Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Eller, Carl ‘Moose’

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #102

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2021, C/o Home
Sent: 1/22 Received: 2/13 (22 days)
*Signing Fee Enclosed

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Defensive Tackle who played both ways while at college for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 1961-1963.

  • Selected in the first round of the 1964 Draft by the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL and the Buffalo Bills of the AFL- but opted to sign with the Vikings where he was used at Defensive End.

  • Famed member of the Minnesota Vikings front four, “The Purple People Eaters”.

  • Had a career high 15 sacks in 1969 and 1977.

  • Had a run of 7 seasons with 10 or more sacks.

  • Finished his career in Minnesota as the franchises’ all-time leader in sacks with 130.5.

  • Played one final year in 1979 for the Seattle Seahawks, adding 3 more sacks to his career total.

  • Carl played in a total of 225 games (starting 209).

ACCOLADES:

  • NFL Pro Bowl 1968-1971, 1973, 1974

  • 1st Team All-Pro 1968-1971, 1973

  • 2nd Team All-Pro 1967, 1972

  • College Football Hall of Fame 2006
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame 2004

  • Vikings 40th Anniversary Team

  • Vikings 50th Anniversary Team

  • Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor

  • NFL Defensive Player of the Year 1971

  • North Carolina Sports HoF

NOTES:

Carl after football spent time as a substance abuse counselor and has worked championing human rights for people of color.

A simply beautiful card here of Carl proving there was no shortage of short supply of great sports action photography during the 70s. Instead of dropping $20-30 dollars on a certified autographed card, I opted to send directly through him instead for a fraction of the cost.

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NFL

Muncie, Chuck

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: Ebay, 2020

The 3rd overall pick of the 1976 draft by the New Orleans Saints, Chuck Muncie had a banner year in 1975 at Cal, rushing for 1460 yards on 228 carries, and 13 TDs. He also caught 39 passes for 392 yards and 2 TDs- and finished second in Heisman voting that year.

A hefty powerback much like Earl Campbell, the Saints stuck Muncie at fullback pairing him with Tony Galbraith. Muncie had a respectable rookie season posting 659 yards on 149 carries. His best season for the Saints came in 1979. It’d be a banner year- as he’d be the first player in franchise history to post a 1,000 yard season, start in the Pro Bowl, and earn Pro Bowl MVP honors. Chuck charged ahead rushing for 1198 yards on 238 carries, and a franchise record (at the time) 11 TDs rushing, along with 40 receptions for 308 yards.

Chuck was traded in 1980 to the San Diego Chargers, where he’d pay quick dividends as the team’s leading rusher- but the specter of drugs was not far behind. He was a perfect fit for the ‘Air Coryell’ offense, and earned back to back Pro Bowl berths in 1981 and 1982. In 81 Muncie rushed for a league record 19 TDs at the time, on 251 carries (1144) yards, while posting a career high 43 receptions. But by 83- the stories were circulating of his cocaine abuse.

“I was spiraling downhill.”

-Chuck Muncie

In 1984, unable to depend on Muncie any longer, the Chargers traded Chuck to Miami, where he famously failed a subsequent drug test due to cocaine. Despite entering rehab, the league took a zero tolerance stance and banned him indefinitely. He’d be reinstated for 1985 and quickly traded to Minnesota, where he quickly retired wanting to try to make reclaiming his life from drugs a priority.

Unfortunately that was not rock bottom for Chuck. After a bout of homelessness, Muncie spent time in prison for distribution. It was there, Chuck turned his life around, as he credits prison for saving his life. He became a speaker, did volunteer work, and built a youth foundation in his name. He worked hard at donating time, money, and his fundraising skills, towards noble causes.

A true redemption story, Chuck passed away of a heart attack in 2013. He was only 60 years old.

Chuck Muncie seemed like a random selection to be inserted into what is considered one of the best of the best collections of NFL greats ever, but if not for a career maligned by drug abuse, you have to wonder where Chuck would’ve stood at the end of the day.

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AAF, NFL

Schult, Karter ‘Karter Sauce’

Card: Topps AAF NOW 2019
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 5/9 Received: 8/22 (105 days)
Pending: TTM 2020, C/o Work

Karter Schult was the darling of the Salt Lake City Stallions defense in the Alliance of American Football. The tweener defensive end/ linebacker paced the stubborn Stallion defense with 7 sacks, 25 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He graces the cover of this Topps AAF Now card- the only one oddly enough the Stallions and Karter ever appeared in. For his 2 sack, 4 QB hit effort, Karter was named AAF Defensive Player of the Week. It should also be noted that this takedown of Zach Mettenberger ended his season.

 Schult is Northern Iowa’s all-time leader in tackles for loss and second in sacks as just a two year starter.  His final season there in 2016 was a tour de force, as he earned the Buck Buchanan Award as the best defensive FCS college football player. With a non-stop motor, Karter had 74 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 2 forced fumbles and a pick that year. 

He wasn’t selected in 2017, but spent time in camp with the Cleveland Browns where he had a very good preseason, with 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 4 games. He’d be inexplicably cut, and join the Spring League, recording 3 sacks in two contests, and then after his barn burner 2019 season with the Stallions, was in camp with the Vikings.

I was surprised that Karter was not selected by any XFL squads during the 2020 draft. I ever talked to some personnel on the Roughnecks, who told me that they wanted to select him, but were prevented to do so by the league’s main offices which really made me shake my head.

I contacted Karter through email, and he kindly offered to sign his card for me. It took a bit longer than expected because of COVID, but he did get it done. He liked the custom I did as well, and I was flattered he wanted one so after a few months, I got this out to him, but I’m still waiting for one to come back.

I’d say- outside of his adorable wife- I am one of his most ardent supporters, and I hope that he will get another shot and keep plugging away at his pro dreams.