Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

College Football HoF, NFL

Rashad, Ahmad

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AL-158

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Formerly known as Robert Earl Moore.
  • Ahmad Rashad played college ball with QB Dan Fouts at Oregon from 1968-1971.
  • Played HB setting multiple records at the school (rushing yards, receptions, and points) -which were all school records.
  • First round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1972 and transitioned to receiver.
  • Played in 13 games catching 29 passes for 500 yards.
  • Led the NFL with a 98 yard TD pass- probably the longest catch any rookie has had.
  • Traded to the Buffalo Bills after the 1973 season, but only played one year there, as he was sidelined with injuries for the entire 1975 campaign.
  • Traded to the Vikings shortly before the regular season by the Seahawks in 1976, and set new career marks across the board with 53 catches for 671 yards.
  • Caught 66 passes for 768 yards and 8 TDs in 1978.
  • Had career high 80 catches for 1156 yards and 9 TDs in 1979.
  • Continued unlikely run with another 1000 yard campaign in 1980, catching 69 passes for 1095 yards and 5 TDs.
  • In 1981, put up 58 catches for 884 yards and 7 TD.s
  • Retired after the 1982 campaign.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1978-81
  • Second Team AP 1979
  • Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
  • Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
  • 50 Greatest Vikings
  • Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team
  • Minnesota Vikings 50th Anniversary Team
  • College Football Hall of Fame 2007

NOTES:

When I first started watching NBC football during golden era the 80s, Ahmad Rashad had the smoothest delivery behind the desk back at the studio. Initially, I didn’t even know he played football! I felt like he and Bob Costas had extremely similar styles of commentary and announcing that I was very comfortable with. For a while there Rashad was married to Phylicia Ayers-Allen (Rashad)- who is an actress most notably known for being the mom on the Cosby Show.

Rashad is also a huge basketball fan, announcer, desk host, and player. He even got into a preseason game at the age of 40 playing for the Philadelphia 76ers scoring 2 points!

He remains a Vikings and Minnesota legend to this day.

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495683113.84498
NFL

Jordan, Steve (2)

Fleer 1990, #101
Pro Set 1989, #231
Skybox Premium 1993, #217
Topps Stadium Club 1992, #95

CARDS: Topps Stadium Club 1992, Skybox Premium 1993, ProSet 1989, Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 10/3 RECEIVED: 11/18 (46 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Some good set needs knocked out of Steve here with the classic Pro Set card. It’s a great action shot. The Skybox premium is a really well designed card too. The Topps Stadium Club one is interesting all on its own. You just don’t see action shots like that, and Steve also has that oddball Score 1990 shot of him on the ground too.

NFL

Long, Jake (2)

Upper Deck Football Heroes 2008, #151
Upper Deck Football Heroes 2008, #152
Score 2009, #157
Topps 2014, #64

CARDS: Score 2009, Upper Deck College Heroes 2008 x2, Topps 2014
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3/23 RECEIVED: 1/17/23 (days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Jake Long
  • Long returned in time for the 2015 season, but was released in a cost saving move by the Rams.
  • He signed a one year contract with the Falcons.
  • In 2016, Jake briefly flirted with Baltimore, but ended up in Minnesota.
  • He’d tear his Achilles in week 10 ending his season.
  • Long retired during the 2017 offseason.

NOTES:

I had been meaning to get back to Jake for a while after getting a freebee back in 2014. I think I’d been kicking the tires on him for 3 to 4 years, so it makes sense he’s the first calendar success of 2023.

These Upper Deck cards- meh- they’re okay, but they were better than the junk that was designed for the ’08 season. The Score ’09 was definitely a set need, while the Topps 2014 was the slow evolution of the product from I think 2011. The design started resembling more of a fender, but eh I’m sorta okay with that. I thought it’d be nice to get one of him in his Rams attire- even if it is St. Louis.