Tag Archives: ttm football autograph

NFL

Warner, Curt

Cards: Action Packed 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Work
Sent: 12/31 Received: 1/13 (14 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Work. TTM 2017, C/o Home.

I think the first time I really heard of Curt Warner was when I picked up the original copy of Tecmo Bowl on the Nintendo Entertainment System. It took me a little bit to get used to it but I really liked playing the Seattle team as I relied heavily on the run with Curt Warner. I’d add a ProSet 1989 card and his Starting Lineup figurine to my collection soon enough. Despite the fact that he was in the downward phase of his career at that point- Curt was my favorite player on the Seahawks so I was really surprised when they left him unprotected for 1989.

Curt Warner played for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1979 to 1982. There he became a legendary runningback for the school running for over 900 yards in 3 consecutive years. He’d finish ranked first on Penn State’s all time rushing list with 3,398 yards, and a bevvy of school records.

The 1983 NFL Draft was considered by many to be one of the best in league history. After John Elway and Eric Dickerson went off the board 1 and 2 respectively, the Seattle Seahawks selected Curt with the 3rd overall pick. Curt would become the bell cow of rookie head coach Chuck Knox’s ‘Ground Chuck’ attack.

An electric player out of the backfield, Curt could do it all for the Seahawks, running, catching or blocking. He led the AFC in rushing with 335 carries for 1449 yards and 13 TDs on the ground, He also caught 42 receptions for 325 yards and a TD. The Seahawks became legitimate contenders when Warner was in the backfield, and if not for Eric Dickerson, Warner probably would’ve won rookie of the year in 1983. As it stands he settled for his first of 3 Pro Bowl appearances.

After a gruesome knee injury in the opening game of 1984 ended his season, Curt rebounded in 85 with another 1,000 yard season. He’d have the best season of his career in 1986, returning to Pro Bowl form when he rushed for 1481 yards on 319 carries (13 TD)- averaging 92.6 yards per game. Warner earned his final Pro Bowl nomination in the strike shortened 87 campaign, with 985 yards in 12 contests. While he’d still cross the 1,000 yard barrier in 1988, Warner’s production began to slow down.

He’d sign as a free agent in 1990 with the Los Angeles Rams, expected to replace newly departed RB Greg Bell in the lineup. Things looked good initially as Curt scored the first TD of the Rams 1990 season, but it was pretty much downhill from there. After the Rams stumbled to a 2-5 record, they decided to lean on young backs Gaston Green, Cleveland Gary, and the reborn Marcus Dupree. Curt was unceremoniously cut rushing for 139 yards on 49 carries for LA. It was a quiet end to a quick and prolific NFL career.

Curt was inducted into the Seahawks Ring of Honor in 1994. He’s done some coaching and in the founder of an autism foundation. In 2018 he popped up onto my radar thanks to my hobby friend Deadhorse, who found that Curt was now an insurance agent. I had burned through all my cards for him in my previous attempts- so I opted to nab this Action Packed card to go along with the Rams card I had wanted for so long to be signed.

I had tried previously in the past to get Curt, but admittedly he is as elusive as he was in his playing career. He has two twin boys that have autism which understandably has been quite a handful. He and his wife have written an inspiring book about their experiences called “The Warner Boys”- Our Family’s Story of Autism and Hope.

Great cards here of Curt. It was really tough to choose between any of his modern NFL cards from Score, ProSet, and Action Packed- but in the end I settled on these two. The Rams card was a set need, and is the only card during a game in the uniform. It’s a great looking card. Too bad his career didn’t work out in LA. His Seahawks card shows Curt in all his imposing glory and it was a tough choice between that and his Score 89 card.

