Tag Archives: new orleans saints

NFL, WLAF

Cadore, Mike “Jet”

Cards: Proset WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991 HC
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o home
Sent: 1/10    Received: 2/5  (27 days)

Mike Cadore was a fleet footed wide receiver/ returner from the University of Eastern Kentucky, who’d be drafted in the 12th round of the super deep 1989 draft by the New Orleans Saints. At Eastern Kentucky Cadore would set university marks surpassing the 1,000 yard mark in kick off returns, and his average was a gaudy 30 yards per pop, earning Mike Division I-AA honors. Playing behind Eric Martin, Lonzell Hill, Brett Perriman, and Floyd Turner, didn’t provide Cadore many reps, in the NO receiving corps, and at 5-8, 169, Mike was one of the smallest receivers in the league. He would not make the squad due to injury.

In 1991 the Montreal Machine of the WLAF drafted Cadore in the 2nd round of the WLAF draft. Breathtakingly fast, he’d claim the team’s primary return duties, returning 14 kickoffs for 327 yards and make 7 receptions for 89 yards. During the team’s premiere against the Birmingham Fire on USA Network in 1991, Jet returned a kickoff 56 yards to help key the Machine’s 23-10 victory. His 23.7 YPR on kickoffs ranked second in the WLAF. He would not return to the Machine for the 1992 season.

After football Michael was blessed to land on his feet. Utlizing his degree in Criminal Sciences from Eastern Kentucky, he completed his Masters in Management and Leadership from Webster University. He’s been a pillar of the Brevard County community, working in Law Enforcement, in a variety of areas from corrections, probation, patrol and media relations, to youth mentoring and crime prevention.  Mike has raised a wonderful family with 3 children and a great wife. He also enjoys coaching little league football and mentoring young children. He and his wife are the founders of Magnus Solutions- A company that provides quality solutions to needs such as: Keynote speaking, policy management review, security services, and leadership/mentoring assistance.

Mike lives his life by the motto: “If you don’t serve your community now don’t expect to serve your community later”.  Many of the young adults who have participated in his”GOT SKILLZ” football clinic have ironically gone on to play for Jacksonville University, where former WLAF alum Kerwin Bell is now head coach at.

With such a unique name, Mike proved to be an easy player to locate for me utilizing Google. Digging only a page or two down in searching, I was able to email him where he graciously offered to sign a few cards for me. A member of the Montreal Machine- (one of the 3 international clubs I’ve had difficulty contacting members of,) I was glad to add Mike’s autograph to the hall, especially on this really nice player card of his. Recently he sent me a kind and touching note thanking me for the site and the good job I am doing. – It is the little things like Mike’s note that make my week. You may visit his company at: www.magnussolutions.com.

WLAF  KR  14   Yds 327   Avg 23.7 Td 0  Lg 56
Rec 7    Yds  89   Avg 12.7   Td 0   Lg 24

Update: In 2014, Mike was inducted into the Florida Space Coast Hall of Fame.

NFL

Cox, Bryan

Cards: Score Supplemental 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o The Miami Dolphins
Sent:  9/2/11  Received: 1/11/12  (131 days)*
*Forwarded from old address.

Powerful. Intimidating. Ahead of his time. That’s the best way I can describe the fearsome caveman, Bryan Cox who played linebacker for the Miami Dolphins. He was a guy who used the word HATE to describe how he felt about other teams and had no problem expressing his lack of respect thereof for his opponent to the media. An unrelenting force in the final years of Don Shula, Bryan Cox’s mouth and presence on the field was contrary to the no nonsense workmanlike attitude of Dolphins teams of the past, and he really foreshadowed a few years there that aggression and smack talking became more and more prominent in the league.

An All-America 1st team recipient in 1990, Cox was drafted in the 5th round of the 1990 draft by the Dolphins. With aggressive tackling, blitzing and special teams play, he blocked 5 kicks in his final season at Western Illinois for the Leathernecks.  A fearsome hitter, he quickly asserted himself, starting 13 contests at right outside linebacker for the Dolphins recording 61 tackles and  2 sacks that rookie season. In 1991 Bryan recorded a career high 14 sacks, 127 tackles and his first career interception earning AP Honors for his efforts.  In 1993, the team moved him to right linebacker, and while the name was only a subtle change, Bryan was utilized differently in coverage. He’d make 122 tackles and 5 sacks and force 4 fumbles. Bryan returned to his ProBowl form in 1994 after he moved to middle linebacker.  He’d again see a return to the ProBowl in 1995, earning 7.5 sacks that season. He’d would depart via free agency to Chicago for 1995.

Two uneventful years playing for the Bears passed and Cox returned to terrorize the AFC East- this time for the Jets, playing both RILB and LILB for them over 3 seasons, recording his first career pick for a touchdown, 3 FR and 12 sacks.  He’d again move in 2001 to play for the Patriots, winning the SuperBowl at the end of the season. Cox then played one final season for the Saints in 2002 retiring at season’s end.

After doing a bit of commentary, Bryan has gone into coaching since his playing days. He has spent his time working for the Jets, Browns, and now the Dolphins as their pass rush specialist, where I got his autograph on a card in a bit over 4 months. I was a tad disappointed in this one since he signed 1 of 3 cards, but you can not look a gift horse in the mouth, and I was more than happy to add this fearsome linebacker to my collection.

G/Gs 165/145     Tac 764     Sac  51.5       Fum  22     Int  4   Yds  65   Avg  16.3     Td 1   Lg 27

NFL

Wattelet, Frank

Card: Top Notch School of the Legends 2011-12
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 12/14  Received: 12/24 (10 days)

Frank is a really cool player that I met through School of the Legends. After talking with him for a bit, it hit me to send him a card of his. I thought,  “Maybe he had a Topps card floating around somehwere,” but surprisingly Frank did not,(-outside of a McDonald’s oversize Happy Meal card from 1985,) so I set out to make one for him.

Embracing the SotL brand look, I gave the card a nice background featuring the city and added a vignette of a shield for his action shot to be composed in. After receiving multiple photos from him to work with, I had Frank’s helmet pop from the top of the shield to give the card more depth. I also used various color adjustment layers and other Photoshop and Illustrator techniques to bring it all together and complete out the card.  Frank got his card from me and was stoked, since he had never had a card before. He asked me for my address and popped a few in the mail for me. They came in right before the new year which made it all the more nice.

A headhunting Safety out of Kansas who played alongside speedster Leroy Irvin, Frank Wattelet was not drafted coming out of the 1981 draft, signing with the New Orleans Saints, who had just hired former Houston Oiler Bum Phillips as head coach.  Wattelet stepped into the lineup in 1981 and started 3 games, but played primarily on special teams. Still he’d manage to rake in 3 picks. In 1982 his true home would be found at Free Safety starting beside Dave Waymer in 9 games and making a fumble recovery.  In 1984 he’d return a pick and a fumble in consecutive weeks for touchdowns- A team mark for the Saints. As the upback in the Saints special teams set, he’d also occasionally see a few fakes come his way completing 1 pass for 14 yards against the Colts in 1986, and 42 yards in 1985 on 2 scampers.  Considered one of the Saints best free agent finds, Wattelet would play for the Saints from 1981-1987 starting 78 contests.  Frank was reunited with Leroy Irvin (from his days on the Jayhawks) on the Rams in 1987, and retired following the 1988 season.  Still an avid football fan, Frank lives with his family in Joplin, Mo where he cheers on the Jayhawks- win or lose each week, beside the Saints.

G/Gs 98/78      Tac  N/a      Sac  1.0     Fum 10   Int 12   Yds 135     Avg 11.3    Td  1     Lg 35