Tag Archives: ttm football autographs

Arena, NFL

Kosar, Bernie

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, GameDay 1992, Score Hot Gun 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 7/19   Received: 7/27  (8 days)

Playing for the Miami Hurricanes with his unique side arm delivery, Bernie Kosar would have teams salivating to get him when he declared for the draft in 1985 with the Oilers, Browns, Bills and Vikings sending shockwaves through the draft board with their maneuvers. After getting wind that Kosar only wanted to play for the Browns, the Oilers traded away their spot to the Vikings, and then Kosar dropped the real bomb before the draft, by not filing the formal paperwork to declare. Everybody threatened to sue everyone in the ensuing melee, but in the end Kosar skipped around the draft and declared for the Supplemental draft that year where he was signed by the Cleveland Browns.

In Kosar’s rookie season, coming off the bench Bernie would help the team enter the playoffs with an 8-8 record and be immortalized in the original Tecmo Bowl. In 1986, playing full time the famously immobile quarterback would lead the team to a 12-4 record throwing a record 489 yards in a playoff game against the Jets, but losing in the championship game to the Broncos.  The 1987 season would present the same scenario, with a Pro Bowl nomination and a championship game loss to the Broncos again.  Despite injuries, Bernie would again take the Browns to a 3rd and final championship game appearance in 1988. After losing a squeaker in the playoffs to the Oilers in 1989, head coach Marty Schottenheimer would be fired, and the Browns would appoint Bud Carson head coach. Kosar would set another NFL record with 286 pass attempts without an interception between the 1990-1991 season but the team would collapse in 1991 to 3-13.


Under head coach Bill Belichick, the Browns would open up the coffers with the advent of free agency in 1993, signing University of Miami alum and quarterback Vinny Testaverde to compete against Kosar. Despite his popularity Bernie would be cut midway through the 1993 season.  The Dallas Cowboys quickly snapped up Kosar to fill in for an injured Troy Aikman where he won a Super Bowl title with the team after the season.

After his short stint in Dallas, Bernie would sign with the Miami Dolphins as Dan Marino‘s backup (after the departure of  Scott Mitchell to Detroit), retiring in 1996.  Since retirement,  Bernie has remained a popular personality in the Cleveland area. An avid golfer, Kosar was the owner of the Arena football franchise Cleveland Gladiators. Despite facing financial difficulties Kosar has remained steadfast, and was named as a consultant to the Cleveland Browns.  I was surprised to get Kosar’s autograph in such a short period of time. It had been rumored that he was charging a stiff autograph fee, but that proved to be untrue.

Kosar  is one of the select players in Tecmo Superbowl that is not identified by their name. Instead he is identified as “QB Browns” to avoid any legal issues. The only way that you know it is him is based on his abilities and the fact that he is white. Regarldess he is represented accurately in the game with great pass control but some awkward abilities but should have about 0 run speed.

G/Gs 126/108   Att  3365    Comp 1994    Yds 23301  Pct 59.3   Td  124   Int 87   Rat 81.8 |
Rush 180    Yds  265   Avg  1.5    Td 5   Lg 23

NFL

Johnson, Anthony

Cards: Score Supplemental 1990, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990, Athletes in Action
Acquired: TTM C/o home, 2011
Sent: 5/26   Received: 6/6  (11 days)

During the Lou Holtz era at Notre Dame, the team during the late 80s and early 90s always seemed to get their backs drafted, in a list that included: Mark Green, Ricky Watters, Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Reggie Brooks and Jerome Bettis.

Anthony Johnson would also be drafted as well by the Indianapolis Colts during the second round of the 1990 draft to go with a new offensive talent  in Jeff George, Stacey Simmons,  and Ken Clark. While his rookie season would be fairly non-existent, in 1991 Johnson would demonstrate his effectiveness as a fullback, blocker and receiver out of the backfield for the Colts registering 42 catches. After the departure of Eric Dickerson in 1992, Anthony would rush for 552 yards and make 49 receptions for 517 yards. In 1993, he’d chip in another 300 sub yard season rushing and almost 450 yards receiving, and then sign in 1994 with the Jets. After a quiet 1994, Johnson would be signed by the Chicago Bears in 1995, but play in only 8 games before being cut and picked up by the expansion Carolina Panthers.  He’d resign with the Panthers in 1996 and rejuvenate his career totalling his first 1000 yard season rushing after 6 seasons.  He’d also be the franchise’s first 1000 yard rusher in the second season of the Panthers existence. Johnson would return to the bench in 1997, but remain on the roster of the Panthers through 1999, and then play one final season with the Jaguars in 2000.

Since retirement Johnson has served the Lord, and at last check had been working as a chaplain for the Jaguars. He signed these three cards in a little over 10 days for me via his home address in Jacksonville and even included one of his Athletes in Action cards. I really liked his Action Packed Rookies and Score Supplemental cards, and was really happy to put these into the books even though Johnson has a surprisingly humble autograph. He signed his full autograph on the Action Packed card, and then only AJ for the remainder of them. In addition he penned all of them with “Jesus” following the autograph.

G/Gs   159/50     Rush 815      Yds 2996     Avg  3.6    Td  9      Lg 29    |     Rec  284       Yds 2422      Avg 8.5       Td  7      Lg 57t