Tag Archives: NFL HoF

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF, Super Bowl MVP, usfl

Young, Steve

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, GameDay 1992
Acquired:  TTM 2010, C/o The Forever Young Foundation
Sent: 6/11/10     Received: 6/17/10   (6 days. Donation suggested)

From what I understand, Steve Young has been rumored to be an ‘autopenner’. Autopenning is a relatively new and ruthless thing that players can do to fans hoping for an authentic autograph from them. An autopen is a machine that will line up the card and simulate the player’s signature. While I’m not sure what to think of this, many fans decry it because it lessens the interaction between the fan and the player and thus- it is not authentic. I could see how this would anger somebody who had his rookie card and really wanted him to sign it but for these two cards, it wouldn’t really bother me either way.

GameDay came onto the scene in 1992. That along with Skybox and Action Packed were about all I’d collect before I stopped buying football cards during the 1993 season. From there on out my card collecting became sporadic and based solely on teams and players I wanted. GameDay had some really nice cards with their unique design that represented a ticket. The frames are cropped in just a certain way that the players would appear to burst right off the card edge and this Steve Young card is an exceptional example.

Steve Young is another player who just got no respect- but in his case, he went out and proved them all wrong. As you can tell from these two cards, Steve Young is doing what he does best- run. After graduating from BYU, Steve Young signed a then record 10 year 40 million dollar contract with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL. He’d lead the team to the playoffs his rookie season but in 1985 the league financially hemorrhaged.

Steve would be the first player selected in the USFL supplemental draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a rough 2 seasons with the Bucs, the 49ers would pull the trigger and trade for the beleaguered quarterback after Tampa Bay drafted Vinny Testaverde with the first pick of the 1987 draft.  Young was considered a loose cannon on the field by Tampa. Forced to improvise due to a patchwork line, Steve would frequently scramble, and in two seasons had only won 3 games in 19 starts.  For points and purposes he was a bust and discarded for a 2nd and 4th round choice from the Niners.

Steve’s rebirth would begin in San Fransisco as future HoFer Joe Montana’s backup. He’d become the league’s best insurance premium, tutored by coaching wiz Bill Walsh and his offensive staff. As Young would bide his time, Montana’s age and frailty would emerge, and at some points a quarterback controversy would emerge. In 1991 after Montana was sidelined for the season, it was largely believed that this was Young’s shot at being the team’s starter, but after injury and relative ineffectiveness- Young would be locked in a quarterback controversy with Steve Bono briefly losing the job to him. He would recover the starting job, but the team only won 10 games and missed the playoffs.

Young would respond by leading the team to the NFC Championship game the next season in 1993, and was named the league’s offensive MVP. Despite his accomplishments, Young would still have to suffer with fans and the owner expressing their desire to see Montana return to the starting role.

With Bono and Young in the fold at the beginning of 1994 though, Montana was expendable to the 49ers and they traded him to greener pastures in Kansas City ending all controversy. Steve would lead the 49ers to SuperBowl victory at the conclusion of the season and was named NFL MVP again setting an NFL record completing over 70% of his passes.

With Young under center the 49ers always were a threat while consistently making the playoffs throughout the 1990s, but Steve suffered multiple concussions due to his competitive style, 290 sacks, and refusal to dive with his feet. He’d retire at the conclusion of the 1999 season, refusing an offer to join Mike Shannahan in Denver.  After posting a 3-16 record in Tampa, Young would go 91-33 with the 49ers.

Since football, Steve has remained active in his charity “The Forever Young Foundation”- which serves children who face significant physical, emotional, and financial challenges by providing academic, athletic, and therapeutic opportunities unavailable to them. He is also a commentator on the NFL draft and also ESPN. He is avidly involved in Utah Sports and is the great-great-great grandson of Brigham Young.

Steve was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, and had his number retired by the 49ers bringing his career full circle. Winner of 6 passing titles, a then record 112.8 passer rating, the Super Bowl MVP of XXIX, (throwing a record 6 touchdowns)- Young was an AP 4 times, MVP twice and named to 7 Pro Bowls over his career to go along with numerous passing titles repeated 4 times over.  Steve is also recognized as the NFL career leader in rushing touchdowns with 43, (although Otto Graham finished with 44, but the old AAFL’s statistics were not accepted into the NFL statistic books.)

