Tag Archives: Tennessee Titans

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Munchak, Mike “Munchie”

Card: Action Packed 1990
Acquired: In Person 1991, Houston Oilers Training Camp

I got a stack of autographs out at camp that year, and future Hall of Famer Mike Munchak was one of them along with Bruce Matthews. Together they formed one of the greatest 1 2 combinations in the NFL on the offensive line, and these two were basically inseparable it seemed, on or off the field once Bruce was drafted in 1983.

Munchak was a heavily decorated lineman coming out of Penn State in 1982 and had all of the skills, metrics, and size that you could want out of a prototypical guard (6’3, 281). The 8th pick taken in the first round by the Houston Oilers, he’d play his entire career in Houston and by 1984 had established himself as a formidable force. In a day when defenses could do a lot more to limit production of the passing offenses, the Oilers typically ranked near the top of the passing charts and near the bottom in sacks allowed with Munchie nailing down the left guard position.

Equally adept at the pass or run, Munchak was named to 9 Pro Bowls and first or second team AP 10 times over his distinguished career. He’d see the rebirth of the franchise from the doormat of the AFC Central (2-14, 1983) to the dominant power of the AFC (12-4, 1993) as injuries to his knees eventually forced his hand into retirement after the 1993 season. Named to the 80s All NFL Team, Munchak had his number retired by the Tennesee Titans (who he never played for).  

He has worked his way up the staff of the Titans and after Jeff Fisher’s departure from the franchise in 2011, Munchak was a shoe in for the job. Ironically in 2010, the Texans attempted to steal Munchak off the staff of the Titans to pair him up with Matthews as coaches again in Houston, -but the Titans refused to grant an interview. The Titans then turned around and hired Bruce Matthews off of the Texans’ staff to be offensive line coach reuniting the inseparable linemen again but this time in Tennessee.

 

NFL

Robinson, Eddie

Cards: GameDay 1992, StarPics 1992
Acquired:In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992, 1995

Alabama has a great and wonderful legacy of linebackers and Eddie Robinson, well he went to Alabama State so he played under the shadow of this colossus. Undeterred, Robinson would excel playing for the Hornets and parlay his tremendous career there into a second round choice by the Oilers. The Oilers were looking for new blood at linebacker and Robinson was a competent and versatile fit for the team. The 1992 draft was not a strong draft by any regards outside of the first round, but the team made the most of their selections- especially with Eddie, who was a shrewd selection by the team. Although never making the ProBowl during his tenure, Robinson was consistent and his longevity would allow him also to endure for 11 seasons at linebacker. He was also adequate in coverage, replacing the venerable Johnny Meads at linebacker. Robinson would sign with the Jaguars in 1996. He’d start on defense for the Jaguars when they’d make their first two playoff runs in the then AFC Central. Eddie would soon thereafter resign with the Oilers- who were then the Tennessee Oilers under defensive coordinator and now head coach Jeff Fisher. He’d play for the team as it changed its name to the Tennessee Titans and made a SuperBowl run in 1999 and through 2001. Robinson would play one final season for the Bills in 2002 and retire. The GameDay card here is a really superior card as it really frames his figure well in the long portrait style. Its a shame that the football card market imploded the way it did because the Action Packed and GameDay cards were really a unique foray into trading cards.

G/Gs 175/164     Tac 805    Sac 23  Fum 6    Int 6   Yds 94    Avg 15.6    Td 1   Lg 49t

NFL

Meads, Johnny

Cards: Topps 1990, Fleer Ultra 1991, Pacific 1991, ProSet 1991, Score 1991
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1991, TTM C/o The Tennessee Titans 2010
Sent: 4/3 Received: 4/16  (13 days)

Okay, here’s a guy with a middle name worthy of a linebacker, Johnny “Sand” Meads. Thibodaux, LA is home to tiny Nicholls State, and the Houston Oilers would call Johnny’s name near the top of the 3rd round. This draft was a good defensively at linebacker and yielded names such as Carl Banks, Wilber Marshall, Gary Reasons, and Fredd Young. In fact it was so good 3 of the Oilers starting linebackers came out of this draft. Robert Lyles, John Grimsley and… Johnny Meads. The draft really represented defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville‘s vision for the Houston Oilers- an attacking defense led by quick and aggressive linebackers. In 1986 Johnny would score 111 tackles from his outside linebacker position and record 4 sacks. He also had extra value. At 6’2″ 232 with a wide wingspan, Johnny was a great special teamer, blocking 2 punts in 1989. By 1990, Meads was the senior member of the Oilers defense and made the transition from the 3-4 to the 4-3 defense anchoring down his starting position at linebacker. Johnny would be named defensive player of the week for his 1990 performance against the Saints in which he recorded 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception and 3 forced fumbles and amazingly he’d play most of the season with a broken thumb in a cast, and would still make 95 tackles and 5 forced fumbles.  1991 would see his final season as a starter, as the team was determined to go younger at the position. They’d bring in Eddie Robinson and Joe Bowden the next season and by the 4th week of 1992- he’d be cut and find himself on the roster of the Redskins for two weeks before retiring. Since football Meads has worked in the Tennessee Titans organization and is currently a scout for the organization. I’d get the Fleer 1991 Ultra autographed while at camp that year and he’d kindly sign the others for me in 2010. Great autograph with the way the “M” sweeps under the rest of his last name. The points of the “M” indicate his alertness, drive, and intelligence. A perfect linebacker autograph.

G/Gs  119/97    Tac  528     Sac 23.5    Fum 1    Int 1     Yds 32   Avg 32.0   Td 0    Lg 32