Tag Archives: cleveland browns

Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL

Testaverde, Vinny (2)

Action Packed 1990, #270

CARD: Action Packed 1990
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Since after his playing days, Vinny has been almost a non-signer TTM. Despite some fade and light smudging, I figured that this one was worth it based on what I already had in my collection. This one was pretty much grabbed with a stack of other Bucs to help fill out my Action Packed 1990 set. I absolutely love the photo, and the lighting really catches that creamsickle orange that I am so fond of.

CFL, NFL

Rison, Andre ‘Bad Moon’

Action Packed Rookies 1990, #83

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Action Packed 1990, Action Packed Rookies & Stars 1990
ACQUIRED: 2022, Private Signing

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Andre Rison was a dominant receiver who played at Michigan State.
  • He established career record marks for receptions (146), and yards (2992).
  • Also was a great basketball and track man for the Spartans.
  • Selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft.
  • Was second among all rookie receivers in 1989 with 820 yards, and was the first Colts receiver in almost 10 years to catch over 50 passes in their rookie season (52).
  • He and Bill Brooks were an effective 1-2 punch, pairing for the most 100 yard games since ’68.
  • Well in 1990, the Colts were desperate for a QB, so they packaged up Andre, T Chris Hinton, and draft picks to get the #1 pick from the Falcons to select Jeff George.
  • While the Colts were imploding over the next few years, Rison was reaching new heights in the Falcons Red Gun offense.
  • He also adopted a bad boy persona and became known as ‘Bad Moon’ Rison.
  • He had a career high 93 receptions in ’92, 1,242 yards , and a league leading 15 TDs in 1994.
  • Andre started 73 games over his time in Atlanta, catching 423 passes for 5633 yards and 56 TDs over 5 seasons.
  • In 1995, Andre signed with the Browns playing one seasons with the team.
  • After a disappointing season in Cleveland, where he feuded with fans, Rison played in 1996 for the Jags, and then was picked up by the Pack who needed help at receiver.
  • He’d earn a Super Bowl ring that season catching passes from Brett Favre.
  • Rison cashed in after the season, proving that perhaps he just needed a change of scenery from his hiccup two previous seasons ago in Cleveland.
  • Andre had a minor resurgence after he signed with the Chiefs in 1997.
  • He’d catch 72 passes for 1092 yards and 7 TDs, earning the nickname Spider-man.
  • Rison at this point of his career was attempting to rehabilitate his image as a diva, and Spider-man seemed like a positive role model.
  • After a total of 3 seasons in KC, Rison played one final year in the NFL with the Raiders in Oakland.
  • Despite not starting that year, he put up 41 catches for 606 yards and 6 TDs.
  • Rison took some time away from the sport, but returned in 2004 to play for the Toronto Argonauts.
  • He played just long enough to help the team win the Grey Cup, and retired after the 2005 campaign.
  • After his playing days ended, Andre has gone into coaching.
Pro Set 1989, #497
Action Packed 1990, #107

ACCOLADES:

  • Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
  • All-Rookie Team 1989
  • AP 1990
  • 2nd Team AP 1991-’93
  • Pro Bowl 1990-’93, 1997

NOTES:

Boasting an extremely low signing percentage and an ancient last return date there was no way I was going to get Andre through the mail. I knew the best chance I’d have is to probably go through a private signing. I follow a couple of private signers and Facebook pages that promote them, and finally after missing out on one already- I was able to get him affordably on these three cards. The problem is with Andre, as he was an early darling of every set that came onto the scene in those early days of the big card boom, so I literally have probably five or six more set needs. Andre was an excellent receiver on the Atlanta Falcons in Tecmo Super Bowl and Super Tecmo Bowl.

Andre has a pretty solid resume, but maybe due to his bad image early in his career that caused him to be perceived as a diva, and then just as a bad guy in general, he’s gotten little traction from voters for the HoF, even though he’s gone to great lengths to dispel his reputation. Despite possessing a 10k resume, and impressive TD numbers, Rison is now caught in the logger jam at WR building from more modern candidates that have inflated numbers due to a game geared more towards the passing game. Andre is also one of a unique club of players who has won both a Grey Cup and a Super Bowl.

NFL

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CFL

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NFL

McCormack, Mike (1930-2013)

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played college football for the University of Kansas from 1947-50.
  • Selected by the New York Yanks in the 3rd round of the 1951 NFL Draft.
  • Team moved to Dallas in 1952 and became the Texans.
  • Conscripted into the US Army and served in Korea through ’54.
  • Became free agent upon return, after franchise folded.
  • Joined the Cleveland Browns that year initially playing on the defensive line.
  • In ’55 moved to offensive line, blocking up front for HOFer Jim Brown.
  • Became the most dominant lineman of the era, completely neutralizing HOF defenders.
  • Retired in ’62 and jumped straight into coaching.
  • After working the All-Star college game circuit, became an assistant coach with the Redskins in 1965, working there through ’72.
  • Joined rival Eagles as head coach in ’73.
  • Compiled a 16-25-1 record as head coach over 3 seasons.
  • Worked with the Bengals from ’76-’79 as an assistant coach.
  • Compiled a 9-23 record as HC of the Baltimore Colts over the next two years.
  • Spent one year as HC of the Seahawks in ’82 winning 4 games and losing 3.
  • Moved into the general manager role in 1982, helping build the Seahawks into a contender in the AFC West, through ’89.
  • Served as the Panthers first GM from 1993-97.

ACCOLADES:

  • Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
  • Carolina Panthers Hall of Honor
  • Pro Bowl 1951, ’56, ’57, ’60-’62
  • All-Pro 1954-’62
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame

EPITAPH:

Passed away in 2012 of heart failure at the age of 83.

WLTPCT
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