Tag Archives: indianapolis colts

NFL

Tupa, Tom ‘Two Point Tupa’

pset90_ttupapset91_ttupa
Cards: Proset 1990, Proset 1991, Fleer 1990
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent:  4/7      Received: 4/15    (8 days)

Tom Tupa was selected in the 3rd round of the 1988 draft by the then Phoenix Cardinals out of Ohio State. Unbeknownst to even the Cardinals, the franchise was at the beginning of a long search to find an answer at quarterback to replace long time quarterback Neil Lomax– whose career quickly declined after 1988, due to injury and an arthritic hip. After Lomax’s sudden departure left Phoenix in a lurch in 1989, the Cardinals staffed a platoon at quarterback with Gary Hogeboom, Timm Rosenbach, and Tom sharing the workload. Tom threw for 973 yards and 3 TDs- to 9 interceptions, while suiting up for 14 contests.  He also got to showcase his impressive skills as a punter filling in for injured starter Rich Camarillo in a pinch. After not seeing any playtime in 1990, Tom spent one final season in Phoenix. He’d win 4 games in 11 starts and throw for a career high 2053 yards and 6 TDs.

1991 led to a short stay in Indianapolis for Tom. Afterwards he bolted for Cleveland. He spent the next three seasons with the Browns. It’d be in 1994 that Tom finally made a rare positional move from quarterback to punter. One could also argue at this point, that Tom had become the best emergency quarterback in the NFL. In 1996, Tupa signed with the New England Patriots and punted for them through the 1998 season.

In 1999, Tom had his finest season as a pro playing for the New York Jets. He’d earn Pro Bowl and All Pro Honors after the season punting 81 times for 3659 yards. Tupa played for the Jets through the 2001 season, before playing for the Buccaneers for 2002 and 2003.  His final season came in 2004 with the Redskins – a year in which Tom set career highs for punts (103) and yards (4544), earning him an invitation as a Pro Bowl alternate.

In a small bit of trivia, Tom is known as ‘Two Point Tupa’, for scoring the league’s first 2 point conversion, and repeating it two more times later in the season.

Tom as of 2016 was a coach at a local high school in Ohio. He signed these 3 cards for me in a bit over a week. ProSet had a major soft spot for Tom and I wasn’t really sure why, covering him in their 1990 and 1991 entries. Notably Score and Topps didn’t make early first or second year cards of Tom.  Fleer 1990 was the company’s first foray back into the football card market in many years. The set was novel looking enough, with nice action shots, but the design of the card itself did not age well with the abstract metal football logo, and the random team helmet just sort of haphazardly thrown on there.

G/GS 220/13     ATT 504      COMP 259       YDS  3430       PCT  51.5%
TD 12       INT  25       RAT 60.5
RUSH 53      YDS 187     AVG 3.5     TD 1       LG   17
P  873      YDS  37862      AVG  43.4        LG  73

NFL

Griswold, Darion ‘Big Griz’

sage16 dgriswold
Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Darion Griswold passes the eyeball test clocking in at 6’5″, 255 which despite his anemic statistics make him an intriguing prospect. Another one of these basketball to tight end players Griswold is considered a project for many teams. Although he has the frame and hands, Big Griz is not considered a refined run blocker, nor an immediate threat off the line, as he is still perfecting his route trees.

His athletic skills alone have qualified Griswold as a late round selection in the 2016 draft.  After the 2016 NFL Draft Darion signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He’d be cut with an undisclosed injury settlement before the preseason began. In 2017 he signed a futures contract with the Atlanta Falcons, but again was cut with an injury settlement before the regular season began.

NFL

Biasucci, Dean

Card: Topps 1990
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 12/14/16      Received: 1/9/17     (23 days)

Dean Biasucci is a Tecmo Bowl legend. As the strongest kicker in the game, he could kick a field goal from his own 45. This came in handy especially when you were piloting the Colts anemic offensive playbook.

A barefoot kicker out of Western Carolina University, Biasucci was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons in 1984.  Cut in camp, Dean was picked up in week 2 by the Baltimore Colts, who needed an injury replacement to Raul Allegre. After bouncing off  in 1985 and back onto the roster in 1986,  Dean would go on to eclipse many Baltimore/ Indianapolis Colts records. He kicked an NFL record 6 50+ yard field goals in 1988, and a career long 56 yarder in 1991. Late in his career with the Colts, he’d take over as the franchise’s top kicker in history in field goal percentage and points.  Dean was signed by Pittsburgh in 1995, but was cut when the team brought in fellow veteran Norm Johnson.  He wouldn’t be out of work for long as he played the final 8 games of the year with the St. Louis Rams.

After retiring from football, Biasucci spent 9 years or so pursuing an acting career, garnering small roles in movies and TV.  He’s also been involved in building apartment complexes and communities.

Well Dean threw me for a loop. I sent him a slew of really nice cards to sign, thinking that a kicker would love to sign his cards, but instead he sent me back one card, and it was his worst one at that. At least he was nice enough to sign one…

G 163       XPA 275        XPM 268       PCT 97.5%
FGA 262        FMG 185       PCT 70.6%       LG  56