Card: GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp
James McArthur Washington was originally a 5th round pick of the then Los Angeles Rams in 1988 out of UCLA. He’d play two seasons for the team as a backup, suiting up in 25 games and making one pick. In 1990 Washington would sign Plan B with the Dallas Cowboys. I’d swear that he was the Dallas Cowboy who first wore the dew rag on the team- frequently sporting a black one across his head that made him look like a ninja samurai headhunting safety. Playing for the Cowboys he would enjoy his greatest success allowed to roam the secondary as a starter at strong safety and occasionally at free safety, pulling in a career high 113 tackles in 1991 and 5 interceptions in 1994. SuperBowl XXVIII (1993) would be his finest hour where he’d make an interception, recover a fumble for a touchdown and make a team high 11 tackles. Even though Washington was considered for the MVP honor, he eventually lost out to Emmitt Smith for the honor. In 1995 he’d sign as a free agent with the rival Redskins, where he’d start 12 games making 2 interceptions before he retired after 7 seasons.
James works for Fox Sports Radio and net, founded and works with Shelter 37, Inc., and was named in 2010 as the Assistant Director of Alumni Giving at UCLA.
G/Gs 114/70 Tac 458 Sac 0 Fum 7 Int 17 Yds 187 Td 0 Lg 38
The season had ended and I got a letter two weeks later stuffed with cards from the Indianapolis Colts! For a team that finished- 1-15, it still made me super happy to get these cards from the players. Maurice Carthon was in that lot. Initially unheralded Maurice Carthon- blocking fullback to the stars- would be signed by the upstart USFL, where he’d block for the New Jersey Generals and… football rushing record holder Herschel Walker. After the 1985 season, Carthon didn’t miss a beat jumping straight to the New York Giants. A strong inside runner with excellent run blocking skills and impressive pass protection ability, Maurice would play for the Giants primarily during the Bill Parcells era winning a championship ring in both SuperBowls XXI and XXV. Carthon would play one season for the Colts in 1992 where I’d get his autograph, and then retire. Since then Maurice has spent his entire post playing career as an assistant in the NFL with the Patriots, Jets, Lions, Cowboys, Browns, Cardinals, and as of this post in 2010 with the Chiefs. He is considered an apostle of the Parcells’ coaching tree working for Bill at three different teams.
Cards: ProSet 1991, Classic 1991
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991, 1992
Neither of these cards probably do Dixon Edwards enough justice. The ProSet pose feels obviously staged and faked, while the Classic 1991 is just one of the ugliest cards I’ve ever seen. Whoever convinced the Classic card corporation that grey on grey leopard print on a football card would be good looking should be thrown down a hole.
Dixon Edwards was drafted in the 2nd round of the 1991 draft with a pick that was directly related to the Herschel Walker trade. When we got his autograph at training camp he had this very odd hair style and pencil thin mustache. A rangy linebacker with good speed and coverage ability, Edward’s strength was playing weakside lienbacker, but he had the ability to play inside, outside, or the middle linebacker position. He’d contribute at left linebacker and special teams for the Dallas Cowboys organization through their SuperBowl years starting for the team from 1993-1995 after two years as a backup. After his stint in Dallas, Edwards would play for the Viking organization from 1996-1998 where he would excel. In 1999 Dixon would then sign with the Dolphins where Jimmy Johnson was building ‘Dallas South’. Edwards would be diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in training camp and would retire soon thereafter.
G/Gs 120/90 Tac 347 Sac 7.5 Fum 6 Int 2 Yds 54 Avg 27.0 Td 1 Lg 36T
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