G/Gs 169/143    Att  4149    Comp  2667     Yds   33124     Pct  64.3      Td  232   Int  107   Rat  96.8  |
Rush  722        Yds 4239        Avg  5.9        Td  43      Lg  49

Retrospect video of  Young’s career: http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d80130084/Hall-of-Fame-Steve-Young

 

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Long, Howie


Card: Score 1989
Acquired: In Person 1990, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Howie Long over the last few years has become pretty well known as a pre-game commentator, Chevy Commercials, Radio Shack, and a few really bad movies, (although I liked him in “Broken Arrow”).

Drafted in the second round of the 1981 draft, Howie would have a respectable rookie season for the Raiders but he would not start any games. In 1982 Long would start 5 games and make 5.5 sacks at left defensive end which would become his home for the next 11 seasons. From 1983-1985 Howie would dominate from the outside, tallying 13,12, and 10 sacks respectively. He’d be named to the Pro Bowl from 1983-1987,1989,1992 and 1993. Of those seasons he’d be named AP in 1984 and 1985 and help the Raiders win SuperBowl XVIII. After the 1993 season Long would retire. Considered by many to be one of the best 3-4 defensive ends of all time, in 2000 he’d be inducted into the NFL HoF on his second ballot,  the NFL All 80s team, and was named NFL defensive player of the year in 1985 by a few publications.
In a more comical moment when I got Howie’s autograph, he completely ignored autograph alley and went inside. 15 minutes later after the crowds slowly started to disperse, Long emerged with his pads off, a Dallas Cowboys shirt on and a gigantic smile. He graciously pawed through the crowds and signed a lot of autographs. Over his career Howie has had two trademark hairstyles first with a pseudo mullet during the 80s and post playing has had a military style flat top. His son Chris, is currently a defensive lineman for the Rams.

G/Gs 179/152    Tac   N/a     Sac 91.5    Fum 10   Int  2    Yds  84  Avg  42.0     Td 0      lg 73

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Marino, Dan

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Score 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament

The crown gem of my celebrity golf tournament autograph requests, I’ve been dreading doing the bio for Dan Marino as he has so many accolades, it’s easy to miss some of them and his write up would be huge.

Well Dan Marino was quite nice at the tournament. He literally got swarmed and I dived into the fold. When he realized he was being surrounded he asked us to all line up in an orderly line and he’d sign a limit of 3 cards a piece for us. (The SkyBox and the Score cards are two of my favorite cards, while the Action Packed was just part of a set that I swore to complete and know I never will.) Anyway, I know now that Marino gets so overwhelmed with requests TTM it’s basically a waste of time now- and any sender gets their cards returned with a thanks but sorry letter, so I consider myself quite lucky in that regard to not only have 1 but 3 autographs from him.

Dan Marino went to the University of Pittsburgh, where he virtually shattered all the college quarterback records while leading them to some of their most memorable seasons ever but was unable to ever win the Heisman. Marino would be a part of the historic 1983 draft, that would include such notables as John Elway, Ken O’ Brien and Jim Kelly with so far 6 Hall of Famers have come out of this draft. His stock would plummet before the draft, and Dan would be passed up in favor for such notables as Todd Blackledge and Tony Eason. At #27 Dan Marino would drop out of the sky and into the Dolphins lap. Don Shula‘s Dolphins were at that time still a traditionally strong running team, but Marino’s imprint on the franchise would be so indelible, that the team would quickly become one of the most prolific air attacks in the league over the next 15 seasons. Dan Marino encompasses the definition of a traditional drop back passer. With a powerful arm, lightning quick release, great pocket awareness, and an intelligent understanding of the intricacies of the game, Marino would be named to the ProBowl and AP 9 times while making the playoffs 10 times out of 17 seasons. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, he held virtually every passing record when he retired, being the first player to throw for over 5000 yards in a season. In 2003 he was inducted into the college football hall of fame, had his number retired and has a statue also bearing his likeness outside of the Dolphins’ stadium. Dan has gone into broadcasting, been involved in charitable work, and has had lucrative endorsement spokesperson for Weight Watchers, Isotoner gloves, and Papa John’s Pizza.

G/Gs  242/240   Att 8358    Comp 4967   Yds 61361   Pct 59.4    Td 420   Int 252  Rat 86.4