Tag Archives: Denver Broncos

NFL

McCaffrey, Ed

pset91 mccaffreyap91 mccaffrey

Cards: Action Packed 1991, Pro Set 1990
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Pro Link Sports
Sent: 1/7   Received: 4/16   (99 days)

Underutilized by the Giants in their ground and pound based offense, nobody really paid much attention when he signed with the San Fransisco 49ers as a free agent in 1994. Why, Ed McCaffrey only had totaled 92 receptions for 1091 yards and 7 touchdowns in 3 seasons after being a 3rd round pick of NY. It’d be in those early years with the Giants, who were struggling with the departure of their coach Bill Parcells, and a Super Bowl hangover, that I’d see McCaffrey go out one Thanksgiving contest and give his all in a game, while his team lost 30-3 to the Cowboys.  Ed didn’t really impress with the 49ers that next season either, however he won his first Super Bowl title. After that one unimpressive season, the jig was up in San Fransisco-land and Ed was back on the street by 1995.

With the Three Amigos at the end of their career, new offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak was looking to stir things up. The Broncos were transitioning at the time and McCaffrey (and fellow receiver Rod Smith,) seemed to fit the bill. McCaffrey proved to be a nice find for the Broncos as every season through 2000, he increased his receiving production with his sure hands and deceptive speed.  This culminated in career highs that year (2000) with 101 receptions for 1317 yards and 9 touchdowns. While injuries finished his NFL career prematurely in 2003, Ed won 2 Super Bowl rings with the Broncos and was named to the Pro Bowl for his 1998 performance. As one of John Elway‘s favorite targets, McCaffrey finished his career in Denver with 462 receptions for 6200 yards and 46 touchdowns.

In 2009, Ed was named to the Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team and in 2012, became a color analyst for the Broncos Radio Network.

G/Gs 185/109     Rec 565    Yds 7422   Avg 13.1    Td 55     Lg 78

Arena, CFL, NFL, University of Texas

Babers, Rod “Black Caesar” (3)

Card: Whataburger AM1300 The Zone, Memorabilia
Acquired: Whataburger Signing 3/12, Texans Draft Party 2012
See Also: Rod Babers, Rod Babers (2)

So I ambushed Rod at a local Whataburger restaurant- that was literally a few miles from me. Being that it was in the boondocks and they just weren’t expecting anybody to show up, having me walk through the door must have humored him and his sound guy greatly as I they are beginning to recognize me when I show up for their events. I printed out a photo I found online of Rod for him to sign. Whataburger also provided him with a card as well (which was nothing compared to my Upper Deck UT doppelganger). I sat around and ate dinner while I talked to Rod and Chuck about sports. It was nice to see the inner workings of how radio works. Rod again was quite flattered by the memorabilia, and also told people on the radio that I was a true fan because I had a James Brown jersey on from not UT- but the Texas Terminators indoor football team.  I am honesty running out of photos of Rod and am hoping to get my paws on one of him in his Tiger-Cats uniform.

Later I got this photo of Rod making the play against Raushaun Woods keeping him from scoring the 2 point conversion and allowing the Longhorns to win the game when he was at the Texans Draft Party that had Danieal Manning and James Casey at it.

Rod’s a very personable fan of fans. I think that’s great, and exactly what 1300 the Zone’s lineup needs. Guys who’ve played who like talking about football, while educating and embracing fans. I’m not so sure of some of the latest additions to the station’s lineup, as I think Rod pushes the boundaries of taste sometimes as it is. Rod is also known by a few names to fans: Kool Aid, and Stonehands, are two of my favorites, but on the radio he frequently is known as Black Caesar. He’s said some things on the radio that have surprised me, from convincing me that as Longhorn fans we should wish anybody- even A&M the best in the SEC, to the idea that Longhorn fans should not be happy with ‘just playing well in a loss’. Currently he’s the host of UT’s Afternoon Buffet on 1300 the Zone.  He also spends his time giving back to the community working with the Neighborhood Longhorn Foundation.

CFL, NFL

Walker, Kenny

pset91 walker sco91 walker

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cards: ProSet 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Score 1991
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent: 5/25     Received: 9/6  (104 days)

aprks91 walkerKenny Walker hails from the tiny town of Crane, Texas and went to college at Nebraska.  At 6’2″, 246- Kenny was considered a bit undersized but made up for it with his quickness and agility. After being a situational starter throughout most of his career he really came on as a senior posting 73 tackles, 21 for losses, 11 sacks and a forced fumble culminating with him earning 1st team honors from the AP, and Big 8 defensive player of the year in 1990.  He parlayed his performance and accolades into an 8th round pick of the Denver Broncos in 1991.

The Broncos were restocking on defense following a 5-11 season, and added Mike Croel and Keith Traylor in the earlier rounds. Walker would be a surprising find for the Broncos and start all 16 games that season recording 3 sacks, and follow up the next season with 1.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. The most amazing part about all this is that Walker did this all with a hearing impediment. In essence, he has been deaf since the age of 2 when he suffered a bout of Meningitis. Kenny then played in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders from 1994 to 1995, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1995-1996. He’d be the first deaf person to play in the CFL.  Kenny then hung up his cleats went into teaching and coaching deaf children at both the High School and College level. Currently in 2013 Kenny is coaching in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He’s written an autobiographical book entitled “The Roar of Silence”, and at this time remains a role model and upstanding member of the deaf community.

G/Gs 31/16   Tac  N/a    Sac 4.5     Fum 2     Int 0   Yds 0   Avg -.-   Td 0   Lg -.-