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.
Mike Curtis played college ball at Duke from 1962-’64.
He’d go on to establish himself as one of the greatest athletes in Duke history, playing both LB and FB.
#1 pick of the Baltimore Colts in 1965 who planned to use him exclusively at FB.
Was also selected in the 3rd round of the 1965 AFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Made the transition to MLB in 1966 and the rest became history.
Played alongside ‘The Mad Stork’ Ted Hendricks, as the team lost Super Bowl III and won Super Bowl V.
Played for Colts from 1965-’75.
Joined the expansion Seahawks for ’76, eventually finishing career after the ’77 and ’78 seasons with the Redskins.
Started 125 of 166 contests over career.
ACCOLADES:
Duke Hall of Fame
All-Pro 1968, ’69
Pro Bowl 1968, 1970-’71, ’74
Colts MVP 1974
AFC Defensive Player of the Year 1970
NOTES:
Mike Curtis was one of these sweeping cheap Ebay pickups I did at the beginning of 2020. As a not really big name, I waited this one out- and then promptly forgot to scan the card in when I got it, so it waited in limbo for a while before I tracked it down.
I could make an argument for Mike Curtis to be in the HoF, but I doubt he will ever get in, as defensive statistics weren’t well tracked or considered spectacular at the time. He was an absolute terror patrolling the middle of the field and was extremely effective covering the pass for a LB.
EPITAPH:
4/20/20- Mike Curtis passed away from CTE in St. Petersburg, FL at the age of 77.
Briefly was on the off-season roster of the Browns that year.
Joined the Arena Football League in 1993, playing for the Thunderbolts through ’94, when the team folded.
Played for the Tampa Bay Storm from 95-98′.
Traded to the Iowa Barnstormers in ’98.
Played one final season in the Arena leagues for the Orlando Predators in 1999.
ACCOLADES:
1996 Arena Defensive Lineman of the Year
Arena Football League All-Star 1993
All-Arena 1995-’96
NOTES:
After I saw Kent’s autograph pop up on EBay, I started researching his address and was pretty confident I found a circumstantial fit near Omaha. I shot this request out shortly after and waited, and albeit a bit later than I figured, I got a hit. For only having one card, Kent Wells’ Wild Card World League card is an absolute winner.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/a
3.0
0
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
WL
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
66
13.0
1
0
0
-.-
0
-.-
ARENA
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