Tag Archives: nfl all 80s team

NFL

Tippett, Andre

Cards: ProSet 1991, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, Patriots Blitz

The New England Patriots when they were the trapped in the doldrums of the AFC East were always very good with their fans about signing cards. Andre Tippett played both defensive end and linebacker over his college and pro career. Complicated by the fact that glitz and glamor linebacker Lawrence Taylor was drafted a season before him and a quiet rookie season in 1982, Tippett’s versatile abilities were often overshadowed and overlooked. Once acclimated to the pro game and inserted into a proper ‘tweener’ role, Tippett quickly established himself as a sackmaster, making the ProBowl in 5 seasons, named All-Pro twice, and was named NFL Defensive player of the year in 1985. Humbly and quietly, Andre continued to compile an impressive resume, making 18.5 sacks in 1984, and 16.5 in 1985- the highest back to back season sack numbers in NFL history. While his lone SuperBowl appearance in 1985 ended in defeat to the vaunted Chicago Bears, Tippett continued to crush opposing quarterbacks from his LOLB position until injuries took their toll. A catastrophic shoulder injury took his complete 1989 season away and a good portion of 1990, where he received consideration for comeback player of the year honors (losing to Barry Word). Tippett would finish his stellar 12 year career in 1993, as the Patriots all-time leading sacker with 100 sacks and 17 fumbles.

Since his playing career has ended Andre has moved into the front offices of the Patriots organization working as part of their community affairs and outreach program. He was enshrined by his college – Iowa in 2007, and in 2008 after a very long wait- Andre Tippett was inducted into the Pro Football HoF. Andre is also a member of the NFL’s All 1980’s team, the Patriots 35th anniversary team and the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1999. He enjoys coaching Pop Warner football in his spare time, playing golf, is a renowned 4th degree black belt, and is a Baptist convert to Judaism. In 2011 he was honored with the announcement of New England’s 2nd round pick during the NFL draft.

G/Gs  151/139      Tac  N/a        Sac 100          Fum 17      Int  1   Yds 42    Avg 42.0    Td 0    lg 42

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF, usfl

White, Reggie ‘Minister of Defense’ (1961-2004)

Cards: Action Packed 1991, Action Packed 1992.
Acquired: TTM c/o The Green Bay Packers, 1994.

Reggie White is arguably one of the greatest defensive ends, and one of the best players to be imported to the NFL after the failure of the fledgling USFL.

After setting multiple records at Tennessee, White was drafted by the Memphis Showboats of the USFL in 1984. Playing in two seasons for the league he’d rack up almost 25 sacks and 200 tackles, before being signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, who held his draft rights. White grabbed defensive rookie of the year in 1985. As a cornerstone to the Eagles, Reggie sacked quarterbacks a mind-numbing 124 times with the Eagles, averaging more than a sack a game from his left defensive end position. In 1987 alone he’d rack up 21 sacks.  White was nicknamed ‘The Minister of Defense’ by his teammates, because of his ability to disrupt team’s offenses, and the fact that he was an ordained minister since the age of 17.

White was an important high profile name in a landmark lawsuit against the NFL, that would eventually allow for what is now known in the league as free agency. This allowed for a general rise in salaries and also inadvertently contributed to the concept of a salary cap.  In 1993, Reggie would become the first big name to switch teams from the Eagles to the Packers creating an immense amount of buzz. With Reggie also switching to the Pack this also shattered the notion that small market cities would not be able to compete with larger cities for marquee talent. The Packers played in two Super Bowls during his tenure there, and he notched 3 sacks in Super Bowl XXXI which still stands as a record today. Reggie retired briefly in 1998 but came back to play one final season in 2000 for the Carolina Panthers.

White’s career numbers and accolades are astounding: 198 sacks (2nd all time) , 1st team AP 10 times, All Decade Team of the 80’s and 90’s, and the NFL’s 75th Anniversary team.  He’d only have 3 seasons during his 15 year career where he’d have under 10 sacks, and finished with over 1000 tackles. Tragically Reggie White would pass away December 26th, 2004 of a cardiac arrhythmia in his sleep at the age of 43. Posthumously he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2006 and his jersey was retired by the Packers, Eagles, and Volunteers.

It is said that near the end of his life, Reggie strayed away from Christianity and towards more Judaic religious beliefs, but this is not so. White was extremely interested and respectful of religious ideals, and remained a devout Christian, (and an outspoken, controversial one at that) to the day of his passing. He’d also lend a helping hand to many churches during the spate of Southern Black church burnings during the 1990s.

I seem to remember being surprised to get this autograph back from the Packers -and in under a month or two to boot. I like it when players inscribe the cards with a bible verse. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the most religious person, but it tells me a bit about their personality and who they are. Reggie signed his cards with Matt 3:3-16. Now This isn’t 3:3,16. It’s 3:3 through 16. That’s a hefty amount of scripture so I’ll just leave it at 3:3

“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

Games 232         Tac 1048       Sac  198       FF 33
Int  3     Yds 79       Avg  29.3      Td  0