Tag Archives: action packed rookies 1990

NFL

Thomas, Blair

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 4/22     Received:  8/6  (106 days)

Blair Thomas is from a long line of Penn State runningbacks: Franco Harris, Curt Warner, and Lenny Moore. He’s also part of a long line of, some would say… cursed Penn State runningbacks: DJ Dozier, Curtis Enis, and Ki-Jana Carter.

Thomas was a great runner for the Nittany Lions. He would finish second all time behind Curt Warner in school history, breaking the 1400 yard barrier rushing twice in his career and earning All American Honors in 1987 and 1989. A cut back runner, Thomas was best suited for a zone blocking system.

The Jets under Bruce Coslet drafted Thomas with the 2nd overall pick of the 1990 draft just after Jeff George. As the highest rated RB off the board, he’d be most notably taken ahead of future Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Thomas had a respectable season where he led the AFC rookies in total yards (824 yards),  NFL rookies in yards per carry (5.0),  and dash 55 yards on a reception for a touchdown during his rookie year.  After the season he’d be immortalized favorably in Tecmo Super Bowl. In 1991 Blair started 12 games, and rushed for a career high 720 yards, but his yards per carry would drop substantially to a 3.9 average. Injuries began to catch up to Thomas by this time, and after only starting 7 games in 1992 and 5 in 1993, he would be let go by the Jets in 1994.  Thomas would head over to the Patriots for 4 games, then to the Cowboys for an additional 2.  In 1995, he’d play one final year for the inaugural season of the Carolina Panthers, retiring after the season.

Blair has maintained his football ties since retirement. He has coached running backs at Temple University, and worked for Football University- travelling to Barrow, Alaska to help the town set up its football program.

G/Gs     64/26   Att 533   Yds 2236  Avg 4.2   Td  7   Lg 41t   |
Rec  71    Yds  513   Avg 8.0    Td  2    Lg  55t

NFL

Johnson, Anthony

Cards: Score Supplemental 1990, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990, Athletes in Action
Acquired: TTM C/o home, 2011
Sent: 5/26   Received: 6/6  (11 days)

During the Lou Holtz era at Notre Dame, the team during the late 80s and early 90s always seemed to get their backs drafted, in a list that included: Mark Green, Ricky Watters, Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Reggie Brooks and Jerome Bettis.

Anthony Johnson would also be drafted as well by the Indianapolis Colts during the second round of the 1990 draft to go with a new offensive talent  in Jeff George, Stacey Simmons,  and Ken Clark. While his rookie season would be fairly non-existent, in 1991 Johnson would demonstrate his effectiveness as a fullback, blocker and receiver out of the backfield for the Colts registering 42 catches. After the departure of Eric Dickerson in 1992, Anthony would rush for 552 yards and make 49 receptions for 517 yards. In 1993, he’d chip in another 300 sub yard season rushing and almost 450 yards receiving, and then sign in 1994 with the Jets. After a quiet 1994, Johnson would be signed by the Chicago Bears in 1995, but play in only 8 games before being cut and picked up by the expansion Carolina Panthers.  He’d resign with the Panthers in 1996 and rejuvenate his career totalling his first 1000 yard season rushing after 6 seasons.  He’d also be the franchise’s first 1000 yard rusher in the second season of the Panthers existence. Johnson would return to the bench in 1997, but remain on the roster of the Panthers through 1999, and then play one final season with the Jaguars in 2000.

Since retirement Johnson has served the Lord, and at last check had been working as a chaplain for the Jaguars. He signed these three cards in a little over 10 days for me via his home address in Jacksonville and even included one of his Athletes in Action cards. I really liked his Action Packed Rookies and Score Supplemental cards, and was really happy to put these into the books even though Johnson has a surprisingly humble autograph. He signed his full autograph on the Action Packed card, and then only AJ for the remainder of them. In addition he penned all of them with “Jesus” following the autograph.

G/Gs   159/50     Rush 815      Yds 2996     Avg  3.6    Td  9      Lg 29    |     Rec  284       Yds 2422      Avg 8.5       Td  7      Lg 57t

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Simmons, Stacey

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Orlando Thunder
See Also: Stacey Simmons (2)

Drafted in the 4th round of the 1990 draft by Indianapolis, Stacey Simmons was a long bomb threat and return man for the Florida Gators. He’d spend one season with the Colts, starting 1 game, making 3 receptions for 25 yards against the Chiefs in in week 5 and 1 catch for 8 yards against the Giants that year.  Contributing primarily on special teams, Stacey had 19 kick returns for 348 yards, but would fail to make the roster of the Colts in 1991.

Signed by the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF in 1992, Stacey would make 6 catches for 55 yards for the Thunder.   While I was scanning through the player rosters I missed Stacey on my original run through that season. Being the obsessive compulsive geek I was, it drove me nuts enough that I wrote the Thunder for his autograph. The Thunder kindly forwarded my card to the 49ers, whom he had recently signed with, and he signed my card there. Simmons would continue to play football in the Arena leagues for the Tampa Bay Storm, winning 2 championships with them.

Since football Simmons has become a shrewd businessman opening up his own training facility in Florida that specializes in boot camps for many sports, conditioning, and speed. (staceysimmons.com).

G  N/a       Rec  6     Yds   55      Avg   9.2      Td 0      Lg  15