Tag Archives: philadelphia eagles

NFL

Jones, Jimmie


Card: Score 1990
Acquired: In Person 1991, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Jimmie Jones was another one of Jimmy Johnson‘s Miami Hurricane connections in Dallas. Knowing what he was getting from Jones, Johnson snatched up the defensive lineman in the 3rd round of the 1990 draft. At 6’4″, 285- he had great height, but needed to put on a bit of weight if he wanted to be an every down lineman; However utilized situationally as a speed rusher- Jones was ideally suited for what the Cowboys were doing. Jones would also contribute along the line on special teams. His rookie season was strong. Jimmie would finish with 7.5 sacks and 60 tackles starting in 6 games at left defensive tackle. Following that up in 1991, he’d add 2 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries in 6 games shifted to right defensive tackle making room for fellow Hurricane Russell Maryland. In 1992 and 93 he’d continue his tear as a speed rusher, making a total of 10.5 more sacks despite being deployed in a rotation with other linemen. During SuperBowl XXVII, Jones would not record a single tackle, but would recover 2 fumbles, scoring a touchdown on one of them. The 2 fumble recoveries would tie a SuperBowl record.

Jimmie would capitalize on his Super Bowl performance and be signed by the Los Angeles Rams in 1994, where he was finally given a starting role next to Sean Gilbert. He’d respond by making 10.5 sacks in 44 starts for the team, but was released in 1997 as salary cap casualty. In Jones’ twilight, he would finish out his career with the Eagles in 1998, in the role that made him a star with the Cowboys- as a situational pass rusher making 2.5 sacks.

Jimmie Jones is not to be confused with the defensive end by the same name, but a different era, playing for the Jets and Redskins from 1969-1973.

G/Gs 121/60      Tac 248      Sac  32      Fum 2       Int  0      Yds 0    Avg -.-    Td 0    Lg -.-

NFL

Smith, Jimmy “Silk”

Cards: Star Pics 1992, ProSet 1992
Acquired: Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1992
See Also: Jimmy Smith Lightning

Another one of these great autograph stories was Jimmy Smith out of tiny Jackson State University. His rookie Star Pics 1992 card I had extensive player information on the back, down to things like nicknames, so when I saw players, I was sure to initiate contact with them by calling them by that nick. Jimmy was seeing the trainers along with Ricky Blake and a few other players in training camp and Josh and I had shrewdly decided to camp our spot in autograph alley throughout the whole morning practice. We recognized Smith so I erroneously called him ‘Slick’. When he signed my cards and told me his nickname was silk,  -we looked at the back of his card, to which I admitted I was wrong . We had a good laugh at my expense, so he was sure to add in his nickname with parenthesis so I could get it right. (He was a rare 2 card signer.)

Jimmy was a second round choice of the Dallas Cowboys, who were looking for that special slot receiver to go with Alvin Harper and Michael Irvin. Smith would find himself on injured reserve from a broken leg in 1992 and a freak appendectomy in 1993.  The team would become impatient with him and cut Smith in 1994 over the fault of the appendectomy Smith had sustained. The Eagles would immediately claim him off of waivers but he would not make the roster of the squad. For all points and purposes- Jimmy Smith’s career was dead on arrival after 3 seasons, -but Jimmy’s mom would not be deterred.

On a whim, Tom Coughlin coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars would give Jimmy a final shot because his mother sent a highlight tape for Coach Coughlin to look at. Smith’s first season with the Jags in 1995 was more like a rookie season for him as he had never seen the field playing for the Cowboys. He’d quietly earn 288 yards and 22 receptions, scoring his first 3 touchdowns of his career. In 1996 however, Silk would burst onto the NFL scene with his first of 7 consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. Injury would slow Smith down in 2003 where he’d only notch 800 yards, but he’d return to form for his final two seasons in 2004 and 2005 with 1,000 yards in each season for the Jaguars. A devastating combo when paired with Keenan McCardell, Smith as the career leader in yards and touchdowns for the Jaguar franchise. His 12,000+ yards ranked him 10th all time at retirement. So much for a guy who was cut by the Cowboys out of spite over medical issues… From 1997-2001 Jimmy would be named to the ProBowl and in 1999 he’d lead the NFL in receptions with 116 (6th in NFL history at the time).

Jimmy from time to time has had some issues with drugs, and with the backlog of wide receivers now waiting to get into the Hall has not made it easier for him to find himself anywhere near the final ballot. He currently resides in Florida and works in radio.  I’ll probably make another loop around later to get Jimmy as I have another card or two of his I’d love to get signed.

G/Gs 178/150   Rec  862      Yds  12287       Avg  14.3      Td 67      Lg  75T
NFL

Miano, Richard “Rich”

Card: Score Supplemental 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp

Richard “Rich”  Miano is a great story. Originally a walk on at Hawaii, Miano would end up becoming an All WAC defensive back for the Rainbow Warriors. Upon graduation in 1985 the New York Jets would draft Miano in the 6th round.

He’d end up starting one game a piece in his rookie season and his sophomore seasons winding up with 2 interceptions and 60 tackles providing valuable depth to the Jets secondary. Over 1987 and 88, Miano would be entrusted with the starting assignment at strong safety, making 5 interceptions  and 112 tackles, before being sidelined for nearly 2 seasons with a catastrophic injury in 1989. Losing his 1990 as well, Miano was exposed Plan B by the Jets at season’s end, thinking they could either sneak him through free agency or that he was done, but the Eagles opportunistically snapped him up. He’d work his way slowly into the lineup over 1991 making 3 interceptions, starting 1 game.  By 1992 Rich would become the defacto starter at strong safety for the Eagles, starting 11 games and making a career high 125 tackles. Granted the starting assignment again in 1993 Rich would start 14 more games and intercept a career high 4 passes at free safety, while making 104 tackles. As injuries piled up after the season, Miano would not see any signifigant starting time in the next two seasons finishing his 1995 as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. After retirement, Miano would return to his Alma Mater of Hawaii where he is an assistant coach for the Warriors.

I got Rich’s autograph at Philadelphia Eagles training camp that summer in West Chester. I remember the team had to run gassers because head coach Richie Kotite did not approve of the amount of fighting that was going on between teammates that day but I still managed to get a few autographs.

I felt like the Score Supplemental 1991 set was bloated, especially after the great success of Score Supplemental 1990. There were not as many impact rookies as there were the previous season, and seeding the lot with not exactly household names – like Rich, didn’t help either. As mentioned on a previous post, Score just got uglier and uglier for a while there during the 1990s.

G/Gs 135/57    Tac 525     Sac  0.5       Fum  3      Int   15    Yds  128    Avg  8.5    Td   0    Lg  39