Mathis at returner. Davis would be incredibly dangerous at kick returner averaging 30.3 yards a return (top 35 all time) on 32 returns. He’d also log 3 touchdowns (a league high) including two against the Jaguars that season but would miss the Pro Bowl roster. 2008 would result in Davis logging another 1200 yards from scrimmage and his always dangerous return skills would help the Texans make good field position throughout the season but injuries would begin to take their wear and tear on the receiver. In 2009 Davis would have another 782 yards from scrimmage for the Texans, but by 2010 he spent the whole season on the shelf due to a hip pointer which could be career ending. Over his career Davis has over 7,000 yards from scrimmage in 9 seasons. In early March 2011, Andre would be released by the Texans and it remains to be seen if he will return to the league.

G/Gs  104/33        Rec 156      Yds 2470      Avg  15.8      Td 17      Lg 99t  |
Kr 205      Yds 4821    Avg   23.5       Td 4         Lg 104t |
Pr  8           Yds  40       Avg   5.0          Td 0         Lg 15 |

NFL, usfl

Gossett, Jeff

Cards: Score 1990, Topps 1991
Acquired: In Person 1990,1991, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Jeff Gossett led a very long, consistent, and productive NFL career which actually started back in 1980 after he failed to make the roster of the Dallas Cowboys as a free agent. He’d sign with the Chiefs and be their punter from 1981 to 1982, and then become a journeyman playing for the Browns for a season before hopping over to the USFL. Gossett would play for the Chicago Blitz in 1984, and the Portland Breakers in 1985, then back to the Browns later in 1985 to play for the Browns through 1987. He’d punt for the Oilers as well that year and then finally find a permanent home with the Los Angeles Raiders. Jeff would be named to the Pro Bowl (AP as well) in 1991, and play with the Raiders through their transition back to Oakland in 1996 for a total of 140 games with the Silver and Black. A solid punter, Gossett averaged 44.2 yards a punt in 1991, and 43.9 yards in 1994. Only in 2 out of 16 seasons did Jeff average below 40 yards a punt. Well represented in Tecmo Bowl history, he’d make an appearance in both Tecmo SuperBowl and Tecmo SuperBowl Final Edition, and his 982 punts would rank top 20 upon retirement.

G/Gs 212       Punts 982      Yds 40569       Avg 41.3        Lg  65       Blk  4

AFL, College Football HoF, NFL

MacPherson, Dick (1930-2017)

Card: ProSet 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, Patriots Blitz

Syracuse Orangeman coaching legend Dick MacPherson was hired to fix the woeful Patriots. (Somebody had to do it.) He’d field a surprisingly competitive team in 1991 but the team would regress in 1992 and he’d be fired at season’s end after an 8-24 record. Fear not though, this is when Patriots’ lore gets good as the next coach hired was Bill Parcells.

Coach MacPherson though should be remembered though, rightfully so, for his work at the college level, which started way back in 1958 with the University of Illinois. He’d make stops at the University of Massachusetts, Cincinnati, and Maryland before going to the pros as an assistant with the Denver Broncos of the AFL from 1967-1970. He’d return to coach at Massachusetts from 1971-1977, then off to the Browns for the next 3 seasons to coach linebackers.

In 1980 Dickey Mac would make his mark taking over for the Orangemen at Syracuse turning the college sports program around. He’d coach there for the next 10 years before 2 final years with the Patriots, and retire. His cumulative college record was 111-73-5. MacPherson was inducted into the CFHoF in 2009 and he provides commentary on the Syracuse Orangemen radio network.

EPITAPH:

8/8/2017- Dick MacPherson passed away at the age of 86, surrounded by friends and family in Syracuse, NY.