Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Dykes, Hart Lee

Card: Score 1991
Acquired: TTM 1991, Patriots Blitz

Hart Lee Dykes was a beastly athlete as a child, winning the Pass, Punt, Kick Competition and becoming an All Star high school receiver out of Bay City Texas, that was even documented in Sports Illustrated. A highly lauded recruit, Dykes would become the subject of a well documented bidding war between college programs to land him, and the ensuing brouhaha would land him squarely in the middle of a college football corruption scandal.

Surviving the scandal and granted immunity in exchange for his testimony, he’d be drafted by the New England Patriots out of Oklahoma State in 1989. Hart Lee would also be the highest rated wide receiver taken out of this infamously deep draft with the 17th overall pick. (Eric Metcalf was drafted by the Browns three picks ahead of Dykes but as a runningback.) Dykes’ rookie season seemed promising enough, playing in all 16 games and starting 8, lodging 49 receptions for 795 yards and 5 touchdowns, but he’d be overshadowed by fellow rookie Andre Rison in Indianapolis. In 1990, Dykes season appeared to be off to a good start but he’d shatter his kneecap, effectively ending his career. After being placed on injured reserve, he’d attempt  a comeback over the next  season or two, but his situation was only complicated by a bar room altercation with teammate Irving Fryar where Dykes would have his eye socket shattered in the fight.  Shortly before he was cut, I got his autograph on this score 1991 card. At last glance the former Bay City, Texas resident had dabbled in real estate and was in the trucking business.

Well when your name is Hart Lee Dykes, you’ve got to come up with a clever autograph, so it makes perfect sense that he used a heart for his first name in a fun autograph with lots of loops and curves. At the time of his graduation from OSU, Dykes was the All-time leader in the Big 8 for receptions (203) and yards (3171), however sadly still has not been recognized by the school, possibly due to his involvement in OSUs recruitment scandal.

G/Gs  26/18      Rec   83         Yds    1344     Avg  16.2     Td 7     Lg  42
A Dykes highlight film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5DYdc1LYxs

NFL, NFLE

Lambert, Dion

Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

Dion Lambert was drafted out of UCLA by the New England Patriots in the 4th round of the 1992 draft.  He earned Pac-10 Honorable Mention honors in 1990 when he made 48 tackles and broke up 4 passes, but his senior season was largely marred by a torn tendon in his right foot.  An aggressive man to man defender, at 6’1″, 190, Lambert was thought to be a nice sized defensive back that the team maybe able to slot at safety with his long arms and huge hands.  Dion was also strong for his size, rarely got blocked off the ball, and possessed tremendous closing speed.

Dion would play two seasons for New England, making 23 tackles and a fumble recovery in 1992, and 1 pick, 1 FF and 28 tackles starting 4 games in 1993. Lambert would sign with the Seahawks in 1994 where he’d play through 1995.  In 1997 the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFLE would draft Dion with their 8th round pick of the positional draft, and he’d play one season there before retiring. Since then, Dion has done some work for Greg Bell’s Athletes For Life foundation and football camps.

A nice signature in red ink on a great Star Pics 1992 card, I’d get Dion’s autograph along with a host of other Patriots at the conclusion of the 1993 season. Real nice job by the guys at Star Pics, but a common error in design is creating type that flows up the card, such as on the right of this card with the position and name of the player. Regardless, it’s still a well designed card outside of it, and the player framing inside the box is a tantalizing size to the eye combined with vivid colors and nice photography.

G/Gs 31/5     Tac  56      Sac  0         Fum  1        Int   1        Yds   0     Avg 0    Td 0    Lg 0

NFL

Vaughn, Jon

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Sky Box 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, 1994, Patriots Blitz

Dimunitive slasher back Jon Vaughn (5’9″, 203) was a speedy track Michigan Wolverine product, who declared as a junior and was drafted in the 5th round by the New England Patriots. Vaughn was perhaps most dangerous in the capacity as a kick returner where he had 4 touchdowns in 103 returns.  His rookie season Jon would return 34 kicks for 717 yards and a 99 yard touchdown. He’d follow up this with an impressive 1992, with 451 yards rushing and 20 kick returns for 564 yards and a 100 yard return for a touchdown. Jon’s 28.2 yard per return average would lead the NFL.

In 1993, Vaughn would find himself traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where again he’d find himself in the same role, playing there through 1994. In 1994 he’d return 33 kicks for 829 yards and 2 touchdowns, virtually splitting his time with the Seahawks and Chiefs averaging 25.1 yards per return. He’d be released during training camp in 1995 and retire.

Two of my favorite card sets side by side: Action Packed Rookies 1991 and SkyBox 1992. SkyBox with the giant name behind the player who bursts off the background and Action Packed with its red and gold and minimal design really make it happen. Jon Vaughn’s signature is interesting as I think it’s one of few where the player has changed the “#” to a “$”.

G/Gs  60/9     Rush  207          Yds 846            Avg 4.1           Td 4          lg 37   |
Rec 23       Yds  178             Avg  7.7          Td 1            lg 32   |
Kr  103        Yds  2390            Avg 23.2            Td   4       lg 100t