Tag Archives: ttm autograph

NFL

Francis, Russ ‘All-World Tight End’ (1953-2023)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #104

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3 RECEIVED: 3/23 (59 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Russ Francis was a three year starter at TE for the Oregon Ducks.
  • It was really in his Junior year in 1974 he put up some outstanding numbers, catching 31 passes for 495 yards and 4 TDs.
  • A monster prospect, clocking in at 6’6″, 245, Russ not only had the hands, he had the size as well.
  • Russ was a slam dunk first round pick of the New England Patriots in 1975, taken 16th overall.
  • Russ chewed up the scenery his rookie year with the Pats, with 35 catches for 636 yards and 4 TDs.
  • In 1980, Russ had a career high 664 yards and 8 TDs on 41 receptions.
  • After the Patriots refused to give Russ a bonus for his Pro Bowl appearance, combined with how the team treated teammate Daryl Stingley after his paralization, Francis opted to retire.
  • Russ became a broadcaster briefly with ABC Sports, but after having a conversation with 49ers Bill Walsh, decided to come out of retirement in ’82.
  • Russ joined the ‘9ers, through a trade, just in time to help them build their dynasty, and helping the team win Super Bowl XIX in 1984.
  • He’d post a career high 44 receptions in 1985.
  • Russ played 7 games with the ‘9ers in 1987, before returning back to the Patriots.
  • He played one more year with New England in ’88, spending the entire ’89 campaign on IR, retiring soon thereafter.
  • Russ has had a robust life since retirement, participating in Wrestlemania II, dabbling in politics, hosting radio, and outdoor shows.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1976-’78
  • Polynesian Sports Hall of Fame (Contributor)
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1978)
  • Wrestlemania II

NOTES:

I really, really wanted Russ to be my first response of 2022, but he ended up responding a few months later. Still, a great response from Russ, who put a lot of inscriptions on the card. He also wrote a nice note saying that he, “Had a great time in Wrestlemania II!”

Russ has two nicknames. He was dubbed ‘All-Universe’ because he could do it all when he came into the NFL. His second, ‘All-World Tight End’ was given to him by Howard Cosell during a MNF contest.

I think Russ deserved this card as a legend, and a lot more credit than he gets. A prolific receiver during the dead ball era, if not for an injury and retiring suddenly, he easily could’ve topped out over 6k yards. Nothing to sneeze at when 5 seasons were during the infamous dead ball era.

Russ appears on the original Tecmo Super Bowl as a member of the San Fransisco 49ers. He is notable as he is the receiver for a play that can not be defended against that if you time the pass right, catches the ball on every throw, even under heavy blitz.

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EPITAPH:

10/1/23- Russ had recently completed the purchase of the Lake Placid Airways Scenic Tours Business. He was on in a single engine Cessna 177 Cardinal with the SVP of the Pilot’s Association, when the plane started experiencing engine trouble after take off. The plane was unable to return to the runway. -Francis was just 70 years old.

NFL

Robinson, Laurent

Panini Prestige 2012, #52
Panini Contenders 2012, #46
Topps 2012, #333

CARDS: Topps 2012, Playoff Contenders 2012, Panini Prestige 2012
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 11/29 RECEIVED: 12/8 (9 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played college ball at Illinois State University from 2003-06.
  • Set school single season records as a Junior catching 86 passes for 1465 yards and 12 TDs.
  • At the time of his departure from the school in 07, owned multiple career receiving records (192 catches, 3007 yards, and 29 receiving TDs).
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons
  • As a rookie caught 37 passes for 437 yards and a TD.
  • After a disappointing season in 2008, the Falcons traded Laurent to the St. Louis Rams for a 5th and 6th round pick.
  • In 2010 had 34 receptions for 344 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Signed with the Chargers for the 2011 season but was cut in camp.
  • Immediately picked up by the Cowboys and went on to notch career highs with 54 receptions for 858 receiving yards and 11 TDs.
  • Signed with the Jaguars in 2012 for a big payday, but injuries- primarily concussions ended his career.

NOTES:

Some great looking cards here of Laurent. I mean I guess he’s best remembered for his brief time in Dallas. One wonders how it would’ve turned out if he stayed put with the Cowboys.

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NFL, Pro Football HoF

Munchak, Mike ‘Munchie’ (2)

Pro Set 1990, #518
Action Packed All Madden Team 1990, #35

CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Action Packed All-Madden Team 1990
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o The Denver Broncos
SENT: 3/19/20 RECEIVED: 12/23/22 (1001 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2015, C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See also Mike Munchak ‘Munchie’
  • Served as the Titans head coach from 2011-13.
  • Posted a 22-26 record.
  • Worked as OL coach for the Steelers from 2014-18.
  • Finalist for the Broncos HC job in 2019 that ended up becoming the team’s OL coach.
  • Was not retained after Nathaniel Hackett was hired as head coach of the Broncos for the 2022 season.

NOTES:

Well I never expected to get this one back. After failing on Munchie back in 2015, I saw a few successes in early 2020 and packed 3 cards up and sent them out to him C/o the Broncos. There they languished in a mailbag I guess. I thought for sure I’d never see them again, but like a Christmas miracle, in tricked in a few successes from Munchie from his time with Denver, well after a year after he’d been let go. I held out a bit of hope and lo and behold these cards came back to me- but oh no, he didn’t sign my set need… Ah well, 2 of 3 ain’t bad.

So neither of these ended up being a set need. Curses! But they are still great cards. The Action Packed 1990 All Madden Team or AMAD for short came out at an odd time. I think it was for the 1990 AMAD team, but it wasn’t really seen in stores where I could get them until 1991. Still it bears an interesting transitionary phase hinting at Action Packed 1991 and ’92s looser left leaning canvas design. Also the image of Mike from this card was reused for Score 1990 as well- or the other way around depending on how you look at it.

I still think Mike has some gas in the tank to coach, and would make a great assistant coach/ OL coach for some team. I’d personally love to see him reunited with the city of H-Town.