Tag Archives: Washington Redskins

NFL

Ellard, Henry

sco94 ellardCard: Score 1994
Acquired: 2013, Trade via Sportscollectors.net
Failure: 2010, 2011, c/o The Jets

Henry Ellard is like many of the members of the Los Angeles Rams club of the late 80s that is a complete enigma to me when it comes to answering fanmail. Much like Kevin Greene, Greg Bell, and Flipper Anderson, there seems to be this unsaid code not to answer any autograph requests through the mail. While Ellard seems to boast the highest dismal answer rate between the 4, occasionally signing through whatever team he’s coaching with, I completely whiffed on him both in 2010 and 2011 via the Jets and Rams.

The Sportscollectors message board had a ‘free autographed cards’ deal where you give  your doubles out to needy fans in exchange for a future considerations, and since I was sitting on a small loot-splosion of them, it was time for me to hop in the pool. This allowed me to claim both Ellard- which I had direly wanted and another player. A pug ugly card, I definitely would have preferred to have gotten one of his earlier Pro Set or Action Packed entries signed instead of this Score ’94, but beggars can not be choosers.

A top flight receiver from Fresno State, Ellard, today, some 30 years later, still holds many of the school’s receiving records. His best year came in his Senior year when he posted 1495 yards and 15 TDs on 61 receptions. The 1983 draft was considered weak at the overall position however, and outside of Willie Gault going to the Bears, no other receiver was taken in round 1. The Rams grabbed future NFL rushing leader and record setter Eric Dickerson in round 1. Sweeping back around to their pick in round 2, they’d take Ellard off the board and plug him right into the lineup as the team’s punt returner. With Ferragamo and Kemp sharing most of the quarterbacking duties in the early years, it wasn’t until 1988, with the maturation of Jim Everett at quarterback, that Ellard broke the 1,000 yard plateau, but in the meantime he quickly cemented his status as a starter by his second season in 1984.   Ellard and the Rams were considered for a brief span the second best team in the NFL, but unfortunately that was always behind their sister team and city- The San Fransisco 49ers. He’d post a career and NFL high 1414 yards in 1988. It’d be the first of 4 1,000 yard seasons in a row for Henry, as the Rams climbed the ladder to the NFC championship game and then collapsed in 1991. Still Ellard along with Flipper Anderson provided a veritable deep threat to keep teams honest against the Rams rushing game. As the Rams fired Robinson after 1991, owner Georgia Frontiere brought in Chuck Knox to run the team. Coach Knox attempted to return the Rams back to a ground and pound offense. In his final season with the Rams in 1993, Ellard posted 945 yards on 61 catches and 2 touchdowns. Ellard was allowed to test the waters of free agency because the Rams felt at Henry’s age of 32, – that he was old and the team needed to go in another direction.

When former Rams offensive guru Norv Turner came calling, he knew what a bargain he was getting in the starting caliber ability of Henry Ellard. The Redskins plugged him right into the starting lineup and Ellard responded by rattling off 3 more consecutive 1,000 yard seasons catching passes from the likes of Heath Shuler, John Friesz, Gus Frerote, Jeff Hostetler, and Trent Green. He retired with the New England Patriots after the 1998 season and 16 seasons.

He has jumped into coaching, where he has remained since with stops with his Alma Mater- Fresno State, the St. Louis Rams, the New York Jets, and as of 2012 with the New Orleans Saints. Considered by many of the NFL’s elite defensive backs of that age to be one of the greatest receivers they ever faced, Ellard is long overdue for the recognition that he deserves.  He remains critically underrated by both the media and voters despite his career numbers and the respect he garnered from his peers.

G/Gs 228/199     Rec 814    Yds 13,777     Avg 16.9      Td 65      Lg 81t
Kr  19       Yds 364       Avg 19.2     Td 0       Lg  44
Pr  135    Yds 1627     Avg  11.3     Td  4      Lg  83t

 

NFL

Anderson, David “Dave” (3)

Card: Donruss Threads 2006
Acquired: 2012 Target Authentic Autograph Memorabilia
See Also: David Anderson, Dave Anderson (2)

After signing Derrick Mason, the Texans cut Anderson in 2011, but the Redskins snatched him up. In 4 games playing for the Redskins in a very similar offensive system under Gary Kubiak offensive apostle Kyle Shannahan, Dave logged 7 receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown.  (He’d record that TD in the team’s loss to the New England Patriots.) Currently he’s an unrestricted free agent, and there’s no word yet as to whether he will sign with the Texans for a 3rd time.

A very popular member of the Texans,  Dave seemed to embody the ‘everyman’ that everybody loves about the sport.  He worked his way into the lineup as a long shot to even make the roster and put his all into it, when the team needed him most in 2009. Dave prided himself on his blocking, but among his best attributes were his ability to sniff out a first down, and also his documented thrown to/reception ratio percentage- one of the highest in the league.

