CARD: Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP, XFL 2023 Championship Game
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Willie Beavers was a 4th round pick out of Western Michigan by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.
Beavers has kept the dream alive and his agent busy since then, seeing tours with the Vikings, Patriots and Seahawks in 2016-’17.
After concluding his time with the Seahawks in 2018, spent a bit of time with the Bears as well that year.
After a short stint with the 9ers in 2019, played for the XFL Dallas Renegades in 2020.
Great film allowed him to return to the NFL, where Willie got practice squad for the Falcons later that year and into 2021.
Signed with the Commanders in ’22, but was injured and released.
Returned to the XFL to play with the Arlington Renegades in 2023, starting 5 contests.
NOTES:
The Renegades had just pulled off a huge upset in the XFL Championship game over the Defenders, and after the celebration at midfield, Dallas players were rightfully a combination of delirious, elated, and exhausted. Willie was slowly milling off the field, and as the throng of people around me called him over, he didn’t budge until I called him by name. He slowly ambled over took selfies and signed a card for me. I told him how much I appreciate every one of them and to keep living the dream!
Rufus Porter was a big, rangy LB that played college ball at Southern.
Going undrafted in 1988, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and was a surprising diamond in the rough found by the franchise.
Recorded 16 special teams tackles, and saw time as a defensive end and nickle situations later in the season.
Recorded 10.5 sacks, and led Seattle with 4 forced fumbles in ’89.
Had another 10 sack appearance in ’91, and a 9.5 effort in ’92.
After two consecutive down seasons with the Seahawks, Rufus took his game to New Orleans in ’96.
Earned a gameball for his play against the Colts that season.
Played one final season in Tampa in 1997.
ACCOLADES:
1988, ’89 Pro Bowl
Steve Largent Award 1991
Fleer 1990, #272
NOTES:
Rufus was blessed to come onto the NFL scene and get in on nearly all the big sets from the Big Bang of cards during the late 80s and early 90s. As he was on all my set needs, I got him on two cards back in 2021 and then realized he was in every other set. I didn’t want to put him on blast so soon after he started signing so I waited 2 years to ask for his autograph on these remaining set needs.
Oddly Rufus appears in the Action Packed series 3 times, almost scoring a trifecta at #256 in every set- only to appear as #257 in 1992.
It can not be emphasized how awesome many of these cards are. The neck roll was obligatory for many of the linebackers during this period and the Action Packed 1990 and the Skybox Impact ’92 really show it off. If you wanted to be an intimidator, a neck roll was a first good step.
Porter appears in all Tecmo Super Bowl games. He was affectionately referred to as ‘ROOF!’, By the Kingdome faithful who would yell his name after he made a big play.
CARDS: Gameday 1992, Pacific 1991 ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home SENT: RECEIVED: 9/16/23 FAILURE: TTM 2023, C/o Home
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played college football for Maryland but was not selected in the 1981 NFL Draft.
He’d join the Seahawks as a free agent, primarily used on special teams and as a blocking TE.
Over the next 8 seasons, became a seldom used fan favorite.
After a one year stint in Washington (’89), returned to Seattle for the next two years.
Played for the Vikings in 1992-’93, and a final season in ’95.
Moved into coaching almost immediately as a positional coach for the Vikings in ’96.
Named the Vikings’ interim head coach in 2001.
Officially retained as head coach in 2002 and remained head coach through the 2006 season.
Team reached the pinnacle of offensive production setting modern NFL records for total yards in 2003, after leading the NFL in offensive yards in 2002.
Wasn’t retained following the 2005 season.
Has served a variety of assistant coach and positional coaching jobs with the Jaguars (2006-09), Bears (2010-12), Falcons (2014), and Raiders (2015-17).
Pacific 1991, #488
NOTES:
I thought Mike might make a good fit for the XFL, but he seems content to stay semi-retired. I needed Mike for the Gameday 1992 set, but I figured I might as well toss in the Pacific card, since it was from his Seattle days. A good signer TTM, he had moved and my cards were RTS but I got the golden forwarding address.
Mike must have a great personality as he seemed beloved in both Seattle and Minnesota.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
107
894
8.4
11
34
W
L
T
PCT
32
33
0
.492
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
