Cards: Topps XFL 2001, Classic 1993, ProSet 1993, GameDay 1993
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home (x2)
Sent: 2/27 Received: 3/28 (31 days)
Sent: 4/18 Received: 4/27 (9 days)
Bruising fullback Roosevelt Potts reminded many of Craig ‘Ironhead’ Heyward coming out of college from NE Louisiana. A tireless runner with a low center of gravity, Potts had 558 carries for 3,061 yards and 17 TDs- finishing as the school’s all-time leading rusher, and earned the Southland Conference Player of the Year Honors in 1992 when he ran for 1,266 yards.
Potts was selected in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He’d finish his rookie year with 900 yards from scrimmage- 771 on the ground on 179 carries used primarily as a RB his rookie year. With the arrival of Marshall Faulk in 1994, Potts switched primarily to a blocking role. He scored his lone rushing TD of his career in 1994, posting 336 yards on 77 carries and catching 26 passes for 251 yards. After a 1995 with relatively the same results- Potts was a restricted free agent with a few caveats. First he had to have reconstructive knee surgery, and second, he had been found in violation of the league’s drug policy. It was his 3rd strike and he had to serve a mandatory season long suspension covering all of 1996.
Roosevelt returned to the Colts in 1997, but for the most part that season was a wash too. He played 2 games for the Colts, and 6 games for the Dolphins. He took his skills to Baltimore in 1998 where he served another 16 game stint at fullback, rushing 36 times for 115 yards, and catching a career high 30 passes. A sneaky backfield option with a downfield bulldozing motor- Potts caught 4 TDs in his career on 106 receptions.
But wait- Potts story doesn’t just end there! He joined the XFL in 2001 playing for the Memphis Maniax after a 2 year layoff. Still displaying his hard nosed and devastating blocking up front, Potts played in 4 games catching a pass for 5 yards.
He signed this Topps XFL card for me very quickly- but included a nice note indicating that he had accidentally sent my other cards to somebody else, and if I wanted to send more- he’d be happy to sign. Eager to take him up on his offer I dropped another Gameday 93 and Classic 93 into the envelope along with this ProSet 93. He signed in no time flat and kindly answered my questions telling me that he loved watching the Alliance and will watch the new XFL when it comes out. What a guy! I feel like I could sit down with Potts, have drinks and talk Spring football with this guy all day.
Potts is an Honorary Horseshoe Legend for the Colts, and was named into the ULM 2016 HoF class.
| NFL G/GS | RUSH | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| 71/61 | 359 | 1475 | 4.1 | 1 | 52 |
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| 106 | 863 | 8.1 | 4 | 52 |
| XFL G | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LG |
| 4 | 1 | 5 | 5.0 | 0 | 5 |