Tag Archives: new orleans saints

NFL

Muncie, Chuck

Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: Ebay, 2020

The 3rd overall pick of the 1976 draft by the New Orleans Saints, Chuck Muncie had a banner year in 1975 at Cal, rushing for 1460 yards on 228 carries, and 13 TDs. He also caught 39 passes for 392 yards and 2 TDs- and finished second in Heisman voting that year.

A hefty powerback much like Earl Campbell, the Saints stuck Muncie at fullback pairing him with Tony Galbraith. Muncie had a respectable rookie season posting 659 yards on 149 carries. His best season for the Saints came in 1979. It’d be a banner year- as he’d be the first player in franchise history to post a 1,000 yard season, start in the Pro Bowl, and earn Pro Bowl MVP honors. Chuck charged ahead rushing for 1198 yards on 238 carries, and a franchise record (at the time) 11 TDs rushing, along with 40 receptions for 308 yards.

Chuck was traded in 1980 to the San Diego Chargers, where he’d pay quick dividends as the team’s leading rusher- but the specter of drugs was not far behind. He was a perfect fit for the ‘Air Coryell’ offense, and earned back to back Pro Bowl berths in 1981 and 1982. In 81 Muncie rushed for a league record 19 TDs at the time, on 251 carries (1144) yards, while posting a career high 43 receptions. But by 83- the stories were circulating of his cocaine abuse.

“I was spiraling downhill.”

-Chuck Muncie

In 1984, unable to depend on Muncie any longer, the Chargers traded Chuck to Miami, where he famously failed a subsequent drug test due to cocaine. Despite entering rehab, the league took a zero tolerance stance and banned him indefinitely. He’d be reinstated for 1985 and quickly traded to Minnesota, where he quickly retired wanting to try to make reclaiming his life from drugs a priority.

Unfortunately that was not rock bottom for Chuck. After a bout of homelessness, Muncie spent time in prison for distribution. It was there, Chuck turned his life around, as he credits prison for saving his life. He became a speaker, did volunteer work, and built a youth foundation in his name. He worked hard at donating time, money, and his fundraising skills, towards noble causes.

A true redemption story, Chuck passed away of a heart attack in 2013. He was only 60 years old.

Chuck Muncie seemed like a random selection to be inserted into what is considered one of the best of the best collections of NFL greats ever, but if not for a career maligned by drug abuse, you have to wonder where Chuck would’ve stood at the end of the day.

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Arena, NFL, WLAF

Tucker, Mark ‘Rebel’

Card: Wild Card World League 1992
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Work
Sent: 9/16 Received: 10/8 (22 days)

A four-year starter at right guard for USC from 1987 to 1990, Mark Tucker was selected in the 7th round of the 91 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons spending most of the year on the practice squad. The next year he joined the Colts in a similar capacity and then was allocated to the Frankfurt Galaxy of the World League where he spent a season with the squad in 1992.

After the World League reorganized, Mark joined the Arizona Cardinals, playing for them the next two seasons (1993-1994). In the meantime, Mark moonlighted on ‘American Gladiators’ as an injury replacement gladiator named ‘Rebel’. His interesting career journey continued from there spending a season with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an expansion selection in 95. With the following season under his belt with the New Orleans Saints in 96, Tucker decided to take his talents to the Arena Football League, playing for the Arizona Rattlers. He experienced his best football years with the franchise, and played from 1997 to 2006 with the squad.

Mark quickly jumped into coaching offensive and defensive lines for the Rattlers, and then later the New Orleans Voodoo. He moved to the high school ranks, where he has become an acclaimed position coach over the last 20 years.

NFL, XFL

Nichols, Deatrick

Card: Topps XFL 2020 Certified
Acquired: EBay, 2020

Deatrick Nichols played cornerback for 3 years at South Florida from 2014-2018. He concluded his college career with 174 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 24 pass deflections, and 11 interceptions for 109 yards and a TD.

He wasn’t selected in the 2019 NFL Draft, but made the squad of the Arizona Cardinals eventually being elevated off the practice squad and into the lineup a few times during the season. After being waived, Nichols was selected by the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL 2020. Deatrick led the XFL with 3 interceptions, 6 pass deflections, a sack, and 24 tackles in 5 contests.

After the league suspended operations, Deatrick has been on the off-season rosters of the New Orleans Saints, and the Miami Dolphins.