Tag Archives: los angeles rams

NFL

Weddle, Eric

Cards: Score 2009, Score 2010
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 6/16 Received: 7/30 (44 days)

Eric Weddle played 13 seasons in the NFL and quietly earned All-Pro Honors 5 times over his career playing free safety. A well conditioned ironman and gym rat from his time playing for the Utah Utes, Eric saw time as a defensive back, runningback, and punt returner over his time at the college.

“He should win the Heisman- I sincerely mean that”

– Wyoming coach Joe Glenn

Weddle finished with 143 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 18 interceptions for 148 yards, and 3 TDs. He also posted 52 rushes for 232 yards and 6 TDs, along with 52 punt returns for 408 yards. Eric was selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, (after they traded a couple of picks to Chicago to move up and grab him). Over 9 seasons with the Chargers, Eric posted 851 total tackles, 19 interceptions for 290 yards and 3 TDs, 70 pass deflections, and 5 forced fumbles. His best season as a pro came in 2011, when he posted 7 interceptions for 89 yards, 11 pass deflections and 88 combined tackles. His 7 picks led the NFL.

In 2016, Weddle joined the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent. He regained his Pro Bowl form and earned trips for the next two consecutive seasons after that, while adding another 10 interceptions, 220 tackles and 24 pass deflections to his resume. He retired after the 2019 season in which he spent playing for his hometown Los Angeles Rams, where he recorded 108 tackles. Weddle is a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team- a decade in which he earned Pro Bowl honors for 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016-2018, and first or second team AP for his efforts in 2010-2014.

G/GSTACSACFUM
201/18611789.58
INTYDSAVGTDLG
2946716.1453

NFL, WLAF

Farr Jr., Mel

Card: Ultimate World League 1991
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 10/21 Received: 11/2 (12 days)
Failure: TTM 2020, C/o Home


Mel was selected by the Denver Broncos during the 9th round of the 1988 draft, after playing for UCLA. During his senior season, Mel rushed 33 times for 145 yards and a TD. He also caught 12 passes for 122 yards and a TD. After a brief stop with the Broncos, he signed with the Rams in 1989. Mel joined the World League in 1991, drafted with the 6th pick of the 5th round by the Sacramento Surge. He’d catch 23 passes for 309 yards and a TD, while rushing for 10 more. His 23 receptions and 309 yards ranked second on the team.

This card technically lists Mel as a FB, but I’ve also seen him listed as a RB and a TE, so perhaps he was a novelty as an H-Back, or this is just a flat out uncorrected error card.

I had previously failed on an address I dug up for Mel, but thanks to my friend Bryan who has collaborated with me a lot recently, he had the address handy from talking to Mel on Facebook.

Mel Farr Jr signed this card beautifully in just 12 days from Georgia, and included a nice note saying that, the request made him feel good because he thought at first the autograph was for his father (who had passed away in 2015). Mel Jr. had just two cards produced of him over his time playing football (Ultimate 1992, American Airlines) but 2 are better than none as his autograph graces the canvas beautifully.

WLAFRECYDSAVGTDLG
2330913.4132T
RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
11010.0010
NFL, Pro Football HoF

Jones, Deacon ‘Secretary of Defense’ (1938-2013)

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: EBay, 2020

Deacon Jones was the player who coined the term ‘sacks’ and brought more glamour to the defensive end position than ever before. With limited college experience playing for South Carolina State in 58 and then Mississippi Vocational College in 60, Jones was an afterthought in most team’s minds during the 1961 draft. Purely found by accident, Deacon was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 14th round.

He joined Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier, and Lamar Lundy to form the ‘Fearsome Foursome’ which terrorized opposing offenses. He’d go on to play the next 11 seasons for the Rams, earning 7 Pro Bowl appearances, 7 1st or 2nd team All-Pro nominations, and 2 NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors while with the Rams. Sacks at that time were not an officially recorded statistic however using archival film, Jones was credited with 22 sacks both in 1964 and 1968, and 21.5 in 1967. Over his time with the Rams- in 8 of 12 seasons he had at least 12 sacks.

In 1972, Deacon was traded to the San Diego Chargers where he played two more seasons, and a final year with the Redskins in 1973 before retiring.

Jones went into acting and philanthropy after retirement. He was also an outspoken advocate for bringing the NFL back to LA, and referred to the LA Rams and St. Louis Rams as two separate franchises. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980, and was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary team in 1994. His number was retired by the Rams in 2009- ironically while it was still in St. Louis.

He passed away in 2013, and the NFL in tribute to him created the Deacon Jones award, given away annually to the league leader in sacks.

Deacon Jones was a player I never thought in my wildest dreams I’d ever get, but with the way the card market currently is with the inflated prices of boxes, I’d rather just buy a certified HOFer from one of my favorite sets than buy a 2020 hobby box of scrubs. I had some extra EBay bucks left over so it made this purchase way more palatable, but I did get this at a bargain price to begin with so I was pretty happy.