Tag Archives: players who should be in the NFL HoF

NFL

Craig, Roger

Cards: Pro Set 1991, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired:  TTM 1993, C/o The Minnesota Vikings
See Also: Roger Craig (2)

Drafted by the 49ers out of Nebraska in the 2nd round of the 1983 draft, Roger Craig originally played fullback. Probably one of the most balanced runningbacks of the late modern era, Roger was a good runner, great pass blocker, and an amazing receiver. In 1985 he was named to his first Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 92 receptions- the only time a fullback has ever done that, and also in that same season he became the first player to rush and receive over 1000 yards in the same season. In 1987, Roger moved to runningback, and was named to the ProBowl again and became the first player to be named to the ProBowl as both a runningback and a fullback. The following season Craig would lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 2036 yards, and win ProBowl and AP honors. He’d also win offensive player of the year honors. 1989 would be Craig’s last impact 1000 yard season, and by 1990 injuries would begin to shorten his career.

In 1991, Craig would sign with Ronnie Lott via Plan B to the Los Angeles Raiders starting 13 games. He’d leave again in 1992 and play his final 2 season for the Minnesota Vikings, where I got his autograph in 1993 on these 3 cards.  Roger is a perennial winner amazingly playing in the playoffs all 13 seasons of his career and was elected to the All 1980s NFL team. Another player who has gotten the shaft from the HoF, Roger Craig has not been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, despite having 3 SuperBowl rings and over 13000 yards from scrimmage.

If you want Roger’s autograph, it’s a 5-15 dollar charge per card now for it typically TTM. He’s a great signer however, and I’ve heard of fans sending him 5 or 6 cards for the fee and him having no problem signing that. At a later date when I have a job, and money, -Roger is on my short list to reconnect to.

G/Gs 165/133     Rush  1991         Yds  8189       Avg   4.1   Td   56    Lg  71    |
Rec  566    Yds 4911    Avg  8.7    Td  17      Lg  73

NFL

Williams, Aeneas


Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Pro Set 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent:  5/11   Received:  5/23  (12 days)

Aeneas Williams was drafted out of tiny Southern in the 3rd round of the NFL draft in 1991 by the then Phoenix Cardinals. A ball hawk in college, the knock on him was that he played inferior talent at the I-AA school, where in his senior graduate season, he finished with 11 picks. Williams would shock the NFL by becoming one of the leagues elite corners but would not win the RotY award in 1991 (losing to Leonard Russell, NE) despite tying for the league lead in interceptions. Over his 10 seasons with the Cardinals franchise Williams would make 46 interceptions, before leaving the team in 2001. He is considered one of the great finds of the NFL draft during the 1990s. Unfortunately during this time period, the team would only make the playoffs once, however he’d make it count with 3 picks in 2 playoff game appearances. Aeneas would be traded to the St. Louis Rams on draft day in 2001, where he’d provide the defensive stability in the secondary for the Rams that they needed to allow them to return to the Super Bowl in 2002. During this time Aeneas would be converted to free safety, and he’d remain with the franchise through 2004 and then retire. At the time of his retirement he was ranked second all-time with 9 interceptions returned for touchdowns (since surpassed).

Widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive backs during the 1990s, Aeneas has received multiple awards since retirement. He was named to the All Time team of the 1990s, enshrined in the Cardinals Ring of Honor and was an 8 time Pro Bowl selection over his career. Aeneas also tied an NFL record with a 104 yard fumble return in 2000. Williams also presented the Cardinals with the NFC Conference Championship Trophy in 2009. After watching Aeneas during the draft in 2011 announce the Cardinals second round draft choice, I dug up the envelope that I had sitting on my desk from 2010 for him and decided to send off for him. Currently Williams lives in the St. Louis area where he is a minister in a congregation.  He is considered a voracious TTM signer and he signed these cards in 12 days. A Hall of Fame semi-finalist in 2010, it is an absolute shame that Aeneas has not been inducted despite having more career interceptions than recent inductees Deion Sanders and Darrell Green.

As Tecmo Bowl made its way to the Genesis and Super Nintendo, Williams was well rewarded by the Tecmo gods, but he does not appear in Tecmo Super Bowl on the Nintendo, as it was finished before the 1991 season began. Instead the secondary consists of  Jay Taylor and Cedric Mack at cornerback.

I loved the Action Packed series, especially the Rookies set from 1991. Maybe it was because Action Packed was a relatively smaller set it was easier to collect, but I would always go into the 7-11 after school and buy a pack of cards with my nachos. The embossed players, rounded corners, college statistics, and simple designed layout, really screamed at me. Action Packed also had a good scouting department, frequently pinning impact rookies in their team uniforms. You also never got a head shot or a sideline stretch shot of a player. It was truly “action packed”. The Pro Set 1991 card wasn’t bad either, and I’d consider this to be the height of the company’s card designs, before they came crashing back down to Earth with their abysmal Pro Set 1992 series 2 cards.  Good framing, color and a nice emphasis on the round of the draft are the hallmarks of this card, really delivering as much information about Williams without cluttering the page.

Williams was kind enough to inscribe the card with a passage from the Bible from Romans 10:9- If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

G/Gs  211/207     Tac 677      Sac 3.0     Fum 8    Int 55      Yds 807     Avg  14.6    Td  9    Lg  65

 

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