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NFL

Dickey, Lynn

Cards: Topps 1975, Topps 1983,  Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent: 11/2   Received: 11/14     (12 days)

Lynn Dickey played college ball for his home state Kansas State Wildcats from 1968 to 1970.  In 1969 he posted 2476 yards on 196 of 372 passing, throwing for 14 TDs to 19 interceptions.  Although he had what many consider a down season in 1970, Dickey placed 10th in Heisman voting. He finished his career with the Wildcats going 501 of 994 in passing for 6208 yards, 29 TDs to 64 interceptions.  Dickey was selected in the 3rd round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. 

Under head coach Ed Hughes, the Oilers expected Dickey to compete for the starting QB job against first round pick Dan Pastorini. Over the next 5 injury plagued seasons, Dickey frustratingly started 10 games going 2-7-1 as starter for the moribund Oilers, throwing for 8 TDs to 28 interceptions- during the heyday of the Dead Ball Era.  He’d be traded by Houston to Green Bay in exchange for John Hadl.

Although snakebitten by injuries, Lynn managed to start 101 games over the next 10 seasons for the Packers. His best season came in 1983 when he posted an 8-8 record for Green Bay, and led the NFL with 4458 passing yards and 32 TDs.   He’d also manage to eclipse 3,000 yards passing 2 other times in his career in 1980 (3529 yards) and in 1984 (3195 yards).  Dickey during his underrated career in Green Bay set numerous single game and season passing records (that have been eclipsed by the likes primarily of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers-) earning him a card in the Upper Deck Legends 1997 set and prompting a, “Really?”, From me.

After retiring Lynn has had his number retired by the Wildcats, and is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame. A prolific TTM signer, Lynn autographed these 3 cards for me in no time flat. 

Both the 1983 Topps and the Upper Deck Legends card are epic cards of Dickey in his prime, but the Topps 75 card was sort of a throw in since I love my Houston Oilers. Lynn has a strong autograph that really matches the canvas well.

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AAF, NFL

Coyle, Kevin

Cards: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home. EBay 2019
Sent: 7/3 Received: 7/11 (8 days)

Kevin Coyle has a long coaching resume, and is a well respected and decorated players coach . His coaching story begins in 1978 with the Bearcats of Cincinnati. He’d then embark on a series of stops through the 1980s beginning with the US Merchant Marines (1981), and Holy Cross (1982-1990). Carving out his reputation as a defensive coordinator, he’d then jump up to the challenge with Syracuse (1991-1993), Maryland (1994-1996) and Fresno State (1997-2000).

In 2001, Kevin ascended to the NFL ranks and became cornerbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, eventually being promoted to defensive backs coach in 2003- a position he held through 2011. From 2012 to 2015, Coyle was the Dolphins defensive coordinator, before returning back to the Bengals for 2016 and 2017 as their defensive backs coach again. He spent 2018 working for LSU as a defensive analyst and then decided to be the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Legends from the fledgling Alliance of American Football.

Early in 2019, he’d be named the head coach of the Legends when Brad Childress resigned. Coyle had to make some tough decisions, so the last problem he needed to deal with multiple coaching changes throughout the season. Despite the bad luck that seemed to chase the Legends, the team finished 2-5 and had the #1 rated defense in the league.

So I opened up the mailbox and inside was a package for me from Coach Coyle himself. When I unsealed the oversized envelope, I found a nice handwritten letter on LSU stationery, my card (signed) and two hats- a purple one signed by him, and the second, a white game worn hat. Coach Coyle’s letter was touching and personal. We talked about my father, and Coach’s passion for the players in the AAF. He too was mightily disappointed in how it all ended. Coach wished me well, thanked me for the extra card that he hadn’t seen yet, and let me know that he had landed on his feet back at LSU as a ‘game analyst’. This response ranks up there as one of my favorite TTM of all-time.

That evening when I was on cloud nine about Coach’s response to me, I found a certified autograph of his from the AAF set for just 5.99. I was elated to add it to the collection- as coaching cards from the set typically ask anywhere from 15-50 dollars. Afterwards the company that I fleeced this card from jacked up their remaining inventory of other player cards to a minimum of 9.99.