Tag Archives: kansas city chiefs

Slaughter, Webster

gday92 slaughterCard: GameDay 1992
Acquired: 11/23/2012, Fiterman Autograph Event
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

Webster Slaughter was one of the players on the Browns that I loathed and hated the most when he played against the Oilers back in the 80’s. I also equally respected him for his skills and ability to take the ball to the house when it counted most. Many times when I turned on the TV and saw him line up against the Oilers Man to Man defense in the days of Schottenheimer versus Glanville, I’d see Slaughter take a wobbly pass out of the air from Kosar, and streak up the sidelines leaving either Patrick Allen or Steve Brown in his dust.

The Browns made him their second round choice of the 1986 draft out of San Diego State. The draft was notable with having some consistent receivers in it. Tim McGee and Ernest Givins were taken off the board a few picks before Slaughter’s card was rushed to the podium by the Browns, while Hassan Jones and John Taylor were taken afterwards. Slaughter was taken under the recommendation of HoF Brown WR Paul Warfield, whom was acting as a non-defacto scout for the franchise at the time. With deceptive speed and an amazing frame (6’0″, 175) Slaughter quickly found a bond with quarterback Bernie Kosar. The two formed a great duo to keep teams honest against the run when the ground and pound would come to a halt.

His best season came in 1989 with the Browns. Slaughter had a career high 1236 yards, averaged a franchise high 19 yards per reception, and 6 touchdowns, one of which went for 97 yards against the Bears.  Against the Oilers that year he had a 77 yard and an 80 yard touchdown en route to a 184 yard performance.

Webster became embroiled in a contract dispute with the Browns- something he had done with frequency as early as 1988. Unhappy with second year head coach Bill Belichick’s offensive system, Slaughter held out. Although Plan B was the current status quo, Slaughter felt he was a top dollar receiver and wanted to be paid like it. Unable to negotiate with the Browns, he sued the team and became a landmark plantiff that helped bring about the retooled Free Agency System that went into effect during the 1992 season. With the Oilers hunting for a replacement to departed Drew Hill, they immediately snapped up Webster to go alongside Curtis Duncan, Haywood Jeffires, and Ernest Givins in their Run ‘N Shoot receiving corps. That season as he worked into the lineup, Slaughter spent the majority of his time fielding punts.

He’d earn Pro Bowl honors for his 1993 season, starting in 14 games (904 yards, 77 receptions and 5 touchdowns). Slaughter was content with the Oilers, but with the departure of Warren Moon after the 1993 season and the team rebuilding, Webster knew it was a matter of time before he was done in Houston. While his numbers in 1994 were slightly down, the team opted not to resign him. Instead Webster made a move to KC, turning down richer suitors to play for his former head coach in Cleveland, Marty Schottenheimer. While the reunion would last only one season, Slaughter managed to average 15.4 YPR on 34 catches and 4 touchdowns with quarterback Steve Bono at the helm. He’d sign with the Jets in 1996, but the horrendous team finished at a dismal 1-15.  After a season out of the game, Webster played for the Chargers, closing out his career in 1998. He dabbled with playing again as late as 2001 with the Redskins, but finally embraced retirement fully.

Slaughter is a difficult player to obtain TTM. He’s another guy I sent to, and failed miserably to get an autograph from. It is now common knowledge that Webster refuses to sign TTM because he does not want to confirm his address. I was more than happy to pay to get this elusive member of the Browns and Oilers finally into the collection, but still have quite a few more that I’d like to get autographed at a later date since he has so many great cards. Webster is a fairly popular member of the Cleveland Browns and has been seen at many alumni functions.

G/Gs 162/127   Rec 563     Yds 8111     Avg  14.4     Td   44     Lg 97t
Pr  38     Yds 256     Avg  6.7      Td 0     Lg 20

Wylie, Devon (1988-2023)

Card: Leaf Rookies 2012
Acquired: 2012, Box Breaker

A multifaceted speedster, Devon Wylie did it all for Fresno State as a receiver and punt returner. A sure handed pass catcher, Wylie played 4 years for the Bulldogs, amassing 98 receptions in 44 games, finishing his career there with 1327 yards and 8 touchdowns. His best season came in 2011, when he proved his worth as a fulltime starter hauling in 56 receptions for 716 yards and a 71 yard touchdown reception. Devon also had a great season as a punt returner with 29 PR for 446 yards and two touchdowns including a 79 yarder. Devon’s efforts in his senior season earned him an invite to the 2012 East West Shrine game and 3rd team All-American honors as a punt returner. 

Invited to the NFL combine, Wylie had aspirations to break the 4.3 in the 40.  Although he didn’t meet his expectations, Wylie did score a superior 4.39 time.  Projected roughly to go in the 7th round, the Chiefs stepped up and picked Wylie in the 4th round of the 2012 draft where he got some playing time in at the tail end of 2012.  Over the last 3 weeks of the season Devon had 6 receptions for 53 yards, 9 kick returns for 191 yards (21.2 avg), and 5 punt returns for 26 yards.

He’d be cut in 2013, and then found a home with the Cardinals PS. Soon thereafter he’d move over to Tennessee, seeing some action on special teams that season. Then it was off to Seattle and finally San Fransisco to close out the year.

Wylie then spent time on the St. Louis Rams practice squad in 2014 and 2015. He’d then hop around between Oakland and Atlanta, before finishing up his career in Toronto playing for the Argonauts of the CFL in 2016-17.

EPITAPH:

11/13/23- Devon’s family announced his passing through social media. No cause of death was given.

Johnson, Derrick

Card: Sage Hit 2005
Acquired: 2012, Sports Cards Traders of Austin

I was wandering around one of the last good card shops in Central Texas, and I spotted this gem sitting out there for 5 bucks. I just couldn’t pass up Derrick Johnson’s autograph on a card for that price. Sure it’s not certified and all but I trust it enough that it might be the real deal.

Derrick was a monster linebacker at the University of Texas and set the college football record for forced fumbles in a season with a big, fat 9. He averaged over 100 tackles in 4 years with the Longhorns, and finished his career there with 458 in 50 games. He was also credited with 10.5 sacks, 69 TFL, and 9 picks. It seemed a no-brainer that Derrick would be one of the premiere defensive players coming out of college. The 2005 draft was one that I watched intently. I knew the Texans were going to draft defensive talent, and I was confident that if the team was to add local Texas product Derrick Johnson, they wouldn’t be sorry. The Texans pick came up and Johnson was on the board. I got super exited and- they traded down. Johnson came up again and- the Texans drafted Johnson alright- DT Travis Johnson… Obviously I wasn’t enthusiastic about the team’s pick and the Chiefs stepped in with pick #15 in round one and nabbed Derrick.

Derrick had a great rookie season with the Chiefs and started all 16 games at linebacker for the team, transitioning to the pro level effortlessly. His highlights include a 2009 campaign in which he recorded 2 interceptions for touchdowns in the same game, tying an already established record. In 2010, Johnson finally broke the 100 tackle barrier with 121 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pick, 4 FF, 8 TFL, and 16 pass defensed. Derrick topped his numbers again in 2011 and earned his first Pro Bowl honors with 131 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 8 TFL. In 2012, Johnson ranked among the top 5 in tackles, making him an invaluable starter in IDP fantasy leagues that track tackles for points.