Tag Archives: New York Giants

College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL, usfl

Walker, Herschel

Cards: Action Packed 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1992, Pro Set 1991 Heisman Heroes, Score 1989, Score 1990 Ground Force
Acquired: In Person 1994, 1997, Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp.  TTM, 2011. C/o Home
Sent: 1/13/11    Received: 7/5/11  (173 days)

Herschel Walker? In my estimates of some of the great runningbacks in football, I would say I was enthralled by Herschel Walker. I knew who Herschel was before I even watched football. A record breaking machine for the Georgia Bulldogs in college, Walker would be a 3 time All American and win the Heisman in 1982. Herschel was a shrewd businessman, and realized that with the advent of the upstart USFL he could effectively carve his own destiny and make more money off of endorsements. Plus without rules regarding underclassmen, Herschel could declare for the USFL draft as a Junior- something he couldn’t do in the NFL. With that being said, Walker would be drafted by the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 1983.  He’d go on to crush opposing defenses winning the rushing title in both 1983 and 1985 before the league dissolved. In the meantime however, the Dallas Cowboys waited, dropping a 5th round choice on Walker suspecting it would just be a matter of time.

Herschel would join the Cowboys in 1987, and go onto etch his name into the Cowboys faithful minds for years to come not only for his incredible play of which he’d earn ProBowl berths in 1987 and 1988 – but for what would later come to be known as “The Trade”.

The Minnesota Vikings believed they needed one more piece in order to get to the SuperBowl, and in 1989 the Cowboys were looking to rebound from a 3-13 season. Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones found the offer from the Vikings too good to pass up. Without going into details the final totals were astounding. The Vikings would trade the Cowboys 5 players, and 8 draft choices – including 3 first round choices over the next 3 years. Minnesota in return got Walker, 2 3rd round choices, a 5 round choice and a 10th round choice. The implications were far reaching and would set the foundation for the Cowboys championship runs. Looking back in retrospect, it’s hard not to see that Herschel took the trade hard. In the end he was treated as a commodity and his Viking tenure was filled with pressure as being the hailed savior of the franchise.

Walker had just come off a 1500 + yard season rushing for the Cowboys and the Vikings were struggling on the ground.  Inexplicably the Vikings really couldn’t figure out the right way to use Herschel even though he was utilized on kick returns and also as a running back, – he became the butt of jokes in Minnesota. After a failed suicide attempt (by carbon monoxide poisoning) the writing was on the wall for the franchise, and by 1992 the Vikings cut Walker.

Immediately the Eagles came calling with fans hailing Walker as their savior. Walker would not disappoint rushing for over a 1000 yards for the Eagles and posting another 200 plus yards receiving in 1992- his best rushing effort since leaving Dallas. Walker would stay with Philadelphia another 2 years afterwards where I’d get his autograph in West Chester at Eagles training camp that year.

Walker would sign in 1995 with the Giants as a free agent and play one non-descrpit season there before returning home to the Cowboys in 1996. The Cowboys would put him to use as a fullback his final two seasons, where I’d get his autograph in 1997 at Berger stadium (next to Michael Irvin), before he retired.

One wonders how Herschel would have been remembered if he did not go to the USFL or if Michael Irvin was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders instead (as was originally rumored). Combining his numbers from his years in the USFL with his NFL numbers, Walker ranks 5th all time on the rushing list. Herschel also holds the all time record for rushing yards in a football season with 2411 yards. In 1999 he was inducted into the College Football HoF, is widely regarded as the best runningback in the history of college football, had his number retired at Georgia and wrote an autobiography. One of my favorite athletes, (-and easily my favorite Cowboy,) I even owned Herschel’s Starting Lineup figurine. If you played the original Tecmo Bowl, all you could do with the Cowboys is run with Herschel, and that gave you a leg up on the puny Colts. The 1991 offering of Tecmo Super Bowl endeared him to us as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Despite his popularity Walker has remained a stalwart TTM signer, and I got his autographs on the Pro Set 1991 Heisman Heroes, Score 1990 Ground Force, and Score 1989 cards in 173 days.

