CARDS: Score 1990, Fleer 1990 Update, Pro Set 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home SENT: 3/23 RECEIVED: 4/5 (13 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Big LB Fred Strickland played 3 years at Purdue where he had a motor for the ball, leading the team in tackles for 3 straight years (1985-’87).
A second round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1988.
It took him a season but by ’89, Strickland was a starter for the team at Middle Linebacker.
Loving his skillset and versatility, the Rams created a new defensive hybrid position for Strickland that was a combination between nosetackle and middle linebacker.
Injuries quickly caught up with Fred, and that combined with a coaching change in ’92 and being passed up by Larry Kelm on the depth chart, led to his departure in 1993.
Fred’s career was rejuvenated with the Minnesota Vikings, where at weakside LB he posted 137 tackles and 4 fumble recoveries.
Taking advantage of his bargaining position, and the Packers need at LB, Fred joined Green Bay that season.
He spent the 1994 and 1995 season with the team providing solid play.
A force in the middle, Fred posted 103 combined tackles in ’96, 95 in ’97, and 81 in 1998.
Strickland entered the twilight of his career in 1999 playing for the Redskins.
He’d be a backup for the team that season, and retire before the start of the 2000 season.
NOTES:
Fred had a somewhat rocky start, but after leaving the Rams and finding his sea legs, he really showed the versatility that defensive coaches prized. In addition his ability to come in and start in a pinch and then pull down 90 plus tackles on stacked defenses really can not be understated. His Fleer 1990 card you can really see his showcased size that allowed him to hybridize out from linebacker to nose.
Devastating long bomb threat and speedy receiver, Flipper Anderson was a second round pick of the Los Angeles Rams out of UCLA in 1988.
In 1989, had a whopping 44 catches for 1146 yards and 5 TDs.
His 28 yards per catch was second in NFL history (behind Warren Wells) for a player with a minimum of 40 catches.
During 1990 season, when Henry Ellard was sidelined for a game, Flipper became QB Jim Everett‘s primary receiver against the Saints.
Set an NFL record by catching 15 passes for 336 yards in that game.
Had 51 catches for 1083 yards and 7 TDs (21.0 YPR) in 1990.
Played for the Rams through the 1994 season.
Went into the journeyman phase of his career quickly, playing for the Colts (’95), Redskins (’96), and Broncos (’97) but saw little action.
Lives in Georgia where he’s currently a high school basketball referee.
ACCOLADES:
NFL RECORD- Single game yards receiving (336)
NFL Leader Yards Per Reception (1989, ’90)
Fleer 1990, #33
NOTES:
I failed on Flipper so many times I pretty much gave up. TTM he didn’t respond to me twice, but responded randomly to others. Then I paid for a consignment and shipped my cards out to get him, but I wasn’t able to get him that way either- though I suspect the consigner more than anyone. (What a mess that was.) My buddy Brian got him on two cards and decided to send me one, so I held onto this Score 92 forever, thinking about these sour grapes. Finally in 2023, I was able to pick up a respectable Fleer 90 that I wanted, so I decided to go ahead and put this post together.
Flipper has like 4 other cards I still need him on. His Pro Set 1990 is an infamous photo of him scoring the final TD against the New York Giants eliminating them from the playoffs in ’89.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
267
5357
20.1
28
72t
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
