Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Chung, Eugene

Card: Classic 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

Eugene Chung is considered one of the by products of the Herschel Walker trade that Dallas consummated with the Minnesota Vikings. The Cowboys would turn around and trade the pick to the Patriots to help Dallas acquire Russell Maryland. The Patriots selected Chung 13th overall out of Virginia Tech, making him the first Korean American to be drafted in the first round of an NFL draft. He’d quietly play for the Patsies through 1994 on a line that included 1991 first round draft choice Pat Harlow and perennial All-Pro Bruce Armstrong.

Chung then was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars during their expansion draft going 26th overall. He’d play one season for the expansion Jags and then sit out a season, before playing one final season with the Indianapolis Colts in 1997.  He attempted to play for both the Chiefs in 1998 and 1999, and then later the Eagles in 2000 and soon thereafter retired.

Chung over his brief NFL career would play in 55 games, starting 30.

NFL

Wilson, Eugene

Card: Topps Finest 2003
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

Eugene Wilson was drafted out of the University of Illinois by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2003 draft. Valued for his flexibility at both safety and cornerback Wilson was a valuable member of the Patriots’ SuperBowl XXXVIII playing big when it counted in big games. In 2008 he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but would be later cut by the team.

Wilson would quickly find a home with the Houston Texans who needed help at safety. He’d help lock down the position for most of the remainder of the season and assist in improving the team’s woeful rush defense. Eugene’s time with the Texans was an up and down tenure as injuries would impact his performance and he’d lose a great deal of 2009.  He’d return in 2010 but by this time had lost a step. The team would cut Wilson after the conclusion of the 2010 season as the team decided to move in a different direction.

G/Gs 96/86    Tac  313    Sac  0     Fum  3    Int   14     Yds  139    Avg        Lg  24  Td 1

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