Tag Archives: Denver Broncos

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 -.-

NFL

Anderson, David “Dave” (3)

Card: Donruss Threads 2006
Acquired: 2012 Target Authentic Autograph Memorabilia
See Also: David Anderson, Dave Anderson (2)

After signing Derrick Mason, the Texans cut Anderson in 2011, but the Redskins snatched him up. In 4 games playing for the Redskins in a very similar offensive system under Gary Kubiak offensive apostle Kyle Shannahan, Dave logged 7 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.  (He’d record that TD in the team’s loss to the New England Patriots.) Currently he’s an unrestricted free agent, and there’s no word yet as to whether he will sign with the Texans for a 3rd time.

A very popular member of the Texans,  Dave seemed to embody the ‘everyman’ that everybody loves about the sport.  He worked his way into the lineup as a long shot to even make the roster and put his all into it, when the team needed him most in 2009. Dave prided himself on his blocking, but among his best attributes were his ability to sniff out a first down, and also his documented thrown to/reception ratio percentage- one of the highest in the league.

I had heard that he was looking into charitable activities already for after retirement or perhaps cashing in on his short lived fame with the string dance to hone his skills to become a color commentator. I got this autographed card ironically in another Target Memorabilia Package. I had sent this one, along with about 10 other cards of him for him to sign, but sadly he never got back to me, since he was probably overwhelmed with the other cards I sent him to sign for the rest of the team in 2010.

AFL

Groman, Bill (1936-2020)

Cards: Fleer 1961, Fleer 1962
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 3/4   Received: 3/11   (7 days)

Bill Groman was one of the original AFL Houston Oilers hailing from tiny Heidelberg University in Tiffin, OH.  During his time at the school he showed versatility playing End, Flanker, Offensive End, and Split End. Bill earned All-American Honors in 1957.

He signed with the upstart AFL Houston Oilers in 1960 and was a part of a powerhouse offense that included George Blanda, Charlie Hennigan, and Billy Cannon. The offense lit opposing teams up scoring 379 points that season in only 14 games.  Early on Bill became a star on the team and in the league. He’d dispense with opposing team’s defensive backs with ease. In 1960, he recorded 1473 yards on 72 receptions, to go along with 12 touchdowns- one of them for 92 yards.  His yards, yards per reception, yards from scrimmage, and long catch, all led the league. He was a shoe-in for All-AFL his rookie year, and the team walked away that season with the championship.  In 1961, he only had 50 receptions, but for a mind boggling 23.5 yards per reception, and 17 touchdowns to lead the league- in only 12 games. Again he was named All-AFL and the team won its second championship. Between he and Hennigan over those two years, they combined to be one of the best duos in early modern history with over 5,000 yards and almost 50 touchdowns. Groman’s rookie season for yards, combined with his Sophomore season, have never been bettered, even by modern pass-happy offenses with guys like Anquan Boldin and Randy Moss last taking their shots.

Groman suffered a grizzly knee injury during the 1962 AFL Championship Game, and an equally bad surgical repair that next year. He later signed with the Denver Broncos, playing there for one season in 1963, and the Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965, where he provided depth for the young receiving corps. The Bills won the AFL Championship those two seasons as well. Groman all told, appeared in 5 AFL Championship games in his 6 seasons in the league, winning 4 of them. He is the only player in the history of the league to be able to make that statement.

G 66     Rec 174        Yds 3481      Avg  20.8       Td 36        Lg 92t

UPDATE: 6/22/20- Bill Groman passed away of natural causes this week at the age of 83.