Tag Archives: players who should be in the NFL HoF

NFL

Curtis, Mike (1943-2020)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #AU-95

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Curtis played college ball at Duke from 1962-’64.
  • He’d go on to establish himself as one of the greatest athletes in Duke history, playing both LB and FB.
  • #1 pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1965 who planned to use him exclusively at FB.
  • Was also selected in the 3rd round of the 1965 AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Made the transition to MLB in 1966 and the rest became history.
  • Played alongside ‘The Mad Stork’ Ted Hendricks, as the team lost Super Bowl III and won Super Bowl V.
  • Played for Colts from 1965-’75.
  • Joined the expansion Seahawks for ’76, eventually finishing career after the ’77 and ’78 seasons with the Redskins.
  • Started 125 of 166 contests over career.

ACCOLADES:

  • Duke Hall of Fame
  • All-Pro 1968, ’69
  • Pro Bowl 1968, 1970-’71, ’74
  • Colts MVP 1974
  • AFC Defensive Player of the Year 1970

NOTES:

Mike Curtis was one of these sweeping cheap Ebay pickups I did at the beginning of 2020. As a not really big name, I waited this one out- and then promptly forgot to scan the card in when I got it, so it waited in limbo for a while before I tracked it down.

I could make an argument for Mike Curtis to be in the HoF, but I doubt he will ever get in, as defensive statistics weren’t well tracked or considered spectacular at the time. He was an absolute terror patrolling the middle of the field and was extremely effective covering the pass for a LB.

EPITAPH:

4/20/20- Mike Curtis passed away from CTE in St. Petersburg, FL at the age of 77.

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N/a22.092528911.5238
NFL

Anderson, Ken

Top Notch Signature Select Custom

CARDS: Donruss 2020, Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl XVI, Upper Deck Football Heroes 2008, Topps 1979, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Top Notch Signature Select
ACQUIRED: TTM 2018, 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 1/2/21 RECEIVED: 1/13/21 (11 days)
SENT: 9/10/18 RECEIVED: 1/29/21 (872 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ken Anderson played QB for Augustana College from 1967-70.
  •  Finished college career ranked fifth in NCAA history for career total offense yardage (6,679).
  • 3rd round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1971.
  • Became starter in 1972.
  • Played for the Bengals for his entire 16 year career.
  • Led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance (XVI).
  • Set the NFL single season record for completions 70.6 (since surpassed – Drew Brees).
  • Led league in completion percentage in 1974, ’82, ’83.
  • Led league in passing yards in both 1974 and 75.
  • Led league in passer rating in 1974, ’75, ’81, and ’82.
  • As of 2023 holds the Bengals records for completions, passing yards, TDs and rushing yards by a Cincinnati QB.
  • Coached with the Bengals from 1993-2002, Jaguars from 2003-06, and Steelers from 2007-09.
Topps 1979, #115
Upper Deck Legends 1997, #76

ACCOLADES:

  • Tribe of Vikings Hall of Fame 2003
  • NFL MVP 1981
  • Cincinnati Bengals Ring of Honor
  • Pro Bowl 1975-76, ’81, ’82
  • All-Pro 1981
  • Second Team All-Pro 1975
  • NFL Offensive Player of the Year 1981
  • NFL Comeback Player of the Year 1981
  • NFL Man of the Year 1975
Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl XVI Insert, #16
2008 Upper Deck Football Heroes, #238

NOTES:

I had sent out to Ken back in 2018, but since he lives in SC, he was square in the path of I think Hurricane Sandy that month. Looking back now, it seems that my request from that year was in the bottom of his mailbag. Ken ended up responding to my retry before my original request, if that makes any sense. His 872 day response falls short of the top 10 waits by about 150 days.

I didn’t buy any NFL cards from 2020, but my friend Joe who helps me run a Facebook group had so many of the Donruss he sent me the entire set. I like the design of it but, considering how much prices have gone up I wouldn’t buy any of these in the wild unless they were discounted.

I really like ‘Long Tom’ cards like the Gameday set, so I thought I’d try my hand at making a few customs. It was a pain to do initially as no printer handles this size, but I designed the canvas to have some areas of white so that it was perfect for the autograph. His autograph looks great on this. I’m not sure if I’ll do anymore of these cards, but time will tell.

I am firmly in the camp that Ken Anderson belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His numbers compare favorably with fellow WCO alum and HoFer Dan Fouts yet Anderson played during the Dead Ball era earlier in his career.

Donruss 2020, #70
NFL

Smith, Jimmy (3) ‘Thunder’

Gameday 1992, #125

CARDS: Gameday 1992, Topps 2003 Chrome
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home
SENT: 8/25 RECEIVED: 10/2 (38 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

2003 Topps Draft Picks & Prospects, #14

Didn’t have much in the tank left for Jimmy, except really for this one set need out of Gameday 1992. Outside of that Spoodog- who you may recall from my in person adventures from a few years prior, was downsizing his collection, or just got so bored of the hobby he was not really into it anymore. Anyway, he gave me a bunch of unsigned cards and this Jags card of Jimmy was among them, so, inspired, I thought if I ever got another shot I’d send this one out too.

I got really lucky getting Jimmy on these cards. During the pandemic he popped up on Twitter and offered to sign for fans. This lasted all for… 3 months before he quit again.