Tag Archives: oakland raiders

College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL

Brown, Tim


Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1991, Score 1989
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1990, 1992

In the history books of modern American Football, Tim Brown stands near the top of the elite wide receivers. The 1987 Heisman winner from the golden domes of Notre Dame (and the first wide receiver to win the honor), Brown was drafted  in the first round of the 1988 draft with the 6th pick overall by the then Los Angeles Raiders. An impressive physical specimen with a total package, of speed, quickness, hands, consistency, and durability, Brown in his first season in the NFL lead the NFL in a variety of kick and punt return categories while racking up over 700 yards receiving. When all was said and done and the dust cleared Brown would own many Raider records, including most games played (224), receptions, yards, and punt return yards.  In his rookie season  Brown would lead the NFL with 1542 punt and kick return yards, and in 1997 would lead the NFL with 104 receptions. He’d also be named to the Pro Bowl 9 times, and the NFL All 90’s team. Tim Brown was not a noisy playmaker, but he quietly amassed incredible numbers that at the time of his retirement left him tied for 3rd all time in receiving touchdowns,  second in yardage, third in receptions and fifth in yards from scrimmage.  He also had incredible streaks that underlined his longevity. An NFL record 10 seasons with 75 or more catches and consecutive starts at wide receiver at 176.

Brown may have even left a bigger mark on the record books if in his final 3 seasons he wasn’t slowly phased out of the offense by owner Al Davis and former coach Norv Turner. In his final season the team asked him to take an even more reduced role to which Tim balked and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a season. To say that owner Al Davis and Tim Brown had a difficult relationship (at least from the outside world) would be  considered a conservative estimate as Brown had no problem expressing his dismay for his treatment at the hands of his owner, but regardless of their feud and problems, after his final season in 2005, Tim signed a one day contract with the Oakland Raiders and retired.

Since football Tim has  been involved with NASCAR, on the FSN Network and was inducted into the College Football HoF in 2009. It was widely hoped that in 2010 he’d also make it into the NFL HoF in his first year of eligibilty, but he was passed by while the #1 receiver of all time Jerry Rice was enshrined. He made the first cut of the current list and hopes to make it to the HoF in 2011.

Josh and I had a certain respect for Tim Brown, who was a Dallas native. Josh had always hoped that Brown would hop ship from the Raiders to the Cowboys and I always would destroy Josh throwing to Tim Brown on Tecmo Super Bowl.

G/Gs  255/202   Rec 1094     Yds 14934     Avg 13.7    Td 100     Lg 80T
Kr 49     Yds 1235     Avg 25.2      Td 1    Lg  97   |
Pr 326   Yds 3230    Avg  10.2     Td  3   Lg 88

NFL

Ervins, Ricky ‘Ric’

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1996

Near the waning days of my first autograph collecting stint, (which could be directly attributable to a horrid relationship I began in a different story all together for a ‘my diary posting’,) I got wind that Ricky Ervins was signed by the Los Angeles Raiders who needed depth at running back to get through training camp because of injuries to many of their key players in 1996. I’d get him along with a few other players that year, but this would be my final time at Cowboys Training Camp at St. Edwards in Austin. It was a good, long run which yielded a slew of SuperBowl talent and interesting stories, but the Cowboys were leaving Austin and the Oilers had already packed Bud’s moneybags for backroom promises in Tennessee. I’d effectively tune out of the sport after 1997- not even watching it again until 2000.

Ricky Ervins from Pasadena, Ca is considered a USC legend- (holding many records that Reggie Bush would later break) for the squad and is most remembered for his 1990 campaign in which he won the Rose Bowl MVP honors. Despite his credentials, Ricky had to wait until the 3rd round of the 1991 draft to hear his named called-  by the Washington Redskins. You see, Ervins is another case of a player before his time.  At 5-7 , 200, Ervins was considered undersized for a tailback, but in this day and age Ricky would fit right in with most West Coast offenses and their 3rd down, ‘scatback’ roles. The Redskins immediately put him to work along side Earnest Byner and the electric duo would help the Redskins make other teams respect the run. In his rookie season, Ervins scampered for 680 yards (leading all NFC rookies), a 4.7 per carry average (leading all rookies),  a 65 yard long jolt for a touchdown, and win SuperBowl XXVI. (Ricky would be the leading rusher of the game with 72 yards.) He’d rarely see starting time but rather was brought in for a fresh set of legs and a change of pace. Ricky also was a formidable receiver out of the backfield making 32 catches in 1992 and start a career high 10 games en route to 51 more receptions in 1994.  He’d be signed by the San Fransisco 49ers in 1995, and inexplicably for no reason, got lost in the backfield shuffle and be out of a job at the end of the season. The Oakland Raiders came calling in 1996, where Ricky flew down to be in camp with the team in Austin for training camp. Unfortunately he wouldn’t make the final roster and retired. Since football, Ricky has opened a successful high school athletic prep academy called Xtreme Xplosion (http://www.xtremexplosion.net/) in Northern Virginia.

G/Gs 76/11   Att 554     Yds  2114   Avg 3.8   TD 8    Lg 65T    |
Rec 117    Yds 870    Avg  7.4     Td 2    lg  28

NFL

Harrison, Nolan

Card: GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1993

Indiana University is not really known as a hotbed of football talent- but the Raiders took a chance on Nolan Harrison in the 6th round of the 1991 draft as a possible replacement for star defensive end Howie Long or Greg Townsend. In the meantime the Raiders would utilize him also at defensive tackle, until 1994 when he’d get a career high 5 sacks at left defensive end. Nolan would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997, and play there through 1999 making 7.5 sacks and then close out his career with the Washington Redskins in 2000. As a player, Nolan’s strength would be his high motor and flexibility along the defensive line providing invaluable depth for 10 seasons.

Since retiring Harrison has remained extremely active in NFLPA activities, serving on a variety of boards, financial management, and being a motivational speaker. In 2010, Nolan was named Senior Director of Former Player Affairs and he and former Raider Dave Pear have also squared off on disability and retirement benefits over the last few months.

On top of the possible 2011 NFL strike, there’s actually another party involved in the labor dispute that must not be ignored- those retired players that paved the way for the rest of the league’s success. Many former players who did not live on the ballooned million dollar contracts and on a pittance of severance sacrificed their bodies for our entertainment and now their pain and problems are largely ignored by the league. While Nolan has made some contact with Dave Pear- it remains to be seen whether or not our former greats are treated with the respect they deserve.  You can follow Nolan on twitter at: http://twitter.com/NolanHarrison74.

G/Gs  128/83      Tac 199      Sac 22.0     Fum 5      Int 0     Yds 0     Avg  -.-      Td 0      Lg 0