Tag Archives: indianapolis colts

NFL

Morgan, Stanley


Cards: ProSet 1989, Score Supplemental 1990
Acquired: TTM, C/o Home 2011
Sent: 10/15       Received: 3/7   (143 days)

The Patriots drafted late in the first round of the 1977 draft, but at #25 they were fortunate enough to get Stanley Morgan out of Tennessee. With good hands and alarming speed for the era (sub 4.3), Morgan holds the all purpose yardage records for the Volunteers with a bit over 4600 yards.

Stanley would average over 20 yards per reception his rookie season. A feat he’d repeat  for the next 5 seasons. In fact he’d average a whopping 24.1 ypc in 1978 on 34 receptions, and in 1981 when he’d have 23.4 ypc. From 1979-1981 Morgan would lead the NFL in yards per reception. He’d earn his first Pro Bowl nod in 1979, followed by nominations again in 1980, 86 and 87.  In 1987 Morgan would have a career high 1491 yards and 84 receptions, logging 9 100 yard games that season. While injuries would begin to pile up on Stanley over the next two seasons,  by the end of his career after 13 seasons with the Patriots in 1989, Morgan would hold the Patriots’ records for receiving yards (10,352), receiving average (19.4), receptions (534), and touchdown receptions (67).

Stanley’s speed was a strength but his greatest asset was his longevity, where he managed to play 14 seasons. Although his final few were on the downward slope, he still managed to contribute even in his final season with the Indianapolis Colts where he played a final season in 1990 quietly logging 23 receptions, 364 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Morgan is another one of these players who was way ahead of his time. Playing primarily in a rush first offense from the 1970s, you have to wonder if Morgan would have received more notice by the NFL HoF for his work, or how he would have fared in one of the pass happy offenses of the 90s. (At the time of his retirement Stanley was ranked 20th all time in receptions.) I think he’s one of these players that was at the upper echelon and quietly racked up great numbers but just played at the wrong time, only appearing once in a Super Bowl (XX)  and will never be noticed by the hall. While appearing in Tecmo Superbowl, Morgan’s abilities and speed would not be represented correctly in the game.

Since retirement Morgan has retired back to Tennessee where he resides in Memphis and participates in charity events helping impoverished African Americans go to college, plays a lot of golf and keeps up with the Patriots. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as the 12th member in 2007, was named to the team’s All-time 1970s and 1980s team, and the Patriots 35th and 50th Anniversary teams.

I sent Morgan 3 cards in the mail back in October and had definitely given up on this one. I think it had just been a while since he checked his PO Box or maybe because it’s close to tax time because I noticed a lot of people around the web receiving autographs back from him about the same time. I was happy to get these back but disappointed he did not sign my Action Packed Rookies from 1990. Regardless you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth and these two action shots of him from the ProSet 1989 and Score Supplemental 1990 set were quite nice.

G/Gs  196/180     Rec  557        Yds   10716       Avg   19.2     Td  72     Lg  76t

NFL

Chung, Eugene

Card: Classic 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

Eugene Chung is considered one of the by products of the Herschel Walker trade that Dallas consummated with the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys would turn around and trade the pick to the Patriots to help Dallas acquire Russell Maryland. The Patriots selected Chung 13th overall out of Virginia Tech, making him the first Korean American to be drafted in the first round of an NFL draft. He’d quietly play for the Patsies through 1994 on a line that included 1991 first round draft choice Pat Harlow and perennial All-Pro Bruce Armstrong.

Chung then was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during their expansion draft going 26th overall. He’d play one season for the expansion Jags and then sit out a season, before playing one final season with the Indianapolis Colts in 1997.  He attempted to play for both the Chiefs in 1998 and 1999, and then later the Eagles in 2000 and soon thereafter retired.

Chung over his brief NFL career would play in 55 games, starting 30.

Arena, NFL

Emtman, Steve “The Machine”

Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Colts Blitz
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o The Spokane Shock

As I was pawing through the stack of autographs I got back in 1992/3, I was disappointed to see that I didn’t get one from Steve. When I flipped the card over later by accident, I noticed the autograph on the back scrawled in ball point pen. Despite this, I was still happy to add “The Machine” to my collection.

Steve Emtman was the #1 pick of the 1992 draft.  An impressive specimen who was the total package, he and overall #2 pick Quentin Coryatt were to be the cornerstone for the future Indianapolis Colts defense. Overall, despite holding the first 2 picks in the draft, this would be another painful round of picks for the Colts as Ashley Ambrose would be the most successful member of the Colts’ draft class. (Of defensive linemen only Joel Steed and Sean Gilbert would be the only ones to make the Pro Bowl from the entire 1992 draft.)

Steve Emtman is difficult to peg, but it’s hard for me to have labeled him a bust. He does qualify certainly as cursed though. I think most teams would have taken him if presented the opportunity. He played far and away at a level above most other college linemen at Washington and won numerous accolades to back it up. All signs pointed up for The Machine as the Colts named him their number one pick.  As the new season dawned Emtman flashed some potential right out of the gate, making his first sack against Cleveland in a 14-3 win. Perhaps in his finest highlight moment, he picked off a Dan Marino pass and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown in a 31-20 win and make another sack, but week 9, blew out his knee- ending his 1992 season on injured reserve. His 1993 would start out just as promising. After 5 games he had a sack and 22 tackles, but once again this time blew out his patellar tendon ending his 1993 season and perhaps his career. Determined to make a comeback Steve returned in 1994 almost a full year later, with his rehabilitation paying off. He played in 4 games, making a fumble recovery and 3 tackles, but unbeknown to most- Emtman had suffered a ruptured disc in his neck in his first game back heroically playing through the pain for the next 3 weeks. Steve finished his third season on the IR.

In 1995, Steve signed with the Miami Dolphins where he started one game, making a sack, a fumble recovery and 10 tackles. 1996 would see Steve start the most games since 1993. He’d see action starting 4 contests making 2 sacks, 2 FF, and 33 tackles.  The Redskins would sign him in 1997 where Steve would suit up for 3 games and make 4 tackles and retire after the season at the age of 27.

Steve after football was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He also spent some time coaching defensive line with the AFL’s Spokane Shock and is a successful real estate developer.  I sent off for Steve’s autograph courtesy of the Shock on his Action Packed Rookies card, but it appears that by the time my card had arrived, he was no longer coaching with the team. It has been well over a year now and thus logged as a failure.

G/Gs  50/19     Tac  121  Sac  8.0    Fum   3     Int   1         Yds   90      Avg  90.0      Td   1    Lg  90t