CARDS: Gameday 1992, Pacific 1991 ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home SENT: RECEIVED: 9/16/23 FAILURE: TTM 2023, C/o Home
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Played college football for Maryland but was not selected in the 1981 NFL Draft.
He’d join the Seahawks as a free agent, primarily used on special teams and as a blocking TE.
Over the next 8 seasons, became a seldom used fan favorite.
After a one year stint in Washington (’89), returned to Seattle for the next two years.
Played for the Vikings in 1992-’93, and a final season in ’95.
Moved into coaching almost immediately as a positional coach for the Vikings in ’96.
Named the Vikings’ interim head coach in 2001.
Officially retained as head coach in 2002 and remained head coach through the 2006 season.
Team reached the pinnacle of offensive production setting modern NFL records for total yards in 2003, after leading the NFL in offensive yards in 2002.
Wasn’t retained following the 2005 season.
Has served a variety of assistant coach and positional coaching jobs with the Jaguars (2006-09), Bears (2010-12), Falcons (2014), and Raiders (2015-17).
Pacific 1991, #488
NOTES:
I thought Mike might make a good fit for the XFL, but he seems content to stay semi-retired. I needed Mike for the Gameday 1992 set, but I figured I might as well toss in the Pacific card, since it was from his Seattle days. A good signer TTM, he had moved and my cards were RTS but I got the golden forwarding address.
Mike must have a great personality as he seemed beloved in both Seattle and Minnesota.
Played WR for the University of Utah from 1993-’97.
Caught 192 passes for 2,726 yards and 18 touchdowns.
First round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 1998.
Caught 21 passes for 263 yards and 2 TDs his rookie season.
Had a career high 54 catches in 1999.
Caught the lateral from Frank Wycheck in the Music City Miracle.
Then was stopped one yard short of the goal line in the closing moments of Super Bowl XXIV.
After an injury in 2000 limited him to two games, returned to form in 2001 and tied his career high with 54 receptions, along with 825 yards and 7 TDs.
Joined the Panthers in 2003, but spent most of the season on IR.
Spent the off season with the Chargers (’04) and Redskins (’05).
Went back to school, obtaining his doctorate, spending time in coaching, and education.
SP 2001, #85
NOTES:
Every once in a while I’m just surprised by an older card set I’ve discovered. Case in point- SP 2001. Simple, elegant, lots of space to work with.. it’s just great design, and the landscape format helps make autographs pop and look more cinematic.
Ben Davidson stood out from the crowd (6’8″, 270) and was scouted in JC to come play football at Washington in 1959.
Amazingly, Ben didn’t really display an appetite before then for the sport, mainly enjoying basketball and track.
He played DT and TE for the Huskies in 59 and 60.
Was a 4th round pick of the New York Giants in 61, but was traded to the Packers before the season began.
In 1962, Davidson was traded again- this time to the Washington Redskins for a 5th rounder.
After a two year stint there, he’d be cut and joined the Oakland Raiders.
The rest would become history as Davidson etched himself in the annuls of NFL history as one of the league’s most feared and dominant defensive players at right defensive end.
1970 was arguably his best year, when he posted 11.5 sacks.
After the 1972 season, Ben briefly retired and began to dabble in acting.
Returned to football in 1974 for a final season with the Portland Storm of the WFL.
ACCOLADES:
Pro Bowl 1966-’68
All-Pro 1967
NOTES:
You…
– Ben Davidson (as Rexar) Conan the Barbarian
Ben Davidson didn’t have very many impactful or quotable lines in movies, but this by far, was one of the best of the entire film, Conan the Barbarian. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as the titular Conan- a barbarian bent on learning the Riddle of Steel, while consumed by lifelong revenge for the murder of his people.
During this scene Conan wrecks havoc on an orgy of evil people and just as he reaches the top of the amphitheater and begins his assault Rexar, played by Ben comes in and sees Conan. Instead of screaming, “YOU!”, He softly states…, “You..” Which just had so much impact when combined with Arnold’s powerful flex with the sword right afterwards. It’s an extremely effective scene.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/a
64.5
2
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
* Note that all stats were not tracked by the NFL during Hendrick’s playing era.
EPITAPH: Ben passed away of prostate cancer in 2012 at the age of 72.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
