Card: 1984 John Elway, Card #63

Team/Position: Denver Broncos / Quarterback

Cost: $8 for this terribly off-centered beauty.

1984 is one of the few years in the modern era that can compete with the big-boys of the 1950′s.  Marino and Elway alone keep the year amongst the greatest of all time.

With that said, I have no use for John Elway or any other Quarterback that refuses to abide by the rules of the NFL Draft –  I’m looking at you, Mr. Eli Manning.

Elway played his college ball at Stanford where despite never leading the Cardinal to a bowl game, Elway posted ridiculous numbers and was part of everyone’s favourite sports highlight: “The Band IS OUT ON THE FIELD!!”

What many tend to forget about John Elway was his brief stint in the New York-Penn League prior to his senior season.  Elway obviously had all of the tools that scouts dream of, but whether or not he could’ve achieved greatness we’ll never know.

The Yankees selected Elway in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft after the Royals had spent a selection on Elway in ’79.

From an ‘83 issue of Time Magazine:

How well Elway could play was a question, but how well he would be paid was not. The baseball “rights” to Elway belonged to the New York Yankees, who belong to George Steinbrenner, a free spender capable of buying a pennant and everything else on the shelf. And he seems loath to pay less than $1 million for anything. In six weeks of minor league baseball last summer, Class A ball in Oneonta, N.Y., Outfielder Elway batted .318. However, since Class A pitchers seldom throw a curve on purpose, there was naturally some uncertainty about whether Elway could ever be a major league baseball player, much less a star. Regarding his football skills, there is less doubt.

Elway eventually found himself a member of the Denver Broncos and would go on to lead DRIVES and DIVES.

Elway was the king of the comeback, and will be remembered more than any statistic, as such.  He holds the record for most game-winning or game-tying drives in the fourth-quarter with 47.

If you’re an Elway fan, you certainly have his Colorado Crush of the Arena Football League Jersey.  As the owner of the Crush, Elway’s pimpin’ out his jersey for the low-low-low price of 46.99.   Medium, Large and 2XL are sold out, so you’re out of luck unless you’re a size XL.

You can get pretty decent deals on Elway’s RC if you’re not picky — To me, it seems as though your best bet is an ungraded card in the PSA 7 range.

Card: 1984 Topps Football Card #280

Team/Position: Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts,  Oakland Raiders / Runningback

Cost: $5.00

For some reason, I feel that runningbacks of the 80′s definitely get lost in the wash. Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders went about destroying records at such a frequency that the Eric Dickersons and Marcus Allens of the world are all too often forgotten.  The 80′s was essentially, Walter Peyton or bust.

Eric Dickerson was absolutely amazing though, and his rookie card comes from one of the best football sets out there: 1984 Topps Football.

Dickerson’s one of the few men to ever rush for over 2000 yards and still holds the record for rushing yards in a single season with 2,105 yards which he accomplished in his second season.

In 1989, Dickerson became the fastest player to reach 10,000 yards, accomplishing the feat in only 91 games — Faster than Sanders (103 G), than Brown (98 G) and Emmitt and LT too (106 G).

Dickerson was a terrific back, and probably best known for making things look easier than a sorority girl.  Dickerson was just so incredibly fluid through the hole, and then accelerating through the second level.

I’m a fairly avid reader of FootballOutsiders where Dickerson’s name pops up in one of the most circulated fantasy football caveat:

A running back with 370 or more carries during the regular season will usually suffer either a major injury or a loss of effectiveness the following year, unless he is named Eric Dickerson

Dickerson eventually began to falter late in his career, but that was mainly due to contract disputes and general unhappiness.  Early in Dickerson’s career, he defied the odds by running the ball almost 400 times per year without losing a step — He WAS the Rams offense.

Eric Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Card: 1984 Topps Football Card #129

Team/Position: Miami Dolphins / Offensive Center

Cost: $5.00

When it comes to offensive linemen, induction into the Hall of Fame is almost always preceded by a lengthy NFL career.  Linemen almost always gather enough information or dirty tricks to balance the erosion of their athletic ability.

So when a player is inducted after only having played six years as a starter, you know that he’s very, very special.  This is the case with Stephenson who played his rookie and most of his second year as a special teamer before eventually taking over Center from an injured Mark Dennard in late 1981.

Stephenson was the perfect offensive center in just about every regard.  Stephenson was incredibly explosive off the ball which allowed him to beat defenders to the punch on a regular basis.  Stephenson had the uncanny ability to use his quickness and agility to beat the defender off the ball before using his strength and positioning to knock ‘em on their asses.

If you look at the rear of the card, you’ll learn that Dwight Stephenson bench pressed over 350lbs.  You’ll also learn that Dwight was apparently white, with man-tits, and liked wearing a bikini top, all while doing something that doesn’t even vaguely resemble a bench press.

Stephenson’s Dolphins lead the league in fewest sacks allowed from 1982 to 1987; a period during which Stephenson was voted All Pro every year but 1982.

For all of the Dolphins’ of the 80′s greatness, they never won a Superbowl.  Stephenson made it to two Super Bowls, but he and Marino fell short on both occasions.

A severe knee injury eventually ended Stephenson’s career after eight years.  His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998 is quite the testament to just how great Stephenson was as an offensive lineman.

Here’s my favourite exert from Stephenson’s Hall of Fame Chat Transcript:

kpaluso: Who was your favorite head coach?
Dwight Stephenson: I only had two: Shula and Bryant. Bryant had more of an affect on me as a person. He was influential in helping me to think and achieve goals. He helped me become a better person and player. As for Shula, he was very similar to Coach Bryant. He knows how to develop people so well.

Can you think of a better 1-2 combo?  Does anyone even come close now?  Pete Carroll and Bill Bellichick?  Woody Hayes and Tom Landry? Knute Rockne and George Halas?

By the way, 1984 Topps is the leader right now when it comes to the Best Football Set Ever.