CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Fleer 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Work SENT: 12/26 RECEIVED: 1/6/24 (11 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Anthony Toney played from 1984-’85 for the Texas A&M Aggies at RB.
He saw action in 20 contests posting 271 carries for 1238 yards, 18 TDs, and 9 receptions for 68 yards.
The Eagles selected Toney in the second round of the 1986 Draft to compliment first round pick Keith Byars.
He’d be put into the lineup as a FB, where he’d be in a pretty heavy rotation rushing and catching the ball out of the backfield over 5 seasons.
1987 was perhaps his best season, when he carried the rock 127 times for 473 yards and 5 TDs.
He’d also post a career high 39 receptions for 341 yards and have 814 yards from scrimmage.
Had a career high 582 yards rushing in 1989.
Cut after the 1991 preseason and retired soon thereafter due to hamstring issues.
Recognized for contributions to the Boys & Girls Club of Salinas, Ca.
NOTES:
For a while there Texas A&M was quite the RB and FB factory. Anthony, Roger Vick,Johnny Hector, Keith Woodside, Robert Wilson, and Darren Lewis all ended up playing in the NFL during a 10 year period there.
Shout out to my TTM friend Chris, who got Toney first and hit me up with Toney’s address. Anthony is not a heavy signer through the mail, so I consider his response to be quite a coup. Both his cards here come in as set needs, and they are both really great photos of him in action. He was also kind enough to inscribe Best Wishes and All My Best on his two cards.
CARDS: Score 1990, Fleer 1990 Update, Pro Set 1990 ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home SENT: 3/23 RECEIVED: 4/5 (13 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Big LB Fred Strickland played 3 years at Purdue where he had a motor for the ball, leading the team in tackles for 3 straight years (1985-’87).
A second round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in 1988.
It took him a season but by ’89, Strickland was a starter for the team at Middle Linebacker.
Loving his skillset and versatility, the Rams created a new defensive hybrid position for Strickland that was a combination between nosetackle and middle linebacker.
Injuries quickly caught up with Fred, and that combined with a coaching change in ’92 and being passed up by Larry Kelm on the depth chart, led to his departure in 1993.
Fred’s career was rejuvenated with the Minnesota Vikings, where at weakside LB he posted 137 tackles and 4 fumble recoveries.
Taking advantage of his bargaining position, and the Packers need at LB, Fred joined Green Bay that season.
He spent the 1994 and 1995 season with the team providing solid play.
A force in the middle, Fred posted 103 combined tackles in ’96, 95 in ’97, and 81 in 1998.
Strickland entered the twilight of his career in 1999 playing for the Redskins.
He’d be a backup for the team that season, and retire before the start of the 2000 season.
NOTES:
Fred had a somewhat rocky start, but after leaving the Rams and finding his sea legs, he really showed the versatility that defensive coaches prized. In addition his ability to come in and start in a pinch and then pull down 90 plus tackles on stacked defenses really can not be understated. His Fleer 1990 card you can really see his showcased size that allowed him to hybridize out from linebacker to nose.
