Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Lippett, Ronnie

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Action Packed 1991, Skybox Impact 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 2/14 RECEIVED: 3/7 (21 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ronnie Lippett was a 3 year starter at the University of Miami at DB from 1979-’81.
  • Recorded 3 interceptions and 49 tackles in his Senior year, and 10 overall for this career.
  • Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1982 during the 8th round, Lippett ended up being a steal for the team.
  • Although standing at 5’11”, 180, he almost immediately stepped into the starting lineup replacing Mike Haynes (who departed for LA).
  • Over his career Lippett intercepted 24 passes- with 7 of them coming at the hands of Dan Marino.
  • Best season came in 1986 when Lippett had 8 picks for 76 yards.
  • Despite suffering near career ending injuries, Lippett played through the 1991 season, appearing in 121 contests.
  • After retiring worked with families counselling kids to stay off drugs and owned a series of quick oil change shops.

ACCOLADES:

  • University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame
  • AFC Defensive Player of the Week 1986
  • New England Patriots All 1980s Team

NOTES:

A venerable DB, Ronnie Lippett was a solid DB in Tecmo Superbowl. Lippett has received some attention for his litigation against the Patriots and the NFL for workman’s compensation, delayed payments and benefit issues.

College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Plunkett, Jim

CARDS: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Action Packed 1990 Braille
ACQUIRED: EBay 2020, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Plunkett played QB at Stanford from 1968-’70.
  • He immediately stepped in as starter and led the conference in a variety of passing statistics throughout his college career.
  • In every year he led the Pac-8 in Completions, Yards, and TDs.
  • Over his college career he threw for 7,544 yards on 530 of 962 passes, with 52 TDs to 47 picks.
  • First overall pick of the New England Patriots in 1971.
  • After a pretty decent rookie season, where he threw for 19 TDs and 16 picks, he steadily guided the ship during the dead ball era over the next 4 seasons.
  • An injury plagued 1975, led Jim to be traded to the 49ers.
  • He’d play there from 1976-’77, completing 254 of 491 passes for 3285 yards, 22 TDs to 30 interceptions.
  • Released in 1978, Jim joined the Oakland Raiders.
  • Spent his time primarily as a backup behind Kenny Stabler and then Dan Pastorini.
  • Plunkett stepped into the starting lineup after Pastorini got injured in 1980, and experienced a Renaissance.
  • He went 9-2 as a starter, completing 165 of 320 passes for 2299 yards and 18 TDs.
  • Led the team to a 27-10 win in Super Bowl XV.
  • After surviving a 2-5 season in 1981 and being benched, Plunkett again woke up leading the Raiders to a 10-3 record in 1983.
  • The Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins 38-9 in Super Bowl XVIII.
  • Injury plagued and faced with constant QB battles, played with Raiders through the ’86 season before retiring.
  • Spent 20 years after that working radio and TV as a commentator and post game analyst.

ACCOLADES:

  • Heisman Trophy Winner 1970
  • Offensive Rookie of the Year 1971
  • Superbowl XV MVP
  • 1980 Comeback Player of the Year
  • Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame
  • California Sports Hall of Fame
  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Rose Bowl Hall of Fame
  • Maxwell Award 1970
  • Walter Camp Award 1970
  • Raiders Ring of Honor

NOTES:

Definitely a Raiders legend, Jim Plunkett went from near bust to Super Bowl MVP, and then to prove doubters wrong led the team to another title a few years later. He’s probably not going to get into the HoF. His numbers just aren’t strong enough and he never was All Pro or Pro Bowl bound.

Jim’s braille card was considered a rumor, a grail among collectors for a bit when it came out. After a while it showed up in about one per box. When an autographed copy appeared on eBay, I picked it up, even though its signed on the back.

NFL, University of Texas

McKay, Bob (1947-2026) ‘Big ‘Un’

CARD: UT Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck 2011 National Champions
ACQUIRED:
SENT: 10/5/19 RECEIVED: 11/1/19 (27 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Bob McKay played OT at Texas from 1968-69′.
  • Displayed great speed and exceptional run blocking ability in Texas’ wishbone formation.
  • Considered one of the finest linemen in Longhorns’ history.
  • First round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 1970.
  • Immediately stepped into starting lineup for the Browns OL.
  • Overcame a broken bone in his leg suffered during the preseason in ’72 to become a team captain on the line, while improving his pass blocking skills.
  • In 6 seasons with Cleveland, Bob posted 67 games with 54 starts playing T, RG, LG, and RT.
  • Joined the New England Patriots in 1976, where he closed out his career after the ’78 campaign.
  • He played the next three seasons there, with the final two being primarily as a backup.
  • Bob played in 105 games, starting 71.
  • After retirement, he returned to Austin where he pursued private business in Austin.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • National Football Foundation Hall of Fame

NOTES:

Bob was a bit of a monster of his era, clocking in at 6’5″, 260 he was immediately the second largest offensive lineman on his time- as a rookie.

He’s also remembered for a nasty fight in the trenches between him and Joe Greene during the ’75 season.

Again, during this period a lot of stuff slipped through the cracks, so finding a lot of these gems has been a real treat.

EPITAPH:

9/10/26- Bob McKay passed away today at the age of 78.