Fran Tarkenton played college ball at Georgia from 1958-’60.
At QB over 3 years he completed 186 of 317 passes for 2100 yards and 18 TDs to 20 INT.
In 1961 was a 3rd round pick of the then expansion Minnesota Vikings.
Came off the bench in his first game and threw for 4 TDs and rushed for another in a comeback win.
Rushed for a career high 5 TDs his rookie year.
His 89 yard completion in 1962 led the NFL.
Displayed his gift for running out of the pocket early on- becoming one of the first modern hybrid scrambling QBs.
In ’64 passed for 2506 yards and 22 TDs to 11 INT as Tarkenton led the Vikings to an 8-5-1 record.
Traded to Giants in 1967.
Threw for a career high 3,088 yards and 29 TDs that year.
Traded back to the Vikings in 1972.
During the 70s, alongside the Purple People Eaters, led the Vikings to two 12-2 records, and a 10-2-1 record enroute to the 3 Super Bowl appearances,
Led NFL in Attempts in 1975, ’76, ’78, completions in ’75 and ’78 and completion percentage in 1977.
Finished out on top in 1978 with 3468 yards passing and retired after the season- his 18th in the NFL
At the time of his retirement, owned many of the NFL career passing records.
Moved into business, public speaking, commentating, acting, wrote self help books, and an annuity market firm.
ACCOLADES:
Georgia Sports Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
All Pro 1975
NFL MVP 1975
NFL Offensive Player of the Year 1875
Pro Bowl 1964-’65, 1967-’70, 1974-’76
Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team
Minnesota Vikings 40th Anniversary Team
50 Greatest Vikings
Vikings #10 Jersey Retired
Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
NOTES:
Fran Tarkenton with Cathy Lee Crosby on ‘That’s Incredible’ alongside Hopper the Frog
Fran Tarkenton was a very comfortable voice during my childhood, in which I wasn’t really familiar with him from football post retirement but from his stint as a host on the show ‘That’s Incredible’. It only lasted one season in the 80’s but the format, some of the segments, the hosts and the theme music stuck with me over the years.
CARD: TNT XFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Arlington Renegades
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Salvatore Cannella played TE/WR at Auburn from 2017-’19.
Oft used at the majority ground and pound school, he provided mismatches with his unusual size (6’5″, 228), speed, and hands.
He finished his college career with 25 catches for 330 yards and 5 TDs.
Undrafted, Sal played in 2020 for the TSL Generals of the Spring Football League.
He put in his all catching 5 passes for 66 yards and a TD in the Spring League Championship Game.
After a workout with the Colts, he played for the Generals again in 2021.
This led to short stints with a mini-camp at Chicago, and on the off season roster of the Dolphins that year.
The TSL retooled as the USFL, and Sal found himself as the second TE off the board in the positional phase of the league’s draft by the New Orleans Breakers in 2022.
Sal had a great season, catching 34 passes for 368 yards and a TD.
Shortly thereafter he spent roughly a month on the Packers offseason roster.
Cannella was a huge defection for the USFL, when he was drafted and signed by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL in 2023.
He finished second in receiving among TEs with 42 receptions for 415 yards, and was a key cog in the Renegades XFL Championship victory.
After offseason stints with both the Seahawks and Vikings, he resigned with the Renegades for the ’24 campaign.
Sal concluded the season with 53 catches for 497 yards and 6 TDs.
He joined the Bucs for the offseason, but didn’t make the squad.
ACCOLADES:
All USFL Team 2022
All XFL 2023
NOTES:
A little over a week before the game, I went ahead and created and ordered cards of Sal and Luis Perez. (I wasn’t going to be caught flat footed like the previous season.) I was pretty happy with the results.
When I went to the game, I arrived at my normal seats. The players were doing warmups and I flagged down Sal. He looked genuinely touched that I made a card of him and that it was of such high production value. Sal signed the card, and I let him keep the extras I had as thanks.
Mike Merriweather played linebacker for Pacific from 1978-’81.
Playing in 33 contests he had 4 interceptions for 67 yards and a TD.
Third round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1982.
After suiting up for 9 contests in ’82 became a full-time starter in 1983.
Dominant linebacker, had an impressive run from 1984-’86.
Had a career high 15 sacks in 1985.
After the shortened ’87 strike season, Merriweather held out the entire 1988 season.
He’d be traded in 1989 to the Minnesota Vikings.
Returned to form, starting 63 games with 7 picks, and 7 fumble recoveries.
Finished out career splitting the 1993 season with the Packers and Jets.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1984-’86
Pacific Athletics Hall of Fame
Skybox 1992, #158
NOTES:
Mike had some great cards along the way. Total intimidator shots- but these as set needs definitely came first. He was kind enough to sign all of these with a small donation, personalizing each one- which I don’t mind at all. I remember getting Mike’s 1989 Pro Set card as a kid. I was pretty disappointed that he was in his off season gear.
Mike was one of a group of rare players who challenged the NFL’s bargaining contract by sitting out the entire ’88 season from the Steelers, until he forced the trade in 1989 that sent him to Minnesota.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/a
41.0
16
18
299
16.6
4
73
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
