Tag Archives: ttm autograph success

NFL

Young, Fredd

Cards: ProSet 1989, Score Supplemental 1989, Action Packed 1990, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 2/24 Received: 3/5 (10 days)

Fredd Young is a member of the New Mexico State Hall of Fame. A fast and hard hitting linebacker with huge hands, Fredd had over 400 tackles in his college career at NM State, and recorded 12 sacks as a Senior. He’d be selected in the 3rd round of the 1984 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

Fredd contributed immediately to the Seahawks defense, and very quickly established himself as a starter during his rookie year. He’d be named to the Pro Bowl after his rookie year, and the next following 3 years. His first two Pro Bowl nominations came on special teams, and his next two came at strongside inside linebacker. In his final year with the Seattle (1987), Brian Bosworth joined him at linebacker commanding an unheard of 10 year $11 million dollar contract. Unable to secure such a lucrative contract from the team for his proven talent, Fredd held out through the first game of the 1988 season.

The Seahawks didn’t take kindly to this, but found a suitor waiting in the wings as the Colts traded two first round picks in order to get Young to help fortify their defense. He’d sign a 5 year, $4.5 million dollar contract with Indianapolis. Fredd played the next 3 years with the team. His high water mark came in 1989 when he posted 122 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. After a solid ’89, Fredd was again on pace for another quality followup year in 1990, but got injured during the 11th game of the season against Buffalo. It turned out to be career ending, as it was the same hip-flexor injury that Bo Jackson famously had his career ended by.

My first recollection of Fredd is from the game Tecmo Bowl back in 1988. Being that there wasn’t a Houston franchise, I started playing Seattle on a whim. With the player licenses (but not the team rights) the ‘Seattle Knights’ as the logo led me to believe, were a blast to play. Fredd Young was a speedy missile inside, and I crushed opposing ball carries with him rushing upfield.

G/GSTACSACFUM
101/79N/A21.06
INT YDSAVGTDLG
35217.2150T
NFL, University of Texas

Jeter, Tommy ‘Tom’ (2)

gday92 tjeter cla92 tjeter bl

Cards: GameDay 1992, Classic 1992
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  12/9   Received: 12/23  (14 days)
See Also: Tommy Jeter

Wow… and with that Tommy Jeter vaults into the top 5 worst autographs I’ve ever seen. I mean don’t get me wrong… I’m happy and all that the Longhorn Legend signed these 2 cards for me, but this autograph is not really legible and they don’t really match at all. I guess I can make out a loop for ‘J’ and the hook at the front of the signature could count as a ‘T’ but this is a far cry from what I originally got from him at Eagles Training Camp back in 1994.  I wanted to get Tommy on these two additional cards I had for years. The Gameday 1992 was probably my favorite outside of the Star Pics entry and the Classic I couldn’t pass up since it’s a great action shot.

Really, this was more like a failure and then success, but when I get the RTS and I’m able to flip it right back out to a new address- I just count them one and the same.  Jeter is a family man now. He’s a huge fan of his kids who are all involved in sports at some level.  As of 2017, Tommy is a Regional Manager for ACME Brick Co.

NFL

Barrow, Micheal

Cards: ProSet 1993, GameDay 1993
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 5/24/16             Received: 10/2/17  (420 days)
Failure: 2010, C/o University of Miami

Micheal Barrow played for the Miami Hurricanes in college.  A fearsome and instinctive linebacker, Micheal posted 420 combined tackles, 7 sacks, and 3 interceptions for 5 years, earning first-team All-America Honors in 1992.

New defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan wanted some new blood and speed at the linebacker position in Houston.  He made smarmy remarks about incumbent MLB Al Smith being too big and slow after watching film of the previous season.  Micheal was actually a surprise selection by the Oilers in the 2nd round of the 1993 NFL Draft. The team was bursting at talent at linebacker with Joe Bowden, Lamar Lathon, Eddie Robinson, Smith, and free agent signee Wilber Marshall.

During his rookie year he’d hone his skills behind Al Smith at middle linebacker- who had no intention of giving up his spot. The Oilers acknowledged as much and moved Barrow to RLB in 1994. He’d play for the Oilers through the 1996 season.  Micheal’s most complete season in Houston occurred that year as he posted 67 tackles, 6 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles.

Micheal signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 1997.  He picked up right where he left off in Houston recording 68 tackles, 8.5 sacks (career high), and 3 forced fumbles. After solid play through the 1999 season, Micheal signed with the New York Giants as a free agent.

Among the pantheon of free agent signings in the history of the franchise, Barrow’s signing wasn’t met with much fanfare, however he’d go down as one of Big Blue’s most savvy moves. Plugging Barrow in at middle linebacker, Micheal played 5 strong seasons in NY. His best season for the franchise came in 2003 when he posted a career high 109 tackles.  After a knee injury ended his one and done season with the Redskins before it even began, Barrow played 2 games in 2005 with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring.

Micheal quickly went into coaching scaling the high school ranks and landing at his Alma Mater Miami where he was linebackers coach for the Hurricanes from 2007-2013.  In 2015, Micheal joined Pete Carroll’s staff in Seattle as the team’s linebacker’s coach, and in 2017 was promoted to assistant head coach to keep potential suitors away.

Finally, another mythic Houston Oiler down. I had tried Barrow way back in 2010 via the Hurricanes, but failed miserably.  This request too, I had given up hope on, but after a very long wait, Micheal signed these two cards for me via the Seahawks.

G/GS  172/153      TAC  1125     SAC 43.0      FUM  22
INT 2       YDS 17        AVG  8.5     TD  0       LG  10