Tag Archives: oakland raiders

NFL

Robbins, Barret “Big Bear”

pac97 robbinsbow95 robbinsCards: Bowman’s Best 1995, Pacific 1997
Acquired: In Person 5/19, 610 Houston Fan Fest 2013

To say that Barret Robbins has been through a lot is a monumental understatement. Despite everything he’s been through and the mistakes he’s made, I do have a lot of respect for the ex-All Pro. He’s battled drug and alcohol addiction, prescription and pain killer drug abuse and fought bi polar disorder. He’s had run ins with the law, been shot a few times, and spent time in jail.  Barret was even close to death and suffering from Pneumonia. A lot of it has been self destructive and sure, some guys you look at and wonder how they squandered all that talent, but Barret, I see as somebody whose life imploded right on the big stage under the bright lights, and they are just lucky to be here today.

Robbins went to TCU collegiately where he cleared the way  for the Horned Frogs offense. He earned the team’s award as their most outstanding lineman. Drafted in the second round by the Oakland Raiders in 1995, Robbins became the 5th center in the history of the franchise, as only Jim Otto, Dave Dalby, Don Mosebar, and Dan Turk had held the honor, replacing Turk in the starting lineup in 1996. Robbins gave some nasty bite back to the position, clearing the way for guys like Napoleon Kaufman, Harvey Williams, and Tyrone Wheatley, while blocking for quarterbacks such as Rich Gannon, Jeff George, and Wade Wilson. Robbins never relinquished the starting spot at center until 2001, missing out on 14 games that season.

robbinsIn 2002, Barret had his finest season, being named AP and to the Pro Bowl in the Raiders last hurrah in the Super Bowl. Unfortunately the night before the big game, Robbins went AWOL. He was later found in Tijuana, Mexico where he remembers little to nothing of the Super Bowl or that night. The Raiders in the meantime dropped the game to the Buccaneers. Barret played 9 contests in 2003, but did not finish the season and was cut by the Raiders in 2004.

Tough times followed soon thereafter, but a lot of those monsters had been chasing him all along. While Robbins has continued to have issues, I hope that he has found peace in his life. When I looked into his eyes, I could tell that the man deep down is a good person, and that he genuinely wants to be seen as such, but just has made some dumb decisions that were hard to live down. I asked him about the Texas gear he was wearing. He laughed and told me that I should know since he was born in Texas that it was hard not to have burnt orange blood and always wanted to go to UT as a kid. Not the greatest signature here, but still it is nice to grab him on a few cards. I wish Barret and his family all the best in their future wherever it may take them, and I hope people can gain some introspection on their lives and see from Barret’s example that you can survive almost anything.

NFL, University of Texas

Koy, Ted

utud11 ted koyCards: UT UD 2011, All Time Alumni, 69 National Champs
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 10/31       Received: 11/4       (4 days)

Ted Koy followed in the family footsteps after his brother Ernie and father Ernie Sr. who also played football at the University of Texas.  He was the captain of the Longhorns’ undefeated National Championship squad from 1969 and played alongside such players as James Street, Jim Bertelsen, Steve Worster, and Cotton Speyrer in Coach Darrell Royal‘s wishbone offense. Ted would plow ahead for 441 yards and 4 touchdowns that utud11 ted koy ATAyear and was one of the members of the backfield when the wishbone was introduced in 1968. Currently his 1,397 career rushing yards rank 28th all-time at Texas.

The Oakland Raiders drafted Ted with their second round pick in 1970 but he did not see the playing field. In 1971, Koy joined the Buffalo Bills where he saw action at the tight end position. He played for them over the next 3 additional seasons, recording 151 yards from scrimmage and 1 receiving touchdown.

Ted received his veterinarian medicine degree in 1980 from Texas A&M and runs an animal clinic in Georgetown, Texas. He and the other members of Texas’ 1969 National Championship team remain close to this day and many of them surprisingly reside in the Austin area.  Ted is as good a signer as his brother Ernie, and signed these 3 cards in 4 days as well.

NFL

Lewis, Albert

to86 a lewisCard: Topps 1987
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012

Albert Lewis was part of a fearsome secondary and special teams for the Kansas City Chiefs. With breathtaking speed for his size, Lewis could have easily been an wide receiver with his far reaching talents. Paired with Kevin Ross, Lewis and him made an impressive duo that shut down opponents passing games and frustrated receivers week in and week out. Lewis’ physical play and speed allowed him to handle both man to man and zone coverages with ease.  Jerry Rice, arguably the greatest receiver of All-time called Lewis, his most difficult opponent.  Still the Hall of Fame eludes Albert, since it seems to view the work of the secondary with some disdain.

A 3rd round pick out of Grambling in 1983 by the Kansas City Chiefs, Albert spent 11 fine seasons as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. He started 128 games recording 4.5 sacks, 38 picks for 329 yards, 555 tackles, and 7 FF. Deciding to go younger at the position, Albert signed with the Raiders in 1994, starting an additional 61 games for LA/ Oakland retiring after the 1998 season.

G/Gs 225/189    Tac 797       Sac  12.5      Fum  13      Int  42     Yds 403    Avg 9.6      Td  1   Lg 74t