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Randall Cunningham auctions gear

NFL, Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA -- Former All-Pro quarterback Randall Cunningham is auctioning off most of his memorabilia -- including his three Burt Bell MVP awards -- to help raise funds for a church in Las Vegas where he serves as a pastor.

Cunningham is ridding himself of just about every game-used jersey, helmet and trophy accumulated over a 16-year career spent mostly with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cunningham hoped to put a portion of the proceeds toward the $6.2 million needed for renovations at Remnant Ministries that should help youth in the Las Vegas area.

"The kids in Vegas can really go to the next level and become kids who are effective in the community," Cunningham told The Associated Press by phone.

Cunningham's items, which will be sold by Hunt Auctions, include his Bert Bell Most Valuable Player Awards for 1988, 1990 and 1998 -- estimated at $10,000 to $20,000 each. There are also jerseys from the 1980s and 1990s estimated at $1,000 to $5,000 each, and 1992 game-used jerseys from former Eagles teammate Reggie White estimated at $10,000 to $20,000 each.

The memorabilia will serve as the flagship collection for the Super Live Auction in Arizona. The preview exhibition starts Saturday and runs through Feb. 1 at the NFL Experience at the Phoenix Convention Center, allowing fans to peruse Cunningham's collection along with over 500 other football pieces available.

The live auction begins Jan. 31.

While many former athletes put their goods on the auction block because they've hit financial woes, Cunningham said he was shedding his trophy case for the greater good of the community.

"I was told, 'Don't forget where you came from,'" he said. "For a while, I didn't understand what that meant. I thought that meant, remember you're from Santa Barbara, California. But realistically what it meant was, remember the people who poured into you and gave to you, so you can go back and help them."

He hopes to raise $1 million through the auction and said another $2 million has already been donated to the project that should bump the church from 17,500 square feet to 40,000. He planned to add everything from a basketball gym and a weight room to classrooms and computers.

Cunningham, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who threw for 29,979 yards and 207 touchdowns and rushed for another 4,929 yards during his career, also played for Minnesota, Dallas and Baltimore.

He retired in 2002 as the career leader in rushing yards among NFL quarterbacks. The Eagles in 2009 added him to the team's honor roll. In his 11-year Eagles career, Cunningham threw for 22,877 yards and 150 touchdowns, and rushed for 4,482 yards and 32 touchdowns.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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