I had heard that he was looking into charitable activities already for after retirement or perhaps cashing in on his short lived fame with the string dance to hone his skills to become a color commentator. I got this autographed card ironically in another Target Memorabilia Package. I had sent this one, along with about 10 other cards of him for him to sign, but sadly he never got back to me, since he was probably overwhelmed with the other cards I sent him to sign for the rest of the team in 2010.

NFL

McCardell, Keenan “Thunder”

ud02 mccardellCards: Upper Deck MVP 2002, Upper Deck Black Diamond 2000 (2003/3000), Bowman 2007, Upper Deck Foundations 2003
Acquired: In Person 5/19, 610 Houston Fan Fest 2013

McCardell is one of the most successful 12th round draft choices in the history of the NFL (with apologies to Karl Mecklenburg). McCardell played for UNLV through 1990, a place that is not exactly a powerhouse school when it comes to football; However, Keenan has gone on to be probably the most prolific football player outside of Randall Cunningham to play for them.

The Redskins took a shot at McCardell in the 12th round of the 1991 draft. This draft was interesting as with the exception of Herman Moore, there were no clear cut starting caliber receivers. Many of these players were projects or one trick ponies. Among the other talent at the position to come off the board before Keenan included: Alvin Harper, Jeff Graham, Ernie Mills, Ed McCaffrey, Mike Pritchard, Randall Hill,Wesley Carroll, Jake Reed, and Johnny Walker. Really pretty much, any receiver was taken before pick 326, when Keenan got the call. McCardell spent the entire season on IR, but he was also buried on the depth chart behind Art Monk, Gary Clark, and Ricky Sanders. He didn’t play a down for the team and was cut after the season.

udblk00 mccardellKeenan was intent to start over, and the Browns made it happen. Back then the Browns weren’t so horrible, and with the transition from Bernie Kosar to Vinny Testaverde underway, McCardell saw his production under a slow but steady increase. Although he could not crack the starting lineup, Keenan’s numbers were not overlooked by other clubs, and after the 1995 season concluded, he signed a free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It’s with the Jaguars that Keenan is best remembered by fans, paired up with fellow receiver Jimmy Smith. It was also where he piled up numbers, and helped the franchise reach the pinnacle of its current history, culminating in the AFC Championship game in 1999. During Keenan’s time with the franchise catching passes primarily from Mark Brunell he racked up 499 receptions, 6393 yards, and 30 touchdowns.  In the meantime however the Jaguars had begun to slide and they fell into salary cap hell where Keenan was now viewed as expendable.

 

ud04 mccardellGoing down the road, he signed with the Buccaneers in 2002, just in time to help the team win its only Super Bowl. In the big game he snagged 2 touchdowns en route to a 47-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders. Returning in 2003, he had his final 1000+ yard season of his career, but bogged down in a contract dispute with the team after the season, he’d walk and sign with the San Diego Chargers in 2004. Off to a slow start not really worth mentioning, he’d post his best season with the Chargers the next year with 917 yards on 70 receptions and 9 touchdowns.

After another subpar 2006, McCardell was off to free agency again, signing with the Houston Texans in 2007. The Texans were hoping to capture some of that former magic that he had, and McCardell was looking to come back to his home city, but he’d be cut before the season began. Keenan ended up playing his final season where he started, with the Washington Redskins, retiring after the season.

 

bow07 mccardellI had targeted McCardell early when I heard he was going to be at Fan Fest this year. I gambled that he wouldn’t have that much of a demand because he was always sort of under the radar, – even though his statistics said otherwise. When I asked him about the tragic situation that is Jimmy Smith, he told me, “I don’t know. I don’t know. Things have to get better. Things have to get better.” Hopefully, both he and Jimmy will appear next year. After briefly dabbling in coaching, Keenan moved back to the Houston area, and has gotten into sports radio with 610.

I packed 4 cards of Keenan, but should have brought more, as I got them all signed in one shot when I met him. He loved the Black Diamond Upper Deck and Upper Deck card of him in his Tampa uniform, remarking that he’s only seen the Tampa card once before and keeps many of his own football cards at home. The Black Diamond and the Tampa Upper Deck cards were chosen because I wanted ones that looked good and had great design. The other 2 cards (Upper Deck MVP and the Bowman Houston Texans) were chosen because I felt that his best years were represented inmccardell Jacksonville, and also because I had to get one of him in his brief stay as a member of the Houston Texans, since it was his only one. Sure both of these cards are butt ugly, and I never will consider collecting these sets for the purpose of autographing, but for the sake of posterity it seemed fitting to frame those years of his career.

It’s probably just a matter of time now for Keenan before the Jaguars induct him into their “Ring of Honor”, as he remains a popular player among the Jaguar faithful. He may also be a decent seniors candidate for the Hall and outside of Fred Taylor has the most solid resume for it representing the Jags, but with such a logger jam at receiver being created by the ‘New Modern Era’ passing game, it may only be wishful thinking on my part. Still McCardell’s numbers are pretty good for a guy who was only a 12th round draft choice.

G/Gs  209/169    Rec 883    Yds  11373   Avg 12.9  Td 63   Lg 76t