Tag Archives: oakland raiders

NFL, WLAF

Graham, Jeff

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Work
Sent: 7/20  Received: 7/27  (7 days)

At the time of his graduation from Cal State -Long Beach in 1989, quarterback Jeff Graham owned virtually all of the 49ers passing records with 8080 passing yards and 42 touchdown passes, along with a school single game 515 yards passing.  During the 1989 draft, Jeff would be taken by the Green Bay Packers in the 4th round.  He’d return in 1990 to finish his degree in criminology from his Alma Mater.
Scouring the free agent waiver wire for a quarterback to back up Todd Hammel in New York, the Knights would sign Jeff with just 10 days for him to prepare for the regular season. Graham, much like Stan Gelbaugh in London would come off the bench in game one and not relinquish the starting job for the remainder of the season. What was more amazing was the fact that Graham did this while constantly under fire suffering 62 sacks in only 10 games. (Prorated over an entire 16 game schedule, that would have been roughly 90 sacks.) In the end, Graham still posted an impressive season with 2407 yards and 8 touchdowns, while setting a league record with 414 passing yards against Montreal.  Jeff’s gaudy 15.3 YPC and 8.9 YPA would also lead the WLAF while he rushed for 6 touchdowns.  He would not return to the Knights for 1992, with Reggie Slack and Brent Pease in camp.

Graham signed with the Chargers in 1991, Seahawks 1992-1994, and Oakland in 1995, as an emergency quarterback. He would see no regular season playing time for any of the franchises and retire after his stint with the Raiders. Since that time Jeff returned to college earning his masters at Colorado State. In 2006, Graham was inducted into the California State Long Beach Hall of Fame and is currently practicing law in the LA area. Below are his WLAF statistics.

G 9/10    Att 272  Comp 157   Yds 2407   Pct 57.7    Td 8   Int 8   Rat 84.6  |
Rush 46   Yds 140   Avg 3.0   Td 6   Lg 24

NFL

Rathman, Tom

Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1991, Upper Deck 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o The San Fransisco 49ers
Sent: 6/14    Received: 6/20  (6 days)

Tom Rathman was a  dominating fullback who set records at Nebraska averaging well over 7 yards a carry his senior season in 1985.  He’d be drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the San Fransisco 49ers and immediately saw time on special teams while his playing time increased at fullback. During the 1987 season, head coach Bill Walsh shifted Roger Craig from fullback to runningback and started Tom at fullback blocking for him. For only catching 5 passes during college, Tom not only displayed a hard nosed inside running style, he also became an accomplished receiver notching a career high 73 receptions in 1989. Craig also benefited from Tom’s blocking rushing for 1502 yards in 1988, and 1089 in 1989. As Roger moved on to the Raiders after the 1990 season, the 49ers selected Ricky Watters in 1991. Tom continued paving the way, blocking for 1,000 yard backs. Tom played for the 49ers through 1993 and then signed with the Raiders in 1994 for one final season.  Despite playing 9 seasons and leading NFL runningbacks in receptions in 1989, Tom Rathman was never named to the Pro Bowl- partially because the fullback position was never considered a separate position from runningback in Pro Bowl voting until 1993.

After 9 seasons, Tom would take some time off and then return to sport as a coach. In 1997 he’d become the 49ers runningbacks coach, on Steve Mariucci’s staff and then later followed Mooch to Detroit in 2003. In 2006, he coached with the Oakland Raiders, – a position that he held with the team until he returned to the 49ers staff in 2009.

The gods of Tecmo Bowl saw Tom Rathman, and looked favorably upon the stout fullback in his quest for glory. Rewarded by Tecmo he’d be graciously awarded monster hitting power and receiving ability becoming truly a one-two punch with Roger Craig. Well worth it, I was surprised to get Tom’s autograph on these 3 cards in a short 6 days care of the 49ers organization.

G/Gs 131/107   Rush 544      Yds 2020     Avg  3.7     Td 26      lg  35     |       Rec 320    Yds  2684    Avg 8.4    Td 8       Lg 36

NFL

Maryland, Russell

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1992, Pro Set 1991
Acquired: Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991, 1992, 1997

Russell Maryland while at the University of Miami had played for  Jimmy Johnson before he jumped to the NFL in 1989. Maryland would cement his status as the strongest defensive line prospect in the 1991 draft by winning the UPI Lineman of the Year award and the Outland Trophy in 1990. In that season he’d make 96 tackles and 10.5 sacks for the Hurricanes.

The Dallas Cowboys traded up in the draft in 1991 so that they could acquire Russell Maryland to play right defensive tackle with the #1 pick in 1991. In order to grab him the Cowboys traded starting middle linebacker Eugene Lockhart, defensive back Ron Francis, linebacker David Howard, their 2nd round pick and Minnesota’s first round pick (that Dallas had gotten in the previous season in exchange for Herschel Walker).

At 6’1″, 300, I was very confused by the fanfare that surrounded Maryland who while he improved the Cowboys defense to some degree and helped them win 3 SuperBowls, -failed to be an impact as a pass rusher or run stopper statistically. In fact his statistics ended up being somewhat pedestrian as he never had over 5 sacks or 60 tackles in 10 seasons. In retrospect, Maryland was a decent lineman, but certainly not worthy of the impact blue chip #1 slot typically reserved for draftees. In 1993 Russell would earn a Pro Bowl nomination after he made 56 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, but by 1994  he was already splitting time in a platoon with other defensive linemen and shifted to left defensive tackle which would further impact his numbers.

In 1996 Maryland would sign via free agency with the Oakland Raiders. He’d start 16 games 3 times over the next 4 seasons for the Raiders (- a feat he only accomplished once in 5 seasons for Dallas). He’d tie his career high in tackles in 1997, and sacks with 4.5.  I’d get Russell’s autograph at Dallas Cowboys Training Camp prior to that season as the Raiders visited on his Action Packed Rookies 1992 card. He’d play with the Raiders through 1999, then sign with the Green Bay Packers where he notched his first career safety and retire after the conclusion of the 2000 season.

G/Gp  154/140     Tac  375     Sac  24.5    Fum 9     Int  1    Yds  2    Avg  2.0   Td 0    Lg 2