Tag Archives: toronto argonauts

Arena, CFL, NFLE

Brown, Eddie ‘Downtown’ (Iowa St)

Wild Card World League 1992, #52

CARD: Wildcard World League 1992
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o Work

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Eddie Brown played WR at Iowa State where he racked up 27 catches for 562 yards and 5 TDs in 22 contests.
  • Undrafted he’d play in the CFL in 1990 and ’91 as an import player for the Stamps and the Rough Riders.
  • In 1992 he took his game to the Sacramento Surge of the World League, where he led the league in receiving and set records for yards in a season.
  • After the Surge won World Bowl II and the World League went on hiatus, Brown went right back to the CFL playing for the Argos that year but not seeing the field.
  • It was with the Esks that Eddie really found a home and hit his stride, playing with the team from 1993-’95.
  • He pounded out back to back 1000+ yard seasons, including a career high 1,378 yards and 15 TDs in ’93, and a career high 79 catches in ’94.
  • As part of the CFLUSA invasion in ’95, he’d split his time with the Memphis Mad Dogs and the Esks that year.
  • In ’96 he returned to Edmonton for another 2 year stint.
  • He’d return to form that season with another 70 cathces for 1,325 yards and 7 TDs.
  • He’d also go down in Grey Cup and CFL lore for making an incredible, juggling catch for a TD in a snow covered stadium during the ’96 contest.
  • After a small stint with the Alouettes in ’98, Eddie saw a renaissance of sorts playing out on the left coast with BC through ’99.
  • Downtown took his game to the Arena Football League, playing one year with the Iowa Barnstormers in 2000 catching 11 TDs on 39 receptions.
  • By the end of the year he was back in the CFL playing for Toronto.
  • A small hiatus in 2001, led him back to Renegades for his final season in 2002.
  • Infamously walked off during a game, frustrated with the team’s lack of focus on getting into the playoffs and never looked back.
  • Has been a positional coach in the Ottawa area for almost 10 years.

ACCOLADES:

  • All World League 1991
  • CFL All-Star 1996
  • CFL West All-Star 1996, ’99

NOTES:

I had been eyeballing this card for a few years on EBay and decided to lowball offer the seller. To my surprise he accepted- and Eddie Brown was soon to be mine. I’m not a big fan of ball point pen autographs but I can’t complain since the last time I sent to him I basically overpaid and flushed Canadian postage down the toilet.

Eddie ‘Downtown’ Brown, is not to be confused with Eddie ‘Touchdown’ Brown- former Arena football star and father to former NFL receiver Antonio Brown. He is also not to be confused with former Bengals WR Eddie ‘Downtown’ Brown either.

RECYDSAVGTDLG
532866316.36078
CFL
RECYDSAVGTDLG
48101121.11280t
WL
RECYDSAVGTDLG
3969817.911N/a
Arena
CFL, NFL, NFLE

Heller, Ron (2)

Score 1990, #248
Fleer 1990, #83

CARDS: Score 1990, Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 2/3 RECEIVED: 2/13 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Ron hopped over to the Omaha Nighthawks of the (original) UFL to coach there in 2012. He then spent some time again at the pro level as an assistant offensive line coach for the New York Jets from 2013-15.

I’m sure there have been a few people who have complained about the lack of Eagles in my database so I decided to knock out Heller for that reason, along with the fact I still had a set need from Fleer 1990, as well as the fact I hadn’t gotten his autograph since… 1995- little less ever TTM. I also think his Score 1990 card is a very underrated offensive lineman action card anyone would be proud of.

CFL, NFL

Brazley, Carl

All World CFL 1991, #85

CARD: All World CFL 1991
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 7/8/21 RECEIVED: 9/18/23 (802 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • After playing defensive back at Western Kentucky, Carl Brazley would go unselected in the 1980 NFL Draft.
  • He joined the CFL where he went on to have a banner career, playing 13 seasons in the league.
  • Brazley was a free agent signee by the Montreal Alouettes in 1980, seeing action in 4 contests.
  • He’d be claimed off of waivers partway through the ’81 season by the Ottawa Rough Riders.
  • Saw measured growth in 1982, recording 4 picks and a fumble recovery.
  • After a cup of coffee with the Bills in ’83, returned to the CFL, joining the Toronto Argonauts.
  • From 1983-’92 established himself as a lethal defender in the secondary.
  • Recorded 20 picks over 3 seasons (’84-’86).
  • Played briefly for the Chargers in ’87 as a replacement player before returning again to the CFL.
  • Also was used on special teams as a returnman.
  • Had a 108 yard return of a missed field goal in 1990.

ACCOLADES:

  • CFL All-Star (1982-’86)
  • 1983 Grey Cup MVP (Defense)

NOTES:

Had sorta given up on this one that was a shot in the dark, but was pleasantly surprised to see this one bounce back to me in a bit over 800 days.

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a2.094352212.2363
CFL
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a0.00100.000
NFL