Tag Archives: skybox 1992

NFL

Reed, Andre

 

Cards: Action Packed 1992, SkyBox 1992, Pinnacle 1993
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 2/13   Received: 2/24  (11 days)

A real fast turn around from a big name.  I was really excited to get this one in the mail, especially considering that it is from such a fleet receiver as Andre Reed. He signed all 3 cards and also included a business card with his email and address for his new line of BBQ sauce.

Andre Reed is needless to say, Kutztown Pa College’s most prestigious’ football player to ever play in the NFL. Drafted in the 4th round by the Buffalo Bills during the 1985 draft, he’d be the second most prolific receiver behind all-time great Jerry Rice. This draft in particular was incredibly stocked at receiver with names such as Jerry Rice, Eddie Brown, Al Toon, Reggie Langhorne,  and Eric Martin, coming out of this draft. Andre is considered by all points and purposes one of the great finds of this draft. I’m not sure if he’s considered a steal, because nobody knew who he really was. He was a small town find by the Bills staff.

Andre’s career started off anonymously enough with a respectable rookie season lodging 637 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a meaty 13.3 yard per catch. Notably his yard per catch would become almost a signature of Reed’s career. Over a 16 year career- he’d only have 3 seasons under 13 yards a reception. (A particularly salivating number in today’s pass happy NFL world.) Andre would build off of his rookie season as his receptions and yards would increase through 1988, culminating in his first of 7 Pro Bowl appearances that would last through 1994. In 1989 he’d have a career high 1312 yards, and post career highs in touchdowns with 10 in 1991. Reed in 1993 would have a whopping 16.4 yards a catch and over that period would play in 3 SuperBowls, finishing 3rd in the big game in yards and 2nd in receptions. An injury would sideline him in 1995, but he’d make a full recovery in 1996, logging his 4th 1000 yard season. From 1997 through 2000, Reed’s career would slowly transition downwards, and in 2000 he signed with the Broncos. Unable to make a contribution to the team, he was released and played his final season with the Redskins before retiring.
Reed’s career statistics, when looking at them year over year can be deceptive. While not a perennial 1,000 yard receiver, Andre was an integral part of the no huddle Bills offense in conjunction with Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. His overall career numbers in yardage at the time of retirement were top 10 and his receptions were third all time. Andre Reed has been eligible for the Pro Football HoF since 2006, but has missed the final ballot on every shot. With a large group of receivers who are becoming eligible for the HoF nomination, it is cloudy to say whether or not Andre will get his true due as a member of the yellow jacket club.  Andre was inducted in the meantime into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2006.

He’s also started his own line of BBQ sauce as previously mentioned, called “Over the Middle”. Part of the proceeds of the sale of his sauce go to impoverished children. I am told that it is quite good, and may give it a shot here in the near future. In addition Reed has done occasional commentary on NFL games for Fox and appeared in “Pros Versus Joes” on Spike TV. In 2011, he was honored with announcing the Buffalo Bills 2nd round pick.

G/Gs  234/217     Rec 951     Yds 13198     Avg  13.9     Lg  87t    Td 83

 

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Marino, Dan

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Score 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament

The crown gem of my celebrity golf tournament autograph requests, I’ve been dreading doing the bio for Dan Marino as he has so many accolades, it’s easy to miss some of them and his write up would be huge.

Well Dan Marino was quite nice at the tournament. He literally got swarmed and I dived into the fold. When he realized he was being surrounded he asked us to all line up in an orderly line and he’d sign a limit of 3 cards a piece for us. (The SkyBox and the Score cards are two of my favorite cards, while the Action Packed was just part of a set that I swore to complete and know I never will.) Anyway, I know now that Marino gets so overwhelmed with requests TTM it’s basically a waste of time now- and any sender gets their cards returned with a thanks but sorry letter, so I consider myself quite lucky in that regard to not only have 1 but 3 autographs from him.

Dan Marino went to the University of Pittsburgh, where he virtually shattered all the college quarterback records while leading them to some of their most memorable seasons ever but was unable to ever win the Heisman. Marino would be a part of the historic 1983 draft, that would include such notables as John Elway, Ken O’ Brien and Jim Kelly with so far 6 Hall of Famers have come out of this draft. His stock would plummet before the draft, and Dan would be passed up in favor for such notables as Todd Blackledge and Tony Eason. At #27 Dan Marino would drop out of the sky and into the Dolphins lap. Don Shula‘s Dolphins were at that time still a traditionally strong running team, but Marino’s imprint on the franchise would be so indelible, that the team would quickly become one of the most prolific air attacks in the league over the next 15 seasons. Dan Marino encompasses the definition of a traditional drop back passer. With a powerful arm, lightning quick release, great pocket awareness, and an intelligent understanding of the intricacies of the game, Marino would be named to the ProBowl and AP 9 times while making the playoffs 10 times out of 17 seasons. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005, he held virtually every passing record when he retired, being the first player to throw for over 5000 yards in a season. In 2003 he was inducted into the college football hall of fame, had his number retired and has a statue also bearing his likeness outside of the Dolphins’ stadium. Dan has gone into broadcasting, been involved in charitable work, and has had lucrative endorsement spokesperson for Weight Watchers, Isotoner gloves, and Papa John’s Pizza.

G/Gs  242/240   Att 8358    Comp 4967   Yds 61361   Pct 59.4    Td 420   Int 252  Rat 86.4

NFL

Wallace, Aaron

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1990, 1992 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Aaron Wallace was part of the Texas A&M “Blitz Brothers” back in the late 80’s with John Roper. Setting a Texas A&M record for career sacks (42), he was selected as a Lombardi semifinalist in 1989. His critical 10 yard sack of Andre Ware set the tempo and preserved a victory over the high scoring Houston Cougar offense. Combining great size (6’3″, 245) and speed, Aaron was a pass rushing force from the outside his rookie season, and he ranked second among rookies with 9 sacks after being drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Raiders. He’d be named to numerous All-Rookie teams after the season and led the team in forced fumbles.

Inexplicably, Al Davis had the team sign Winston Moss and Wallace was relegated to even more backup duty in his next season. Finally allowed to start in 1992  Wallace started 36 games for the Raiders over the next 3 seasons, before he was relegated to backup duty again in 1995. Aaron would retire after 8 seasons with the Raiders in 1998. Since then he’s done some coaching at the high school level and travels to San Diego to watch his son play regularly. Below you’ll find his stats, plus a video when he sacked Andre Ware and ripped off his helmet.

G/Gs 102/36   Tac n/a   Sac 21   Fum n/a     Int  0  Yds  0  Avg -.-   Td 0   Lg –

Wallace takes out Andre Ware in that 1989 game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac9AI-mpsMM