Tag Archives: philadelphia eagles

NFL, University of Texas

Hager, Britt

udut11 hagerCard: UT Upper Deck 2011
Acquired: 2/16/2013, Longhorn Neighborhood Foundation Bowling Tournament

Britt Hager was a ferocious tackling machine over his three years playing for the Texas Longhorns from 1986-1988. He is the school’s single season leader in tackles (195- 1988) and also the school’s career leader with 499. Hager was named All-SWC in 1987 and 1988. Declaring for the NFL draft in 1989, Britt was taken in the 3rd round, with the Eagles’ second pick of that round. With a motor that never quits, Britt fit the mold of the type of tackle stuffing monster that coach Buddy Ryan envisioned in his 46 defense. Added for depth, Hager spent time on the bench behind incumbent middle linebacker Byron Evans making only 11 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries his rookie season. Evans held out for the 1990 season, so Britt started the first game of the season. Evans quickly returned and Hager was sent back to the bench and finished with only 7 tackles that year. Hager didn’t get his chance to start until 1993, and in 7 games recorded 78 tackles, a pick, and a sack.

Hager signed with Denver and started 5 more games in 1994, and then made the conversion to right linebacker in 1995. He spent another season with the Broncos, before retiring with the Rams after the 1997 season.

I talked to Britt at the Bowling Tournament about the concussions lawsuit that he was a member of and told him that they were doing the right thing. He told me that it was paramount that the NFL really put the time and the money into the problem and try to fix it. We also talked about his number, which I also wore in high school. He told me it was a great number. 🙂

G/Gs 121/18     Tac 198        Sac   2.0    Fum 4       Int  3     Yds  38     Avg  12.1   Td 0   Lg 19

 

NFL, usfl

Landeta, Sean

to89 landeta tosc91 landeta sco90 landetaud90 landeta

Cards:  Stadium Club 1991, Topps 1989, Upper Deck 1991, Score 1990
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012.

Sean Landeta is considered a legend when it comes to Tecmo Super Bowl lore. He is the last person to retire from not only the original game but also the sequels that followed that he also appeared in. The iconic mustache and sometimes mullet he sported alongside his single bar punter helmet lasted until 2006 amazingly for the Rams, after he started his career eons ago in 1983 in the USFL for the Philadelphia Stars.

Punters for the most part, go undrafted, and Landeta was like all the others after graduating from Townson State. A division II star at punter, Landeta was a first team All-American in 1980. He played with the Philadelphia Stars from 83-84, and then the Baltimore Stars the following year.  He’d earn USFL All-Star Honors both years and earn recognition on their All time team.

It’d be after his stint in the USFL that Sean would make his iconic appearance playing for the New York Giants in 1985, where it seemed like he’d stay forever. Landeta remained with the Giants from through 1993, making appearances on Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl with the Giants. It’d be there that he’d establish a penchant for long, booming punts, finishing his career at New York with 526 punts and 22806 yards (43.4 average).  He earned All-Pro nominations for his 1986 and 1990 seasons, and Pro Bowl honors for those years as well as in 1989. In 1993 he’d split the season with the Giants and ultimately end up on the Los Angeles Rams. He’d transition with the team to St. Louis in 1995 and remain with the franchise through 1996. After a one year stint with the Bucs in 1997 and Green Bay in 1998, Sean played the next 4 seasons in Philadelphia from 1999-2002 and have a career high 107 punts in 1999. It’d be confusing following Landeta the next few seasons, with him playing in St. Louis again in 2003 and 2004, and then a final season in 2005 with the Eagles.

In 2006 he retired from football on the 25th Anniversary of the USFL, after signing a one day contract with the New York Giants. He became the last member of a USFL team to retire from the league, and also was the longest tenured member of the original Tecmo Bowl to retire as well.

G 284    P  1401    Yds  60707      Avg 43.3    Lg  74   Blk 6

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Hess, Billy “Bill”

ULT92 hessjo95 hess

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Jogo 1995
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Work
Sent: 7/15    Received: 8/24  (40 days)

Billy Hess at the time of his departure from West Chester University was the school’s all-time leading receiver with 2,729 yards and 19 touchdowns. Playing both ways at the tiny college, in his senior year he caught 47 passes for 833 yards and 11 Tds while also recording 23 tackles and 3 interceptions.  He’d be signed by the Eagles as a free agent in 1989, and then by the Cardinals in 1990.

The San Antonio Riders decided to draft Bill in the 4th round with the 37th pick of the 1991 WLAF wide receiver pool draft.  A crafty receiver who runs good routes and has solid hands, Hess caught 28 passes for 399 yards and 2 touchdowns from quarterbacks Jason Garrett, Lee Saltz, and Mike Johnson.  He had his best game against the Skyhawks catching 2 passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. After the season he resigned with the Eagles.

Later on he’d go on to play for the San Antonio Texans of the CFLUSA in 1995. A possession receiver, Hess caught 28 passes for 333 yards in 12 games from QB David Archer in the slot. He’d play one final season in the CFL after it folded the USA franchises with the Ottawa Rough Riders before retiring.

As of 2013 he works in real estate in the greater Philadelphia area. I was scouring the web and got lucky on this hit. As I get further and further along in my attempts to track down members of the WLAF, it has gotten progressively more difficult to find some of these players. Bill was also nice enough to include a Jogo 95 and a note for me as well thanking me for bringing back some great memories.

WLAF    Rec  28    Yds 399    Avg     Td 2