Tag Archives: Miami Dolphins

AFL, NFL, WLAF

Little, Larry

Cards: ProSet WLAF 2014 hack, Majestic 2010
Acquired:  TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 5/31    Received: 7/14      (43 days)

I remember vividly back when the Riders played the Glory, how the fans swarmed Larry for his autograph. The former NFL Great guard was kind and signed as much as he could after the game. Little was one of the few black head coach at the professional level of football in many years, and it was a big deal- even if it was the WLAF in 1992.  While the Glory finished with a dismal 1-9 record, the team was competitive in many contests. While Wild Card and Ultimate both contributed cards to the World League family in 1992, none outside of ProSet made any cards that showcased coaches- and ProSet bailed out on the WLAF market by 1992, so I made my own.

Larry played offensive line in college at Bethune-Cookman, but was not drafted in 1967. (It’s not known whether it was an issue of scouting or lack of film, but it was obvious that Larry was overlooked not only by the NFL but the AFL as well.) He’d sign as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers of the AFL. In 1969 Larry was traded to the Miami Dolphins where he quickly distinguished himself.  Larry was a key cog of the Miami Dolphins 1970’s dynasty, blocking up front for Jim Kiick, Mercury Morris, and Larry Czonka. He’d be named to the Pro Bowl 5 times (1969, 1971-1974,) and earn All-Pro 5 times (1971-1975) over his career.

After retiring from the NFL in 1980, Larry coached at his Alma Mater Bethune-Cookman from 1983-1991, before joining the WLAF with the Ohio Glory. Little was primarily known as a player’s coach. He returned to college after the WLAF went on hiatus, and coached at North Carolina Central from 1993-1998.

He’s earned numerous accolades from his playing career as well, being named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, the Miami Dolphins Honor Roll, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, and The Sporting News 100 Greatest Football Players in 1999.

Larry signed these 2 cards for me through the mail. I should’ve actually included the Ultimate WLAF Ohio Glory Checklist but, maybe that’s for another time. I sent him the rest of the WLAF cards that I made for him to keep and he returned two of them, one inscribed with 17-0 and the other with HOF 1993.  The photo is of him from his interview with the WLAF Gameday Magazine from 1992 and it makes a solid, if not stoic impression of the former Glory coach. I really have warmed up to the Crown Royale Majestic line of cards from 2010.  While the card is very busy design-wise, it almost has a carnival appeal to me, emphasized by the typeface used for Majestic. How Majestic is lined up and off center within the marquee drives me a bit nuts, but otherwise the patch and autograph tie up this card nicely.

G/GS  183/157

NFL

Gary, Cleveland



Cards: ProSet 1990, Action Packed 1991
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 4/17    Received: 5/9   (29 days)

I had been looking for Cleveland Gary for some time. Oddly the ‘old’ LA Rams guard (pre St.Louis) are for the most part difficult to get or resentful of their playing time there.  I couldn’t find his ProSet 1989 entry in his Miami Hurricanes gear, so I just shot out his 90 ProSet instead. He signed these two cards for me in roughly a month. I really like both photos on these cards here. I was always a huge fan of Action Packed, and this moderately close image, framed was typical of this set.

A transfer from UGA, Cleveland Gary was a member of the 1987 Miami Hurricanes National Championship team.  Initially he played behind such football fullback stalwarts such as Alonzo Highsmith and Melvin Bratton before getting his break. In 1988, he ran for 480 yards and 7 TDs, and caught 57 passes for 655 yards and 4 TDs. His 57 catches at the time were a single-season Hurricanes record. The Rams loved their running game so selecting Gary- the premier fullback in the 1989 draft really made sense. He’d be the second of the Rams first round picks in that year, (and the second Hurricane that they’d select) at pick 26.

After a middling rookie season, Cleveland became a bright spot in the Rams overall underwhelming 1990 campaign. He’d work his way into the starting lineup starting 7 games, and lead the NFL with 14 rushing TDs on 204 carries (808 yards).  In one of his finest moments, Gary ran for 3 TDs against the undefeated 49ers in a rain soaked affair that season. The game marked the 49ers first loss in over a year.

1991 was an injury plagued year for Gary, yet he rebounded in 1992 after the Rams made a coaching change to Chuck Knox. Cleveland had a career high 1,125 yards  on 279 carries, and caught 52 receptions for 293 yards with 10 total TDs. 1993 was another off season for Cleveland. He’d rush for just 293 yards on 79 carries and catch 36 passes for 289 yards.

He’d be released by the team in late August of 1994 and then was sidelined by appendicitis. Gary recovered and in October of that year rejected an offer from the Dallas Cowboys and signed with the Miami Dolphins. He ran for just 11 yards in 2 games and retired after the season.

Cleveland has done pretty good for himself after football. After dabbling in minor league indoor football leagues he was last spotted as the CEO of the Black Shopping Channel in 2016.

G/GS 68/29     RUSH 674      YDS 2645     AVG 3.9      TD 24      LG 63
REC 135     YDS  874        AVG  6.5       TD 5         LG  60

 

NFL

Porter, Joey

Cards: Upper Deck 2009, Score 2009
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers
Sent: 8/22    Received: 9/12   (21 days)

Joey Porter pound for pound was one of the most dominant linebackers of the 2000s.  Taken in the 3rd round of the 1999 draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joey was still pretty raw to the linebacker position, something he had switched to from H-Back during his college days at Colorado State.

He’d bide his time on special teams generally over the course of his rookie year. Still he’d record his first professional touchdown on a forced fumble from Neil O’Donnell.  In 2000, he’d start his first full 16 game slate for the Steelers at right outside linebacker, recording 10.5 sacks, and another fumble that he’d return for a TD- that time as he victimized Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. He’d also notch his first career safety.  In 2002, Joey earned his only All Pro nomination, with a career high 60 tackles, and 4 interceptions for 153 yards, to go along with 9 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.  Porter also went to Hawaii after the season and also in 2004 and 2005 while with the Steelers.

Joey took his show to Miami in 2007 where he was unleashed upon the AFC East. Adding teeth to the Dolphin defense, Joey played all over the field at linebacker, outside linebacker, and at defensive end. In 2008 he’d make one more Pro Bowl, as he had a career high 17.5 sacks.  After the 2009 season, Joey signed with the Arizona Cardinals. He’d play for them through the 2011 season, and then retire after signing a one day contract with the Steelers in 2012.

Joey entered the coaching ranks, first as a defensive assistant at Colorado State in 2013. Afterwards he joined the Steelers in the same capacity, honing his knowledge under then defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in 2014.  He’d be promoted to linebackers coach in 2015, a capacity in which Joey’s served through 2017.

Among his honors, Joey was named to the NFL 2000’s All Decade team and the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team. In 2016 he also was nominated to the Pro Football Hall of Fame but did not make the final cut. He kindly signed these two cards for me through the Steelers in under 30 days.

G/GS 188/171   TAC 498   SAC 98.0   FUM 25
INT 12   YDS 233    AVG 19.4     TD 1    LG 84