Played both Defensive end positions over 4 years with Raiders.
Had 228 total tackles, 37 TFL, 16.5 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries, and 1 pick.
Signed with Bears in 2015, playing the next 3 seasons and 5 games.
Started just 2 games in 2015 (16 played) but recorded a career high 8 sacks.
Split 2017 between the Bears and Texans, playing 5 games for each team.
Signed with the Texans to help ailing defensive front, posting a sack, 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Also recorded first TD, returning a fumble 34 yards in his final game with the team.
NOTES:
I mean the evening wasn’t a total disaster at the bowling event. I was very excited when the Texans signed Lamarr to bolster their defensive front after JJ Watt went down with an injury. I thought he delivered, and in his final contest I thought the light really went on, but the franchise saw otherwise and cut him.
When I got his autograph on these cards, I asked him what happened and he told me that, “They told me I was too old.”
Solid athlete started career as a DB for Ohio State in 1997 and 98.
Transferred to Western Illinois and was moved to TE by coaches who said he reminded him of Marv Cook.
Playing for the Leathernecks from 99-01, broke school receiving records.
At pro day as FB ran a 4.5 40 and was nicknamed ‘The Fastest Fullback in the NFL’, by then head coach Mike Martz.
Undrafted in 2002, was signed to the active roster of the Rams off of the Seahawks as a TE
Spent a total of 4 seasons with the Rams, joining the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2005 playing RB.
After league folded following the 2007 campaign, Niklos saw time with the Raiders (2005-06), Cleveland Browns (2007-08), and was briefly on IR with the Chiefs before deciding to hang up the cleats.
As of 2023, runs a sports performance business in Illinois.
NOTES:
A special bonus card thrown in when I purchased the remaining AAF sets I needed, I really get a kick out of these ‘deep cuts’ like JR Niklos.
Spent 3 years at Alabama before transferring out to Arizona for senior season.
Played all around the defensive line before settling down at DE.
All-Pac10 selection in 1989, had 71 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 5 sacks as a Senior.
11th overall selection in the 1990 draft by the then Los Angeles Raiders.
Missed entire rookie season with knee injury during preseason.
Burst onto the scene in 1991 racking up 10.5 sacks- to rank second on the team.
Had an even more impressive 1992, with 13 sacks, 31 combined tackles and 6 forced fumbles as situational starter.
In 1993, had 12.5 sacks, 52 combined tackles, and 1 forced fumble.
Scored a 25 yard TD off a fumble recovery against the Dolphins in 1994.
Played 7 seasons with the Raiders from 1990 to 1997, spending final offseason with the Broncos in 1998.
NOTES:
Who knows what really happened to Anthony Smith?
“I’m a member of BMAP- the Black Male Achievement Program. I go to different schools to tell young people that if drugs are what they want to do, that if they want to destroy their lives, go on and do it. But stay away from the people that don’t want to do it.
Go ahead, kill yourself, but don’t kill other people. Don’t try to urge other people to accept what you bow to. I try to convince kids that there are a lot of things you can do to be productive with your life”
– Anthony Smith 1992 Pro Line Portraits #370
In 2016, Anthony was convicted of 3 counts of murder, with special circumstances of torture, kidnapping and multiple murders, for the 1999 torture killing of two brothers and the 2001 slaying of another man. He was sentenced to 3 consecutive life sentences- without parole.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
265
57.5
11
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
