Tag Archives: gameday 1992

CFL, NFL

Clark, Robert

Cards: Skybox 1992, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 4/21 Received: 6/11 (51 days)

The holder of 34 individual player records at WR for North Carolina Central at the time of his departure in 1986, Robert Clark was a 10th round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 1987. He’d make the squad, and play for the team in both 87 and 88, finishing with 22 receptions for 283 yards and 2 TDs, but couldn’t crack the starting lineup, thanks in part to an injury he sustained his rookie season.

In 1989 the Lions were fully committed to their Silver Stretch offense, so they needed 4 wide receivers to make that happen. They’d run out and sign Robert as an unconditional free agent, and he’d step right into the starting lineup posting a gaudy 18.2 receiving average, as he finished second on the team with 748 yards on 41 receptions.

Robert finished second on the team with 52 receptions and led the squad with 8 TD receptions in 1990. In 1991, Robert continued his consistent production, setting a career single game high catching 10 passes for 143 yards against the Packers, where 9 of 10 of those receptions went for first downs. He’d conclude the 1991 season with 47 catches for 640 yards and 6 TDs.

A precise route runner who is quick in traffic, Clark was fearless over the middle, but could also turn on the jets when it counted- particularly against division opponents. Over his time in Detroit, Robert started 45 of 46 contests. He’d then spend one largely forgettable season with the Dolphins in 1992, catching just 3 passes for 52 yards.

As the CFL invaded the USA in 1993, Robert joined the league playing for the Toronto Argonauts. He immediately established himself as one of the top dogs in the CFL, leading wide receivers at the midway point in receptions and yardage. On the season, Clark finished with 50 receptions for 900 yards and 3 TDs. He’d then spend his next two final seasons with the Baltimore Stallions helping the team win the CFL championship.

I have always been a friend to the Run N Shoot system, partially due to my Houston roots, so I was very happy to get his autograph on these cards, especially considering he’s such a rare signer.

NFL G/GsRECYDSAVGTDLG
67/45165264416.01869
CFL G/GsRECYDSAVGTDLG
89159117.9564
Arena, CFL, NFL, WLAF

Collins, Shawn

Cards: Gameday 1992, Proset 1989, Action Packed 1990, Topps 1990, Fleer 1990
Acquired: 50/50 Consignment- Sportscollectors.net, 2020

Shawn Collins was actually a tight end at Northern Arizona where he set the school’s all-time career records for TDs (24) and catches (201). In 1986, he posted 70 catches for 1,016 yards- a school, single season record, and then followed up with 61 receptions in 1987, and 54 in 1988. Scouts decided that Shawn was best suited to play wide receiver before the 1989 draft. He’d be selected near the back end of round one by the Atlanta Falcons.

Shawn had an outstanding rookie season for the Falcons. He led all rookie receivers with 58 catches, and set rookie franchise records, leading the Falcons with 58 catches for 862 yards. An acrobatic receiver who is fearless in traffic, Collins’ 58 receptions were the most by any rookie during the 80s and 16 of his 58 grabs went for 20 yards or more. He’d be an unanimous 1989 NFL All-Rookie selection.

With a sea change at head coach in Jerry Glanville, the Falcons were expected to be very aggressive at WR, but after landing in Jerry’s doghouse, Shawn’s numbers suffered and he finished with 34 catches for 503 yards and 2 TDs in 90, and just 3 catches for 37 yards in 91. He joined Browns in 1992 and caught 3 more passes for Cleveland. Shawn joined the Bucs in 1993, but did not make the roster. He’d later sign with the Packers and was on their roster for 4 additional games.

Shawn then made a comeback with the Frankfurt Galaxy of the newly retooled World League, catching 18 passes for 215 yards and a TD. Returning stateside, he immediately joined the CFL where he played for the Memphis Mad Dogs and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1995, posting 29 passes for 536 yards and 2TDs. Shawn played one final year in the Arena Football League for the Iowa Barnstormers catching 5 passes for 52 yards.

Shawn does not sign through the mail at all. I had spied out a signing through Sportscollectors.net at a really fair price, and waited for the event to pop. I was not disappointed and jumped at the chance to have him sign these 5 cards.

G/GS NFLRECYDSAVGTDLG
98143314.6561
G/GS WLAFRECYDSAVGTDLG
1821511.9128
G/GS CFLRECYDSAVGTDLG
2953618.5258
G/GS ARENARECYDSAVGTDLG
55210.40N/A

NFL

Maryland, Russell (2)

Cards: Upper Deck 1991, Score Supplemental 1991, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1991, ProSet 1991 #1 Pick, ProSet 1992
Acquired: In Person 2020, Dallas Renegades v The Houston Roughnecks
See Also: Russell Maryland

So Russell was this Cowboy that I just got once or twice at Cowboys training camp as a kid and then that was it. The other players probably told him not to shell out too many autographs because we were there all the time (and they probably suspected us of selling them). Over the years I piled up some great cards of Russell. From his college ProSet card to his Gameday card, I had heard from time to time he did sign through a project that he was doing in Florida called Reading for Dragons or something like that, but didn’t want to take the chance of that being a bad lead, so I just held on to these cards. I never thought in my wildest imagination that 30 ish years later I’d get him at a Spring Football game in Dallas, but here we are!

The Cowboys pretty much jumped at the opportunity to embrace the XFL Renegades, loaning greats Everson Walls and Russell Maryland for the Renegades game against the Houston Roughnecks. As a Roughneck fan I was given a chance to attend the road game for free- so I seized upon the chance and drove to Dallas with these cards in tow. The Dallas front office put together a really nice pregame show. The Cowboys players did an interview and then afterwards signed autographs.

Russell was a really nice guy. He didn’t have any qualms with signing so many cards now. We chatted for a few minutes about those hot summers in Austin at training camp and how much fun he had. He was surprised that I knew about Reading for Dragons and told me that he only briefly did that and that the program was long gone. After signing Russell, with a wide and broad smile, pretty much surprisingly blended in with the crowd, so much so he got pulled aside when he entered the arena, to be wanded by arena staff.