Tag Archives: new orleans saints

NFL, WLAF

Carr, Lydell

pswlaf91 lcarrCard: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: 2016, EBay, TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  7/7/15      Received:  7/25/2016   (374 days)
Failure: 2013 TTM, C/o Home

Lydell Carr was the lead blocking back in the Sooners Wishbone attack.  Still none the less, he still gained 2,584 yards (5.0 yards per carry) during his time at Oklahoma.  He’d be selected in the 4th round of the 1988 draft by the New Orleans Saints, but injuries would derail his career. After being cut by the Cardinals in 1990, Carr joined the WLAF in 1991.

Starting at fullback, Lydell blocked for both Paul Palmer and Jim Bell while playing for the Barcelona Dragons, and powering the duo to 725 total rushing yards. The short yardage back, Lydell had 8 TDs on a mere 27 carries. After the team failed to win the World Bowl, Lydell was signed by the expansion Ohio Glory in 1992.  Lydell’s contribution was a mere 57 yards on 20 carries and a TD, but he’d help the team to 873 total yards on the ground, and Amir Rasul to second in the league with 572 yards rushing.

I knew Lydell’s nephew (I believe) and he even went to high school and college with me, however I had stopped collecting autographs during that period of my life when I could have probably gotten Lydell. Even with the renewed interest in Lydell’s career (thanks in part to Upper Deck’s 2011 OU set), he’s sporadic through the mail at best, and I have failed to get him on 2 occasions already, so I threw in the towel and just EBayed this one through.

Amazingly though a few months after I had composed this entry, Carr came through with this card signed in a bit over a year- clocking in at a svelte 374 days.

WLAF     Rush 47       Yds  146          Avg 3.1      TD 9      Lg 24
Rec   9        Yds 65        Avg  7.2         TD 0          Lg  17

NFL

Martin, Eric

pset89 emartinpset90 emartin
Cards: Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Action Packed 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:   8/8/15      Received: 1/7/16   (152 days)
Failure: 2011, C/o Home.

As far as receivers go even historically, Eric Martin got no respect. At the time of his graduation from LSU, Eric Martin was the most prolific receiver in the history of the SEC with 2,625 career yards.  A highly precise route runner, with great hands, Martin ran a very flat 4.65 40, which dropped his draft stock like a rock. In the end, his home state New Orleans Saints selected him in the 7th round of the 1985 draft.

ap90 emartinHe’d make the team and start 11 games in each of the next 3 seasons while also handling return duties on special teams.  In 1988 Eric started his first full 16 game slate and it paid dividends with him catching a career high 85 balls for 1083 yards and 7 touchdowns. At the conclusion of the season, Martin earned his and only first Pro Bowl nomination.  He’d have another solid season in 1989, logging career high 1090 yards and 8 touchdowns on 68 receptions.

After two near 1,000 yard campaigns in both 90 and 91, Martin recorded his final 1,000 yard season, in 1992 with 1041 yards and 5 touchdowns. Another near 1K miss occurred in 1993 for Eric, and then he  played a final season with the Kansas City Chiefs in 94.  Martin finished his career with the Saints as their all-time receiving leader, which has since been broken numerous times by Joe Horn and Marques Colston.

Eric had some absolutely amazing cards so it was tough to pair down the selection to send out. In the end I went with these 3 solid issues. I had failed previously in 2011 but decided to give it another shot to a second address, where I got a response after a few months wait.

G/GS  153/118      REC 553    YDS 8161    AVG 14.8     TD 49   LG 84
KR  22    YDS  495       AVG 22.5    TD 0      LG  69
PR  46     YDS  368      AVG 8.0   TD 0    LG 39

NFL

Darby, Alden ‘The Juice Man’

sage14 adarby
Card: Sage 2014
Acquired: 2015, Box Breaker

Alden finished his career at Arizona State with 217 tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 10 interceptions at Strong Safety. He had 2 interceptions he returned for TDs, oddly both against the USC Trojans. He ran a decent 4.5 40,  displays the physical prowess to play all positions in the secondary, and is a smart gunner on special teams, but went undrafted in 2014. A practice squad mainstay so far in his brief NFL career, Darby has yet to see game time action outside of the preseason. Picked up by the San Diego Chargers in 2014, he signed with the Steelers in 2015, but was cut in early September of that year. The New Orleans Saints quickly scooped Darby up and added him to their practice squad.  He was signed to a futures contract by the squad in 2016.