CARDS: Topps 1992, Topps 1991, Topps Stadium Club 1992 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 8/22 RECEIVED: 8/27 (5 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Roger Ruzek played K at tiny Weber State (’79-’82), where he set NCAA Division I-AA records for field goal accuracy (84.2), and school career records in FG (46), FG in a game (4), and consecutive XP (30).
Unable to beat out Matt Bahr in Cleveland as an UDFA in 1983, Ruzek joined the New Jersey Generals in 1984.
He played 2 seasons for the franchise before the league folded.
In ’86 he got a tryout with the Cowboys but didn’t latch onto the team until the following season after a few bumps.
Ruzek ended up posting 22 of 25 on FGs, scoring 92 points.
Tied NFL record with 4 FG in 1 quarter against the New York Giants that year.
Set franchise mark with 5 FGs made against the Rams that year.
In ’88 had a contract holdout, but had a rough year- and was eventually cut during the ’89 season in favor of Luis Zendejas.
Quickly found a home with the rival Eagles that year, and returned to solid form.
The Eagles opted to keep Ruzek and he’d kick with the team through 1993.
During the ’93 season, the Eagles signed Matt Bahr after Ruzek strained a hamstring.
Ruzek again replaced Bahr, later in that season, and then again was released in ’94 as the Eagles opted to go with Eddie Murray.
With a cup of coffee out of the way with the ‘9ers in ’94, Ruzek played Arena ball with the San Jose Sabrecats in 1995.
He then hopped over to London to play in his final season for the Monarchs of the World League in 1996- making 8 of 11 FGs.
NOTES:
Back when I was a kid, I played a lot of soccer. When I started watching football I was all about the kicker. I was surprised, the guy who scored the most points, who had the most pressure on them to win games, didn’t get more love. On the Cowboys, (since that’s all we got here,) I really liked Ruzek, and was surprised the team didn’t stick by him longer during his later struggles with the team. He also made an appearance on the original Tecmo Bowl as a member of the Dallas ‘Wings’.
I had no clue that Ruzek had played for the World League. If I had known that I would have written him sooner. It’s just too bad all he had to sign with was a ball point pen. Regardless he was the shortest wait of 2022 coming in at a breakneck 5 days.
Devastating long bomb threat and speedy receiver, Flipper Anderson was a second round pick of the Los Angeles Rams out of UCLA in 1988.
In 1989, had a whopping 44 catches for 1146 yards and 5 TDs.
His 28 yards per catch was second in NFL history (behind Warren Wells) for a player with a minimum of 40 catches.
During 1990 season, when Henry Ellard was sidelined for a game, Flipper became QB Jim Everett‘s primary receiver against the Saints.
Set an NFL record by catching 15 passes for 336 yards in that game.
Had 51 catches for 1083 yards and 7 TDs (21.0 YPR) in 1990.
Played for the Rams through the 1994 season.
Went into the journeyman phase of his career quickly, playing for the Colts (’95), Redskins (’96), and Broncos (’97) but saw little action.
Lives in Georgia where he’s currently a high school basketball referee.
ACCOLADES:
NFL RECORD- Single game yards receiving (336)
NFL Leader Yards Per Reception (1989, ’90)
Fleer 1990, #33
NOTES:
I failed on Flipper so many times I pretty much gave up. TTM he didn’t respond to me twice, but responded randomly to others. Then I paid for a consignment and shipped my cards out to get him, but I wasn’t able to get him that way either- though I suspect the consigner more than anyone. (What a mess that was.) My buddy Brian got him on two cards and decided to send me one, so I held onto this Score 92 forever, thinking about these sour grapes. Finally in 2023, I was able to pick up a respectable Fleer 90 that I wanted, so I decided to go ahead and put this post together.
Flipper has like 4 other cards I still need him on. His Pro Set 1990 is an infamous photo of him scoring the final TD against the New York Giants eliminating them from the playoffs in ’89.
A rare signer, I felt it’d be best if I take advantage of his current signing window and get Haywood on a few cards. Among the players, he was quite outspoken about it being a mistake the Oilers left H-Town. I wonder if he also turned and embraced the Titans as one with the Oilers like many of his backpedaling teammates.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
