Tag Archives: New York Jets

NFL

Johnson, Anthony

Cards: Score Supplemental 1990, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990, Athletes in Action
Acquired: TTM C/o home, 2011
Sent: 5/26   Received: 6/6  (11 days)

During the Lou Holtz era at Notre Dame, the team during the late 80s and early 90s always seemed to get their backs drafted, in a list that included: Mark Green, Ricky Watters, Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Reggie Brooks and Jerome Bettis.

Anthony Johnson would also be drafted as well by the Indianapolis Colts during the second round of the 1990 draft to go with a new offensive talent  in Jeff George, Stacey Simmons,  and Ken Clark. While his rookie season would be fairly non-existent, in 1991 Johnson would demonstrate his effectiveness as a fullback, blocker and receiver out of the backfield for the Colts registering 42 catches. After the departure of Eric Dickerson in 1992, Anthony would rush for 552 yards and make 49 receptions for 517 yards. In 1993, he’d chip in another 300 sub yard season rushing and almost 450 yards receiving, and then sign in 1994 with the Jets. After a quiet 1994, Johnson would be signed by the Chicago Bears in 1995, but play in only 8 games before being cut and picked up by the expansion Carolina Panthers.  He’d resign with the Panthers in 1996 and rejuvenate his career totalling his first 1000 yard season rushing after 6 seasons.  He’d also be the franchise’s first 1000 yard rusher in the second season of the Panthers existence. Johnson would return to the bench in 1997, but remain on the roster of the Panthers through 1999, and then play one final season with the Jaguars in 2000.

Since retirement Johnson has served the Lord, and at last check had been working as a chaplain for the Jaguars. He signed these three cards in a little over 10 days for me via his home address in Jacksonville and even included one of his Athletes in Action cards. I really liked his Action Packed Rookies and Score Supplemental cards, and was really happy to put these into the books even though Johnson has a surprisingly humble autograph. He signed his full autograph on the Action Packed card, and then only AJ for the remainder of them. In addition he penned all of them with “Jesus” following the autograph.

G/Gs   159/50     Rush 815      Yds 2996     Avg  3.6    Td  9      Lg 29    |     Rec  284       Yds 2422      Avg 8.5       Td  7      Lg 57t

NFL

Turk, Matt

Card: Pacific 1997
Acquired: TTM 2009,  Texans Blitz

Wow. Here’s another player that’s been playing since the twilight years of the Houston Oilers. Matt Turk like nearly all punters went undrafted coming out of college at Wisconsin-Whitewater in 1993.  He’d sign with his homestate Packers, but would not make the squad that season, or the Rams the following season in 1994.  In 1995, Matt found a home with the Washington Redskins where he’d punt from 1995-1999, earning Pro Bowl berths for his 96, 97, and 98 campaigns. For his 1996 season, Matt would earn AP honors with an outstanding 45.1 yard average and duplicate the feat again in 1997. He’d sign with the Dolphins in 2000, and punt 92 times that season, kicking a season long 70 yard punt. In 2002 Turk would play one season for the Jets, and then in 2003 returned to Miami to play two additional seasons for the Dolphins. He’d punt a career high 98 times in 2004. Out of work for 2005,  the Rams would play host to Matt in 2005 before he signed with the Houston Texans in 2007.

Unseating Chad Stanley (the Texans punter since the team’s inception,) Turk has punted for over 10,000 yards on a 42.2 yard average during his tenure and ranks second among active punters in yards. A big guy at 6’5″, 248, Matt is one of the larger punters in the league.

G 235      P  1100          Yds 46659          Avg    42.4       lg 77         Blk  3

12/3/2011- Turk would sign with the Jaguars but not win the punting job. He currently is a free agent contemplating retirement.

 

NFL, WLAF

Vick, Roger

Cards: Proset 1989, Score 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Orlando Thunder
See Also: Roger Vick (2)

 

I knew that Roger (who had played collegiately locally at Texas A&M) had a really nice ProSet card in 1989, so when he signed with the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF, I dug the card out of my collection and stumbled upon the Score 1990 card as well. After the Thunder throttled the Riders in San Marcos I would get Vick’s autographs on these cards as he left the dressing room.

The offensive MVP of the Aggies for the 1987 Cotton Bowl, Roger Vick was a strong fullback with a nose for the end zone, who was selected in the first round of the 1987 draft by the New York Jets. The blocking back primarily for underrated Freeman McNeil, he’d play for them through 1989 scoring 12 touchdowns, and then briefly with the Eagles in 1990- before sitting out a year in 1991.

In 1992, he was drafted by the Orlando Thunder, which ran a spread offense- (so to me he was a head scratcher on their team,) but Vick came out firing on all cylinders, finishing second on the team in rushing behind teammate Darryl Clack on the league’s #2 rushing offense.

Unfortunately the league would fold North American operations after 1992.  Since retirement, the consensus is that Roger Vick is Texas A&M’s best fullback in the college’s storied history. 

NFL

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
33312893.91039
RECYDSAVGTDLG
664697.1223

WL

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
1164583.9430
RECYDSAVGTDLG
8486.0016