Tag Archives: los angeles rams

NFL

Wilcher, Mike

Pro Set 1989, #209
Pro Set 1990, #175
Fleer 1990, #46

CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Pro Set 1989, Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED:
SENT: 7/10/20 RECEIVED: 8/7/20 (28 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Wilcher followed in Lawrence Taylor’s footsteps at North Carolina playing there in
  • He posted 68 tackles in his senior season and racked up 20 TFL between his Junior and Senior seasons at defensive end.
  • In 1983, the Rams converted to a 3-4 defense and were looking for an outside linebacker.
  • Mike fit that bill and the team selected him near the top of round 2 and decided to convert him over.
  • It wasn’t until 1984 when Mike was able to cement over a spot in the starting lineup at ROLB- and the starting LB in nickel and dime formations.
  • In 1985, he posted a career high 12.5 sacks along with 95 tackles.
  • Mike scored his only professional TD of his career in 1987, a 35 yard fumble recovery against the Redskins, in a 30-26 win.
  • He held down the starting job through the 1990 season- finishing with 400 career tackles with the Rams,
  • In 1991, Mike played a final season for the San Diego Chargers, dressing for 2 contests.

NOTES:

Mike had outstanding speed for the era, and was a solid coverage man. Severely underrated, the Rams saw a drop off after his departure. Mike had a pretty decent selection of cards. I really liked the Fleer and Pro Set entries of the era.

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NFL

Keenum, Case (2)

Topps 2014, #224
Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012, #67

CARDS: Topps 2014, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o The Houston Texans
SENT: 6/8/23 RECEIVED: 8/19/23 (73 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2013, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Case Keenum
  • Case had career marks in a variety of passing categories during 2018.
  • He went 365/586 for 3,890 yards starting all 16 games for the Broncos.
  • In 2019, Case played for the Redskins, starting 8 contests, throwing for 1707 yards and 11 TDs to 4 interceptions.
  • This led to a two year stint as backup for the Cleveland Browns in 2020 and 2021, followed by the Bills in 2022.
  • Proof positive that you can go home, Case signed with the Houston Texans in 2023.
  • Expected to mentor the Texans quarterback room and perform duties as an emergency QB behind CJ Stroud and Davis Mills, Case suited up for 2 contests.
  • In the game against the Titans, Case went 23/36 for 229 yards and a TD in a surprising 19-16 win.

NOTES:

In bad taste, the Titans decided to wear their ‘throwback’ Oilers uniforms against Houston in Nashville. Furthermore the game was tabbed as a homecoming game for former players, and then head coach Mike Vrabel strolls out wearing a white Stetson- ALA former HOUSTON Oilers head coach Bum Phillips- for the game. (Bum Phillips notoriously didn’t back the Tennessee Titans, Bud Adams, or the Tennessee Oilers. He was HOUSTON through and through.)

Things lined up for the Titans too, as the Texans limped into the contest with injuries across the board to their starting lineup, including Nico Collins and CJ Stroud. Enter Case Keenum.

Keenum helped guide the Texans to the win over the Titans, making Tennessee the butt of all backfired jokes, and contributed to Mike Vrabel getting fired, by leading Houston to the upset- cementing Case’s legacy and place in Houston football lore.

As Case’s playing career enters its twilight, it’s believed that there will be no shortage of teams wanting to help him transition into the coaching ranks.

I really like Case, and when he resigned with Houston, I thought I’d try him again TTM. I was juiced to get him on these two cards. On top of that he’s a big time HOUSTON Oilers and Houston Texans fan, and thinks the colors should come home.

NFL, ufl, XFL

Phillips, Wade

TNT XFL 2023, #12

CARD: TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Wade Phillips comes from strong football bloodlines as his father Bum, was a coach at the pro level.
  • Was a 3 year starter at LB at University of Houston from 1966-’68.
  • Immediately went into coaching where he began his trek up to the pro ranks as a graduate assistant at Houston.
  • Moved into the pros with his father in 1976 as a positional coach with the HOUSTON Oilers.
  • Became the defensive coordinator for the Saints in 1981.
  • In 1985, served as interim HC when his father abruptly retired during the season.
  • Worked with the Eagles (1985-’88), and Broncos (1989-’92) as each team’s defensive coordinator- respectively.
  • He was coach of the Broncos from 1993-’94.
  • Then was quickly snapped up by the Bills to be DC from 1995-’97.
  • Served as HC for the Bills from 1998-’00.
  • After a brief hiatus, was back at it again in 2002 as DC for the Falcons through 2003.
  • Served as interim head coach briefly for Atlanta, then was off to San Diego to be the DC from 2004-2006.
  • Became head coach of the Dallas Cowboys from 2007-’10.
  • Claimed to know how to fix the Houston Texans defensive woes and was signed as DC in 2011.
  • Turned around defensive unit and was key in identifying JJ Watt.
  • Served through 2013 as the DC, and briefly as the interim head coach.
  • Returned to the Broncos in 2015 as DC- helping the team win Super Bowl L.
  • Joined the Rams in 2017 and helped team reach Super Bowl LIII.
  • After not having his contract renewed following the 2019 season, Wade decided to coach in the XFL in 2023.
  • As HC of the Houston Roughnecks he led the team to a 7-3 record.
  • When the UFL and XFL combined following the season, Wade and his staff moved up the street to San Antonio.
  • Rebuilding the team from the ground up Phillips guided his team to an 8-3 record and an appearance in the first UFL Championship Game.

NOTES:

You know, I didn’t really believe Wade at first that he was going to build a dynamo in San Antonio that we’d be proud of. Then they went to work and just like that by the beginning of that first game, I thought the Brahmas were walking quietly and carrying a big stick.

Wade is well known in circles for being able to make seismic cultural and defensive changes quickly to football franchises. He also hasn’t seen a sniff of an NFL HC job since his time in Dallas- which could be attributed to ageism, as his reputation and resume say otherwise.

I got this custom card done just in time to give it to him at the season ticket holders event. He probably has seen his share of custom trading cards- so he really didn’t bat an eye.. which did surprise me. Over his high profile level of coaching for the past 40+ years, he has never had a trading card in circulation.

Wade has been a HC for more franchises than any coach in NFL history (including interim titles).