Tag Archives: Houston Oilers

NFL

McNair, Steve (1973-2009)

Card: Classic 1995
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oiler Training Camp, 1995

I got Steve’s autograph at Trinity University in San Antonio where the Oilers held training camp during his rookie season. He signed every card that day,(- which numbered into the hundreds) after an extremely hot summer practice where he was drenched in sweat.  I then created a Steve McNair player in Tecmo Super Bowl Final Edition on Super Nintendo. He became the best player in the game, where he was unstoppable both on the ground and in the air scoring 90s in nearly every attribute. McNair would also start at quarterback for my Fantasy Football teams in 2003 and 2005.

The Houston Oilers became a quarterback carousel after Warren Moon was jettisoned by Bud Adams after the 1993 season. In hopes of alleviating the problem, the Oilers signed Chris Chandler in 1995 and then drafted Steve McNair from Alcorn St with the 3rd pick of that draft. McNair has an interesting history that has strange parallels to Moon’s as he was asked to play defensive back by a major college instead the position of quarterback where he was most comfortable in high school. Instead of signing on with the University of Florida, McNair opted to play for tiny Alcorn State.  Steve would go on to set multiple All-American records in college and in his senior season would run and pass for over 6,000 yards including 16283 career yards.

After being drafted by the Oilers, McNair would ride the bench for primarily the next two seasons behind perennial tutor and quarterback of the moment Chandler. In 1997, the Oilers moved to Tennessee and coach Jeff Fisher handed Steve the reins of the team. McNair over his career would be seen as a tenacious blue chip warrior with an insatiable appetite to win.  McNair would suffer from a malaise of injuries throughout his 13 season career including back problems and a bruised sternum.  He’d lead the Titans to SuperBowl XXXIV (SuperBowl of the Traitorous Teams) and be named NFL Player of the Year in 2003, All-Pro in 2003, and to the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2003, and 2005 playing for the Oilers and Titans. In 2006 he’d find himself run out of town (much like Bud Adams did to Moon in 1993,) where Steve signed with the Ravens, whom he’d play the last two seasons for before injury forced him to retire in 2008.  Post NFL McNair ran a restaurant called GridIron9 and mentored quarterback Vince Young,  but struggle with an extramarital affair, in which on July 4th, 2009 that mistress would take his life.  McNair is survived by his widow and four children.

Games   161       Att   4544      Comp     2733     %  60.1       Yds  31, 304        TD  174          Int  119            Rat  82.8
Rushes  669      Yds   3590       Avg  5.4          Td 37

NFL

Childress, Ray

Cards:  Action Packed 1991, Fleer 1995, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp, 1992, 1995. TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent:   3/26    Received:     4/3           (8 days)

Ray Childress is one of the most multidimensional and consistent defensive linemen who came out during the mid 80s. He played from 1985 to 1996. He received All America honors twice while in college at Texas A&M and still is ranked on the school’s leaders in both sacks and tackles 25 years after he graduated. Drafted in the first round by the Houston Oilers as a DE, Ray would play all positions along the line at some point during his career with the majority of that being at DT notching 4 Pro Bowl appearances at this position and 1 at DE playing in 154 games.  He was a 3 time first team All-Pro, and 3 time second team All- Pro. Childress holds the NFL record for most fumble recoveries in a season with 7 and most recovered in a game with 3.  He retired from injuries after a shoulder separation in 1996. Childress since football has become in a variety of ventures including his ongoing commitment to the Childress Foundation, and at one point owned a line of car dealerships. Childress was inducted into the College Football HOF in 2010.

My brother and I went to training camp in 1992. It was really funny to get Ray’s autograph, especially since he dwarfed my brother who was 6″3′. Ray then asked my brother if he was on the team which we both got some laughs out of. In 1995 Childress also signed my Fleer 1995 for me when I was at camp as he was walking on to the field. He was the first one of the day and that certainly put me in a good mood. In 2010 I started sending cards out in the mail again, and specifically targeted former Houston Oilers. I sent 4 cards out to Ray and he signed 3 and returned the 4th, which didn’t bother me at all as he was doing it as a courtesy for me anyway. Ray has been caught in the backlog of great players retiring during the mid 90s, and has not been inducted into the HOF, although I believe he should. With Elvin Bethea being inducted recently, it certainly does give hope that at some point he will sneak onto the ballot.

Games 163         Tac   861              Sac 76.5               Fum 19

NFL

Lewis, Darryll

Cards: Pro Set 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Star Pics 1991.
Acquired: TTM 1993, In Person, Houston Oilers training camp 1994.
See Also: Lewis, Darryll (2)

On my birthday in 1993 I received Darryll’s autograph in the mail. It was a really nice treat.  The next year at Oiler training camp in San Antonio he gave me his autograph on a card. I’d swear he was as tall as me.

The 1990 Jim Thorpe Award winner did not go until the second round as the defensive back class was considered weak that year and Lewis was also thought to be undersized. The Oilers, who had long been burned the previous 2 seasons on defense drafted Lewis, Michael Dumas, and Steve Jackson in the 1991 draft. In the end this draft provided a bevvy of defensive backfield ballhawk talent, including Eric Turner, Aeneas Williams, Todd Scott,  Henry Jones, along with Darryll. It was Lewis who would form with holdover Cris Dishman and become a devastating duo at cornerback. Lewis made up for his height disadvantage with pure speed and his leaping skill. By 1994, he also became known for soft hands and a nose for the ball at the critical moment, notching  at least 4 picks in 6 straight seasons.

Lewis would play for the Oilers, Chargers, and Broncos briefly over a 10 year career making the Pro Bowl in 1996. Unfortunately Lewis’ post NFL life has been marred by personal problems. After resigning from Oregon State as a DB assistant coach, he has  had run ins with the law including a tragic car chase caught on tape in 2005, where meth was found in his vehicle. He pleaded guilty to the charges in 2006 and was sentenced to 32 months in prison. He currently he lives in the San Diego area.

Games 142     Tac 404    Sac 5      FF 0
Int 32        Yds 555        Lg 98T     TD 5