Tag Archives: oakland raiders

NFL

McFadden, Darren

sco09 dmcfadden FCard: Score 2009 Franchise RedZone (#32/100)
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o The Dallas Cowboys
Sent: 9/28   Received: 10/24  (25 days)

Killer catch here in the name of Darren McFadden- a player at Arkansas who frequently drew comparisons to Adrian Peterson and Ricky Williams. The first Sophomore to win the Doak Walker award (2006), McFadden did so in stellar fashion running for 1647 yards and 14 TDs .  He then became the first 2 time winner rushing for            1830 yards and 16TDs  in 2007. In both years he was a Heisman Trophy Runner Up. McFadden’s draft measurables were equally sizzling and buzz surrounded his unofficially timed 4.27 40.

The Raiders selected McFadden with the 4th pick of the 2008 draft, and although he played sparingly his rookie year he drew high praise from coaches in teammates alike. It has always seemed that Darren’s best games have come at the expense of the Denver Broncos during his time with the Raiders, including a 16 carry 165 yard performance with 3 TDs in 2010.  2010 was considered McFadden’s banner year. He ran 223 times for 1157 yards and 7 TDs to go along with 47 receptions for 507 yards and 3 TDs. Over his career in Oakland, McFadden had not been able to clear a full 16 game slate. After the 2014 campaign he was allowed to walk.

Darren signed with the Dallas Cowboys where he has slowly moved into the role as the bellcow back replacing departed starter DeMarco Murray. Facing a crowded backfield and dealing with nagging training camp injuries, Darren has put together 5 solid 100 yard rushing efforts against the Giants (152 yards), Eagles (117 yards), Dolphins (129 yards), Packers (119) and Jets (100) in 2015, and in the last game of the season crossed the 1,000 yard rushing plateau for the first time since 2010.

NFL

Huff, Michael (2)

pp06 mhuffCards: Press Pass Big Numbers 2006
Acquired: IP, Aaron Williams Lone Star Showcase 2015
See Also: Michael Huff

I attended the Aaron Williams Lone Star Showcase in 2015, and was really happy to knock out Michael Huff in person- as opposed to the box breaker. He signed this really nice Big Numbers card for me from Press Pass. Although Press Pass had some uneven releases, sometimes I really appreciated their audacity, especially with simple die cuts like this one.

Huff looks like he’s starting to settle into the retired life. He lives in Austin and is a regular visitor to UT sporting events. For all that Vince Young meant to the Longhorns offense, Michael Huff was all that for the defense, pacing the team with 12 tackles, a TFL and a fumble recovery in UT’s victory over USC. In 2015, he was inducted into the Texas Longhorn Athletics Hall of Honor.

College Football HoF, NFL, usfl, XFL

Millard, Keith

sco89 millardCards: ProSet 1990, ProSet 1990 Defensive Player of the Year, Score 1989.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 7/7   Received: 7/18   (11 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o The Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Considered one of the top defensive talents from the Pac-10 when he arrived on the pro scene in 1984 from Washington State, Keith Millard was drafted by the Vikings in the first round, but opted to sign with the USFL Jacksonville Bulls instead for the 1985 season. There in his only season he recorded 12 sacks to lead the team and its improved defense.  Later that year, Keith joined the Vikings.

pset90 millard dpotyHe was listed as a nose tackle, but kicked out to defensive tackle frequently, starting 5 games, and nabbing 11 sacks alongside equally formidable defensive end Chris Doleman. In 1986, he recorded his first interception, and again hit double digits with 10.5 sacks. After the strike shortened 1987 season, Keith returned to form for Minnesota with his first All-Pro season in 1988. 1989 was a year for the ages, as he recorded a record 18 sacks from the defensive tackle position. In addition, he had a 48 yard interception, and a fumble recovery that he rumbled, bumbled, and stumbled 31 yards with for a TD. The gargantuan year netted him NFL Defensive Player of the Year Honors for 1989. During the 4th game of the year in 1990, Keith jumped over a cut block, but tore his ACL- ending his season. The injury wore on Millard. He would not return to the field until 1992 for the Packers and Seahawks. After a brief rennaissance in 1993, playing for the Eagles, Keith decided to hang up his cleats for good.

Keith is quite the accomplished veteran positional coach.  He got his start with the Los Angeles Dragons of the shortlived SFL, then joined the San Fransisco Demons of the XFL in 2001. This was followed by  three year stints on the Denver Broncos (2001-2004) and  Oakland Raiders (2005-2008).  After a brief return to the college level, Millard coached with Tampa Bay in 2011 and Tennessee in 2012.

pset90 millardWell decorated, Millard is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame,  the NFL All-1980s team, a member of the All-Time USFL Second Team, and in 2010 was named one of the Top 50 Minnesota Vikings of all time.

I had been after Keith Millard for quite sometime, and it finally paid off. Millard is a solid signer actually. I just didn’t have the right luck with him. I though that I had already failed with him on two previous occasions but the records only showed one. He was kind enough to write me back on Titans stationery, thanking me for the letter, apologizing for the previous trip-ups, and enclosing an additional card. I really appreciate players who take TTM very seriously, and those who take it seriously enough that they need to ensure that their reputation remains solid with their fans. Class act!

USFL   Tac N/a   Sac 12.0   Fum N/a
Int N/a   Yds N/a    Avg   N/a    Td N/a   Lg -.-

NFL  93/69    Tac  N/a     Sac 58       Fum  10
Int 2     Yds 65     Avg 32.5      Td  0      Lg 48