Tag Archives: pittsburgh steelers

NFL, XFL

Porter, Joey (2)

Adrenalyn XL 2010, #8 SPECIAL

CARDS: Adrenalyn 2010, Upper Deck 2006
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, Wounded Warrior Project Event

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Joey Porter
  • Worked with the Steelers through 2018 as their LB coach.
  • Popped up again on the radar of the XFL in 2023 as Hines Ward’s LB coach for a season.
Upper Deck 2006, #10SJP

NOTES:

When I heard that Joey Porter was Hines Ward LB coach- I was excited to see if I could add him in person. The Brahmas were very… stubborn about in person events, even though they promised meet and greets. Later in the season, the team had one in Boerne for the Wounded Warrior Project. When the whole team was announced to be attending I selected out a few cards, hoping I could get him. I was really happy to get him on these two, as he had a pretty decent line. Age seems to be catching up to him, as he has a noticeable hobble from all his injuries playing the game.

Of note, was a chance I missed. I correctly IDed his son, Joey Porter Jr who happened to be there with him. He was surprised and amused that I picked him out of the crowd, but grimaced when I suggested he’d be a great fit for the Texans.

NFL

Morrall, Earl (1934-2014)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AU-143

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played QB and P for the Michigan State Spartans putting them on the map in the Big 10 in 1955.
  • On season completed 42 of 68 passes for 948 yards, and led the country with an average of 9.1 yards per play.
  • Had school record at the time-274 yards passing against Marquette, and snapped an 11 game winning streak by Notre Dame.
  • Finished 4th in Heisman ballot voting that year.
  • First round selection of the 49ers in 1956.
  • Started 4 contests for the ‘9ers that year completing 38 of 78 passes for 621 yards.
  • Traded to Pittsburgh in 1957 and passed for 1,900 yards, 11 TDs and (12 INT).
  • Played 2 games in Pittsburgh in ’58 before being traded to the Lions for Bobby Layne.
  • Played the next 6 seasons in Detroit, culminating in his 1963 effort when he threw for 2621 yards and 24 TDs (14 INT) on 174 of 328 passes.
  • Traded again, this time to the New York Giants in ’65.
  • Repeated his ’63 efforts throwing for 2446 yards and 22 TDs that year.
  • Broke wrist in ’66 and sat on the bench behind Fran Tarkenton before being dealt to Baltimore in 1968!
  • Came in for Johnny Unitas and guided team to Super Bowl III.
  • Had best season as pro throwing for 2,909 yards, 26 TDs, and led league with 8.2 yards per completion.
  • This would foreshadow his future with the Miami Dolphins- a team he’d join in 1970 after being claimed off of waivers for just $100.
  • In 1972, came in and replaced an injured Bob Griese, guiding the team to a 9-0 record (as part of the only fully undefeated NFL season).
  • The team would go on to win Super Bowl VII that year.
  • Played the next 4 seasons there, retiring at the age of 42, after the 1976 season.
  • Became a QB whisperer, working at the University of Miami, tutoring future QB titans Bernie Kosar, Vinny Testaverde, and Jim Kelly.

ACCOLADES:

  • NFL MVP 1968
  • NFL Comeback Player of the Year 1972
  • All-Pro 1968, ’72
  • Pro Bowl 1957, ’68
  • Dolphins Walk of Fame 2012
  • Florida Sports Hall of Fame
  • Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame (1992)
  • Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 1979

NOTES:

Earl Morrall is considered probably the best clutch backup QB of his generation -if not of all time. He played an undeniably long career in the league lasting some.. what 22 years? Although not considered for the HoF conversation, Morrall has been inducted into the ‘Hall of Very Good’. An excellent athlete, Morrall had also caught the eye of MLB playing SS in the College World Series for the Spartans, but opted to play football instead.

I had been eyeballing his autograph during the pandemic but thought it was too pricey. Once it hit about 10 bucks I pounced. It later got lost in the shuffle of incoming autographs and I had forgotten to scan it in.

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRATLG
268913792080951.316114874.198t

EPITAPH:

April 14th, 2014- Earl Morrall passed away at the age of 79 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. It was later discovered he suffered from Grade 4 CTE.

NFL, XFL

Ward, Hines (3)

CARDS: Topps Rookies & Stars Longevity 2004, Score 2010
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Hines Ward, Hines Ward (2)
  • Brahmas finished 3-7 in first season under Hines in 2023.
  • After the season, refused to sign updated contract, and quit the league.

NOTES:

Before the XFL season began the team had a meet and greet with fans at Alamo Brewing Company. Alongside Hines were a few players, who were obviously team captains. I had 3 cards, but Hines only signed 2. There were a lot of people there and I didn’t want to press my luck for more at the time. The humidity was pretty high for the time and I guess these autographs didn’t stick as well as they should. I was a bit disappointed, but the autographs look better in person than scanned in here.