Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Johnson, Ted (2)

ud99 t johnsonsky97 t johnson

Cards: Skybox Metal Universe 1997, Upper Deck 1999
Acquired: In Person 5/19, 610 Houston Fan Fest 2013
See Also: Ted Johnson

Ted Johnson was one of the first guys out of the gate in 2013 at Fan Fest. Surprisingly he had a decently busy line, but he still managed to sign 2 cards for me. We talked briefly again about the concussions lawsuit and where it is at. I told him that I thought that the responsibility that the NFL has taken in education is a snow job to avoid responsibility for their previous behavior (as in acting like they didn’t know concussions were bad). After I told him that I was taught to tackle with the ‘bike’ or (label) of the helmet, Ted talked to me about it at lengths, and how the NFL just can’t change player behavior and instinct overnight. He told me that enforcement will be also difficult to enforce by officials, and cited his already borderline illegal behavior of how when he played, his bread and butter move was to fly in and tag the offensive lineman with the top of his helmet underneath the chin.

Nice cards here. I like the Skybox Metal card and the Upper Deck a lot. Solid designs with different approaches. Thankfully the Patriots didn’t stick with that hideous uniform with the shoulder decals much longer beyond these years.

Really disappointed in 610 Sports Radio Houston as they decided not to hold FanFest in 2014, and went with ‘ManFest’ instead -A mysogynistic dinosaur name to go along with ham fisted events with second string players and no inferred autograph event. While they said they were trying to stray away from the previous set ups of simply padding fans autograph collections, I disagree as I found my interactions from previous FanFest events with players to be animated and interesting.

NFL

Israel, Steve

sky92 israelspics92 israrelcla92 israelaprks92 israel

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Classic 1992, Star Pics 1992, Skybox 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 10/31   Received: 12/17  (49 days)

Steve Israel played college ball at Pittsburgh and set the world on fire his senior season when he recorded 6 interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown.  With Jerry Gray signing with the Houston Oilers in 1992, the Rams were in the market for another defensive back. After recently being exposed with regularity by the 49ers receiving corps, Los Angeles needed to keep the arms war going by adding fresh blood to the back four. The Rams selected Steve with the second overall pick of the second round. A speed merchant, Steve started 12 games in 1993, but otherwise was used primarily as the Rams nickle back throughout his 3 year tenure with Los Angeles.  During the Summer he’d be waived by the team, but picked up shortly there after by the 49ers, who needing depth at the position after a recent spate of injuries hit the squad.  He’d make his first career interception against the Atlanta Falcons in 1996.  In 1997, Steve signed with the New England Patriots and play there for another 3 seasons. Steve marked his best season as a pro in ’98 recording 3 interceptions and 2 sacks in 7 starts.  He’d play one final season in New Orleans in 2001 before retiring during camp in 2002 with the Carolina Panthers.  Currently Steve lives in North Carolina and does commentary for ESPNU.

The Bible scripture is from Proverbs 16:3- “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

 

G/Gs  102/38      Tac 249        Sac 4    Fum 4    Int  5      Yds  16      Avg  3.2     Td 0       Lg 12

NFL

Ellard, Henry

sco94 ellardCard: Score 1994
Acquired: 2013, Trade via Sportscollectors.net
Failure: 2010, 2011, c/o The Jets

Henry Ellard is like many of the members of the Los Angeles Rams club of the late 80s that is a complete enigma to me when it comes to answering fanmail. Much like Kevin Greene, Greg Bell, and Flipper Anderson, there seems to be this unsaid code not to answer any autograph requests through the mail. While Ellard seems to boast the highest dismal answer rate between the 4, occasionally signing through whatever team he’s coaching with, I completely whiffed on him both in 2010 and 2011 via the Jets and Rams.

The Sportscollectors message board had a ‘free autographed cards’ deal where you give  your doubles out to needy fans in exchange for a future considerations, and since I was sitting on a small loot-splosion of them, it was time for me to hop in the pool. This allowed me to claim both Ellard- which I had direly wanted and another player. A pug ugly card, I definitely would have preferred to have gotten one of his earlier Pro Set or Action Packed entries signed instead of this Score ’94, but beggars can not be choosers.

A top flight receiver from Fresno State, Ellard, today, some 30 years later, still holds many of the school’s receiving records. His best year came in his Senior year when he posted 1495 yards and 15 TDs on 61 receptions. The 1983 draft was considered weak at the overall position however, and outside of Willie Gault going to the Bears, no other receiver was taken in round 1. The Rams grabbed future NFL rushing leader and record setter Eric Dickerson in round 1. Sweeping back around to their pick in round 2, they’d take Ellard off the board and plug him right into the lineup as the team’s punt returner. With Ferragamo and Kemp sharing most of the quarterbacking duties in the early years, it wasn’t until 1988, with the maturation of Jim Everett at quarterback, that Ellard broke the 1,000 yard plateau, but in the meantime he quickly cemented his status as a starter by his second season in 1984.   Ellard and the Rams were considered for a brief span the second best team in the NFL, but unfortunately that was always behind their sister team and city- The San Fransisco 49ers. He’d post a career and NFL high 1414 yards in 1988. It’d be the first of 4 1,000 yard seasons in a row for Henry, as the Rams climbed the ladder to the NFC championship game and then collapsed in 1991. Still Ellard along with Flipper Anderson provided a veritable deep threat to keep teams honest against the Rams rushing game. As the Rams fired Robinson after 1991, owner Georgia Frontiere brought in Chuck Knox to run the team. Coach Knox attempted to return the Rams back to a ground and pound offense. In his final season with the Rams in 1993, Ellard posted 945 yards on 61 catches and 2 touchdowns. Ellard was allowed to test the waters of free agency because the Rams felt at Henry’s age of 32, – that he was old and the team needed to go in another direction.

When former Rams offensive guru Norv Turner came calling, he knew what a bargain he was getting in the starting caliber ability of Henry Ellard. The Redskins plugged him right into the starting lineup and Ellard responded by rattling off 3 more consecutive 1,000 yard seasons catching passes from the likes of Heath Shuler, John Friesz, Gus Frerote, Jeff Hostetler, and Trent Green. He retired with the New England Patriots after the 1998 season and 16 seasons.

He has jumped into coaching, where he has remained since with stops with his Alma Mater- Fresno State, the St. Louis Rams, the New York Jets, and as of 2012 with the New Orleans Saints. Considered by many of the NFL’s elite defensive backs of that age to be one of the greatest receivers they ever faced, Ellard is long overdue for the recognition that he deserves.  He remains critically underrated by both the media and voters despite his career numbers and the respect he garnered from his peers.

G/Gs 228/199     Rec 814    Yds 13,777     Avg 16.9      Td 65      Lg 81t
Kr  19       Yds 364       Avg 19.2     Td 0       Lg  44
Pr  135    Yds 1627     Avg  11.3     Td  4      Lg  83t