Tag Archives: Dallas Cowboys

NFL

Higgs, Mark

GameDay 1992, #247
Action Packed 1992, #148
Action Packed Rookies 1991, #75
Skybox Premium 1993, #27
Skybox 1992, #98

CARDS: Skybox Premium 1993, Skybox 1992, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Action Packed 1992, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, 2024, C/o Home.
SENT: 9/24/20 RECEIVED: 10/3/20 (9 Days)
SENT: 3/21/24 RECEIVED: 4/5/24 (15 Days)
FAILURE: TTM 2017, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mark Higgs played RB from 1984-’87 for the Kentucky Wildcats.
  • In his senior season he ran for 1,278 yards on 193 carries.
  • He finished his career at Owensboro with 2,892 rushing yards- good for second all-time on the school’s rushing list.
  • Originally a 8th round choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1988 NFL Draft.
  • Buried on the depth chart and relegated to special teams his first 3 years in the NFL playing for the Cowboys (’88), Eagles (’89), and Dolphins (’90).
  • His first TD was a blocked punt he returned 19 yards for a TD against the Patriots in 1990.
  • He’d finally get his shot starting at RB in 1991, in place of Sammie Smith, running for 146 yards in the season opener.
  • The following week Higgs ran for 111 yards, marking the first back to back 100 yard performance by a Dolphins RB since ’82.
  • He finished the season with 231 carries for 905 yards and 4 TDs- the highest season total by a Dolphin since… 1978.
  • Mark topped those numbers in 1992, running for 915 yards and 7 rushing TDs.
  • Starting in 8 contests in 1993, Mark ran for 693 yards and 3 TDs primarily in a backup role behind Terry Kirby.
  • During the 1994 season he’d be cut and sign with the Arizona Cardinals.
  • After spending the majority of the 1995 season on IR due to a back injury, Mark opted to retire.

ACCOLADES:

  • University of Kentucky Hall of Fame 2006

NOTES:

Mark missed out on Pro Set 1989, but he sure did make up for it with a bevvy of set needs in Skybox, Gameday, and Action Packed sets. He provided a nice shot in the arm along with the rejuvenation of the Dolphins offensive line to buy Dan Marino a few more injury free years.

I finally got Mark back in 2020, and then realized I didn’t ask him for his autograph on his Skybox card. Time flew by really quickly after that and I lost track of sending out to him again for it. In the meantime the premium set from the year afterwards became more interesting to me, so it made a lot of sense to send both of them out together.

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NFL, ufl, usfl

Johnston, Daryl ‘Moose’ (5)

Playoff 1993, #129
Pro Set 1993, #43
Topps Finest 1997, #7 Bulldozers

CARDS: Playoff 1993, Pro Set 1993, Topps Finest 1997
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Daryl Johnston is now the defacto point man for the unified USFL/XFL. I think it’s great he loves the sport so much. I appreciate his insightfulness and willingness to throw himself in there. I wasn’t sure what direction he’d go in after the dissolution of the AAF, as I thought he could move into an NFL executive role already, but he seems quite good at- and happy working with the UFL promoting the spring league.

He came down to San Antonio and talked to us about the Brahmas and the merged league. Afterwards he and Wade stood around and signed autographs and took photos. My friend Brandon and I bode our time and eventually we were able to snag him on most or all the items we wanted. I think that I’m finally running dry on things to get Daryl to sign. As a fullback during the 90s even there was an eventual finite level of cards I’d hit that I wanted to have him autograph.

NFL

Rucker, Reggie

Upper Deck Legendary Signatures 2006, #43

CARD: Upper Deck Legendary Signatures 2006
ACQUIRED: 2018, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Reggie Rucker played college ball at Boston University as a WR and PR.
  • Undrafted in 1969, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
  • He’d be buried on the depth chart, spending time on and off the taxi squad while recovering from injury.
  • Cut in 1971, he spent about a month on the Giants.
  • Broke into the starting lineup with the Patriots in 1972, after signing with the team in late ’71.
  • Rucker became an impact player for Cleveland after being traded to the Browns in 1975.
  • Led the league among wide receivers that year with a career high 60 catches.
  • Had best season in ’78 with 43 receptions for 893 yards and 8 TDs.
  • Retired in 1982 due to lingering knee injuries.

ACCOLADES:

  • Boston University HOF 1978

NOTES:

An argument could be made that Reggie Rucker could’ve been the proto Bo Jackson of the 70s. A letterman in FOUR sports, Reggie didn’t just letter- he was damn good at both football and baseball. He had that X-factor that allowed him to make big plays on the big stage when the team needed it most. His stats are also heavily impacted by the ‘dead ball era’ of football during the ’70s.

Rucker has had a controversial career since retirement. He went into broadcasting and was considered an up and coming personality in the ranks, but his image was tarnished after he was caught fabricating a story. Eventually his role was diminished so much that eventually he left the profession all together.

(Now, it seems like a big deal maybe, but keep in mind, in this day and age, there are plenty of color commentators who have been busted fabricating talking to the coach during halftime that have just shrugged it off and continue on.)

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