Tag Archives: players who should be in the NFL HoF

NFL

Vincent, Troy

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Card: Star Pics 1992, Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Love Thy Neighbor
Sent:   Received:   (days)*
Donation: $5 per card

Troy was one of the top defensive backs out of the 1992 class. At Wisconsin, the former Badger finished his career as a runner up for the Jim Thorpe Award, a 1st Team All-American, and the school’s all-time punt yardage leader.  With rumors of him going as high as #5 to the Green Bay Packers, Vincent was on the up and up in the hours before the draft.  Although the Packers took equally impressive Terrell Buckley off the board with their pick, Vincent didn’t fall far as the Miami Dolphins were there to scoop him up with the 7th overall pick.  He immediately was slotted into the lineup in the team’s retooled defensive backfield that was competing in an arms race with the dominant division leading Buffalo Bills wide receiver corps.

Turning in a strong rookie season, Troy finished with 2 picks for 47 yards, 77 tackles and a forced fumble, earning All-Rookie Team honors. Although a solid DB, it wouldn’t be until 1994 that Vincent really made a splash- with a 5 pick season and a spectacular 79 yard return for a touchdown against the Chiefs. Then in the following season Vincent had 5 more interceptions, including a 2 pick performance against the Jets, one which he returned for a touchdown as well. With big bucks free agency in session, Troy left the Dolphins in 1996 destined for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles were in a similar circumstance with the Dallas Cowboys, and eager to stay up with them, needing a lockdown opposite Bobby Taylor to replace recently departed blue chipper Eric Allen. Vincent fit the bill of what they direly needed. Troy played the majority of his career for the City of Brotherly Love. There he went on to perhaps have his greatest success, rattling off a string of successive Pro Bowl appearances (1999-2003), led the NFL in interceptions (7- 1999), and earned an AP nomination for his 2002 season.

In 2004, Vincent signed with the Buffalo Bills where he was moved to free safety. The move allowed him to extend his career another 3 seasons. A brief stint in Washington brought him back to Buffalo during 2006, and he’d retire after the season having logged some 15 seasons.

Troy has immersed himself in charity operations through his “Love Thy Neighbor” campaign and has been involved in the NFLPA for many years. When Gene Upshaw retired, Troy’s name was indeed among the rumored candidates for the job. Vincent has also received some support for the HoF but due to the lack of glamour statistics associated with the position, Vincent has not made it past the semi-finals.

G/Gs 207/200    Tac 738    Sac 5.5    Fum 12  Int 47   Yds 711   Avg      Td 3     Lg 90t

NFL, wfl

Bergey, Bill

Cards: Topps 1980, Topps 1981
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Bill Bergey was a monster middle linebacker with a motor that never quit. After setting multiple records for tiny Arkansas State, he’d be drafted by the Cincinatti Bengals in the second round of the 1969 AFL draft. He immediately contributed to the team as a starter, and was named an AFL All-Star and Sporting News defensive rookie of the year, after recording 2 picks his rookie season. He continued playing with the Bengals through 1973 when he had 3 picks and 3 fumbles. After the season, the upstart WFL was picking off established and upcoming names from the NFL to pepper its rosters. Bill Bergey signed a futures contract with Jack Pardee‘s Florida Blazers, and then was promptly sued by the Bengals for breach of contract.  The NFL ended up losing in court, and Paul Brown traded the rights of Bergey for what seemed an exorbitant amount at the time- two first round draft choices and a second rounder to the Philadelphia Eagles.  When Bergey quickly figured out that the Blazers were all fuzzy math, he made the correct choice and returned to the NFL for the 1974 season.

The Eagles trade immediately paid off. Bergey solidified the center of the ‘Gang Green’ defense for Philadelphia, and his ability to read and react quickly and heat seek out ball carriers, led him to set the team record with 233 tackles in one season.  Bergey also set the NFL record for most interceptions by a middle linebacker in a season with 5 in 1974. He’d follow that up in 1975 as he led the league in fumble recoveries with 6. 1977 saw a switch of defensive philosophy for the Eagles, and the 3-4 was in order. Bill shifted inside to left inside linebacker and didn’t miss a beat recording 4 picks and 4 fumble recoveries in 1978.  Over his time with Bergey, the Eagles were a dominating force in the NFC East, and they’d reach the Super Bowl in 1980. He’d retire in 1981.

Bill was inducted into the Eagles Honor Roll in 1988, and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame. (The Bengals also consider him one of their best defensive players ever too.) He remains popular with fans of that era, and has gone into color, and radio game commentary for the Eagles. With surprising interception numbers that look like a defensive back, its disappointing that there hasn’t been a stronger case made for Bergey in the HoF at least as a ‘seniors’ candidate.

G 159     Tac   N/a        Sac  N/a      Fum 21    Int  27     Yds  397    Avg  6.8    Td  0     Lg  58

NFL

Craig, Roger (2)

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Cards: Fleer 1990, Upper Deck 1991, Pro Set 1989, Pro Set 1990, Upper Deck Legends 1997, Score 1990, Fleer Sports Illustrated Legends 1999.
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2    Received:  1/7    (5 days)*
*signing fee $5 per card
See also: Roger Craig

Finally. Well the first line is cast and I already hooked a big one in the form of undervalued fullback/ runningback Roger Craig! Sending a check in excess of the fee request, netted me 2 extra autographs plus he was willing to answer the questions that I enclosed.

I’ve been trying to be a bit more wacky about what I ask players when I insert a question into a letter. First it makes me stick out, and second it might give them a good laugh. Roger disclosed to me that if he could’ve played for any other team besides the 49ers, Raiders, and Vikings he played for, he would have played for the Dallas Cowboys. Wow. Now that would’ve blown my mind to have seen him play in the silver and blue at the end of his career.  Back in his college days and his early playing days, Roger liked to sport a mean looking mustache. I asked him if he’d ever grow it back. To my surprise he answered that, “Yes, one day,” it will return and put a little smiley face next to it.  For my final question, I asked him what tree he would be, and he responded that, “He would’ve been an oak tree, because it is a very big and strong tree”.  – A great success in my books, and I was extremely surprised to have gotten it back so quickly. I knew that Roger had a very high response rate and that he was good to TTM fans, but this was a near legendary response from a player who should be in the Hall of Fame. Total class act. I was so jazzed about this one, I really am considering sending out 2nd shots to my favorite TTM successes at some point.

Some great cards here of Roger. It was very difficult to select which ones to send. I might have missed one or two cards, but overall these action shots really represent him well. Really have quickly grown fond of the 1997 Upper Deck Legends issue. The photos are great and they cover some really good players.  I vaguely remember that Roger’s Pro Set 1989 card/shot was so dynamic that it made the box. It’s too bad that Pro Set went up in smoke so quickly. It was the up close action shots like this that put Topps on the ropes early.