Herschel at the time of his retirement minus his USFL numbers, was ranked 3rd in total yards from scrimmage with 18,168 combined yards rushing, receiving, and kick returning. Including his USFL numbers, Walker would hold the combined yards from scrimmage number with an additional 7,115 yards. He is also one of a select few players to have a touchdown rushing, receiving and kick returning, all of over 90 yards.

Walker is a through and through athlete. He remains in peak physical shape, and has over the years participated in the Winter Olympics, is a 5th degree blackbelt, and recently taken up mixed martial arts winning by TKO his first two matches.

NFL
G/Gs  187/138   Att 1954   Yds  8225    Avg 4.2   Td  61    Lg 91 |
Rec 512    Yds  4859     Avg  9.5    Td  21   Lg  93 |
Kr  215    Yds 5084     Avg  23.6    Td   2    Lg  94

NFL

Rhodes, Ray

Card: Topps 1977, Topps 1978
Acquired: TTM 2010, Texans blitz

Apparently when my friend on the Texans approached Ray with his cards to sign he reacted by being quite amused. Ray Rhodes was an amazing athlete and former coach at a variety of pro levels during his tenure in the NFL. Originally a wide receiver drafted in the 10th round by the New York Giants in 1974 he’d switch to cornerback in 1977. He’d continue playing for the Giants through 1978 at which he was traded to the 49ers (for Tony Dungy) and played one season for them before retiring. Ray would stay with the 49ers and become an assistant coach where he served the team through 1991. In 1992 he’d leave the 49ers to join Mike Holmgren in Green Bay where he’d be the defensive coordinator through 1993. Rhodes would return again to the 49ers for an additional season in 1994, before being made head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995- a position he’d hold through 1998, until he was replaced by Andy Reid. In 1999 he’d be head coach of the Green Bay Packers for one season, before being unceremoniously released. From there stints with the Redskins, Broncos and Seahawks would occur until he was signed to be an assistant defensive backs coach for the Houston Texans in 2008.  Ray would remain with his native Texans through the 2010 season and now serves on the coaching staff of the Seattle Seahawks. Ray is considered a member of the Bill Walsh coaching tree.

 

College Football HoF, NFL

Kinard, Terry

Card: Score Supplemental 1990
Acquired: In Person 1990, Houston Oilers Training Camp

Terry Kinard was a highly regarded safety coming out of Clemson in 1983. A top 10 selection of the draft, he was immediately inserted into the starting lineup for the New York Giants. A two time first team All American, Kinard has more interceptions (17) in his career than any other player in Clemson history. (He is the only player in the history of the school that was a two time selection.)

A solid defensive back during his time with the Giants, Kinard would have 3 picks his rookie season.  In 1985 he’d have a career high  5 interceptions for 100 yards and a fumble recovery. He’d tie these numbers again 2 more times during his career, -in 1987 when he had 5 picks for 163 yards and a td, and in 1989 when he lodged 5 picks for 135 yards and a td as well.  Over his time with New York, Kinard would start 99 games and make 27 interceptions and play in one Pro Bowl (1988). In his final season, Terry would sign with the Houston Oilers via Plan B.  Kinard in his final season would have 4 interceptions for 75 yards and a fumble recovery for a 75 yard touchdown.

Named to Clemson’s Centennial team in 1996, the #3 player in Clemson’s history, Clemson’s HoF in 1992, and Sports Illustrated’s College Football Centennial Team in 1999. Terry Kinard was also inducted into the College Football HoF in 2001 and the South Carolina HoF in 2002.

G/Gs 121/115     Sac  3.0   Tac   N/a   Fum 7    Int    31       Yds   649    Avg  20.9     Td  2    Lg 70t