Tag Archives: San Diego Chargers

NFL

Jones, Jacoby ‘Jakespeare’ (1984-2024)

Card: Playoff 2008
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jacoby Jones was drafted by the Houston Texans out of tiny Lane College (Jackson, Tn) in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL draft.
  • A track and field beast in college, Jones was a dangerous threat every time he touched the ball.
  • He was immediately penciled in (replacing Jerome Mathis) as the punt and kick returner and wide receiver project.  
  • In 2008 he took two punts to the house for a TD- including a 73 yarder.
  • He’d score a career high 6 TD catches in 2009 on just 27 receptions.
  • In 2010, he had a career high 562 yards and 51 catches.
  • He’d be cut in mid 2012, after muffing a punt in the playoffs the previous season.
  • Jones signed with the Ravens in 2012, where he’d find new life as a popular member of the flock, and seemingly being a playmaker at the right place and at the right time.
  • That season he’d post his best year as a return man with 38 KR for 1167 yards and 2 TDs.
  • He is most fondly remembered for his Super Bowl heroics, where he caught a 56 yard TD and returned a kickoff 108 yards for a TD in Super Bowl XLVII.
  • Following the season, he made an appearance on Dancing With the Stars.
  • After 3 years with the Ravens, he was cut in 2015 and spent time split between the Chargers and Steelers that year.
  • Then in 2017 he played Arena Football with the Monterrey Steel of the NAL.
  • Later that year he retired as a Raven.
  • Jacoby went into coaching from there with his alma mater Lane College from 2018-’19 as a WR coach.
  • Then it was off to Calvert Hall (’20), Morgan State (’21), and Alabama State (2022-’23) as a positional coach in each of those stops.
  • He recently was very excited to return to the H-Town area to coach the Beaumont Renegades- an Arena Football team in Texas.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 2012
  • All-Pro 2012
  • Longest play in NFL history- 108 yards
  • Longest play in Super Bowl/ postseason history- 108 yards
  • First player to return two kick-offs over 105 yards in a single season

NOTES:

Many fun stories surround the young Jones, and fellow wide receiver David Anderson, who called himself Jones’ interpreter while they played together. Jones was fond of bringing in his mom’s cooking into the locker room- where he’d eat chicken legs whole, down to the marrow.

It’s really sad the way he was let go by the Texans. The team perhaps getting their closest to the Super Bowl at that time were playing a hotly contested game against Baltimore in the 2011 Divisional Round. He’d muff a punt that’d lead to the Ravens win.

I’m not sure if the team cut him for a fresh start. I know a lot of people were hard on him. I just wish things had ended better in H-Town.

RECYDSAVGTDLG
203273313.51480t
KRYDSAVGTDLG
183494017.05108t
PRYDSAVGTDLG
27626889.7479t

EPITAPH:

7/13/24- Jacoby Jones passed away peacefully in his sleep while at his home in New Orleans, La. It was unexpected and no cause of death was given. He was 40 years old.

NFL

Dishman, Cris “Dish”

Cards: Game Day 1992, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o The Houston Oilers
See also: http://n8d.flywheelsites.com/2011/dishman-cris-2/

A Jerry Glanville apostle, Cris Dishman was a fiery and noisy defensive back out of Purdue. Drafted in the 5th round of the 1988 draft, Dishman was considered the Cortland Finnegan of his time-  a trash talking annoyance and dirty player to opposing wide receivers.  Playing both corner and special teams in his rookie season, he  recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown from teammate Eugene Seale.  In 1989, Dishman began to develop making 4 interceptions and blocked 2 punts and a field goal, however Dish had a penchant for self-destructive behavior and personal fouls. Unable to tolerate this behavior from the team and its failure to advance further into the playoffs,  owner Bud Adams fired coach Jerry Glanville. In comes straight laced, no nonsense coach Jack Pardee who converts the defense to a 4-3. These would begin the years of Dishman’s redemption and rebirth.

Dishman would make 4 more interceptions in 1990 and would score 62 tackles along with it, but 1991 would be his year. Named AP and to the Pro Bowl, Dishman would have a streak of 7 games with a turnover. His season totals would be 6 picks, 3 fumble recoveries and 66 tackles.  1992 statistically would be a down year marred by a contract hold out, but he’d again mount another 6 interception season while forcing 4 fumbles in 1993 under defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan.  He was robbed by not receiving a Pro Bowl nod. In 94 as the team would sink, Dishman would return his first interception for a touchdown. He’d notch 4 in 94 and 3 in 95.  The Oilers were eager to resign him, and made him their franchise player, but with frustration mounting Cris would not have a good season in 1996 only pulling down a pick. The Oilers would not opt to resign Dishman after the 1996 season and would sign via free agency with the Washington Redskins.

In 1997, Cris would be named to the Pro Bowl as an alternate. He made 4 picks and 2 fumbles, one of which he’d return for a touchdown.  Dishman would play one more season with the Redskins before moving on to play for the Chiefs for 1999. Dishman would have another good season with 5 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries. He’d return a pick and a fumble improbably against the Raiders for a touchdown in the same game, but the Chiefs would inexplicably not resign the veteran.  Cris would sign with the Vikings and start 9 games making one pick before retiring in 2000.

Dishman has gone into coaching, working his way up from college and currently assists defensive backs with the San Diego Chargers. Definitely most remembered for his time during the third heyday of the Houston Oilers and their twilight years, Dishman was a high risk/ reward corner over his career.  He recorded 8 touchdowns, 43 interceptions, 15 FF and 16 FR over his career.

G/Gs  199/165      Tac  668       Sac 1.5      Fum 15   Int  43      Yds  550        Avg  12.8     Td  3    Lg 49

NFL

Dumas, Mike

Cards: ProSet 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Houston Oilers

Michael Dumas-was a special teams maven for the Indiana Hoosiers blocking an impressive 9 punts over his college career. He made the transistion from cornerback to free safety but was a bit undersized at 5-11 and 178. The Oilers liked to draft by the dozen, and the 1991 draft was loaded with defensive talent especially at defensive back. The Oilers would draft, Mike Dumas, Darryl Lewis, and Steve Jackson to get younger at the position. They’d take Dumas off the board first at the top of the 2nd round hoping that his big play potential and hitting would ignite the Oilers’ secondary. (Dumas initially didn’t believe that he was going to be in the NFL. He wanted to get his sports degree and be an agent.) He’d be with the Oilers for two seasons and then Buffalo in 1994 as a backup. In 1995, he’d start 8 games for the Jaguars, before finally finding a home with the Chargers in 1996 where he’d play through 2000. Dumas would sign in 2001 with the Bears, but a lingering ankle injury would end his career.

Michael Dumas still longs to play the game, but the long lasting effects of his injuries have slowed him down immensely. He spent some time coaching defensive backs for the Dolphins at one point and currently lives in Sunrise, Fl.

G/Gs 102/52   Tac 292   Sac 5  Fum 9  Int 7  Yds 167   Avg 18.6    Td 1   Lg 68