Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL

Barnett, Oliver

aprks90 barnettCard: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 8/6        Received: 8/15   (9 days)

Jerry Glanville drafted Barnett in the third round of the 1990 draft. The defensive lineman had experience playing across the line but it looked like Glanville penciled him in at defensive end.  A physical specimen and gym rat, Barnett set the Kentucky Wildcats combined weightlifting record (850 squatting) with 1,685 lbs. He finished his career at Kentucky with 212 solo tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and a school record 26 sacks- which was not bested until 2015.

Glanville was hot out of Houston, and after orchestrating the Jeff George trade that netted him Chris Hinton and Andre Rison, and a few first round choices, the Falcons developed in a hurry.  Barnett was a depth play by the team, as you could never have enough fresh bodies playing on the line in a 3-4 set up.  Barnett was an enigma to scouts because they felt that he never completely played up to his potential.

Oliver had a serviceable and respectable career in the NFL.  His best season arguably came in 1991, when he recorded 47 tackles, 1 sack, and recovered a fumble that he returned for 75 yards for a TD.  In 1992 he started a career high 7 games recording 54 tackles. In 1993, Barnett signed with the Bills, playing 2 seasons for Buffalo, before finishing out his career in 1996 with the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2013, Barnett was inducted into the Kentucky Wildcat Hall of Fame.

G/Gs  85/18     Tac 177    Sac 5.0      Fum  1
Int   0    Yds 0     Avg -.-    Td 0

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Archer, David (2)

ultwlaf92 surgeCards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1992 team card
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 5/23    Received: 8/8  (78 days)
See also: David Archer

I was kicking myself after getting David Archer’s autograph on some cards a few years ago. I realized that I didn’t get his Ultimate WLAF Sacramento Surge card signed. My general rule of thumb is to wait a few years before and if I contact a player again. I just feel like it is appropriate not to spam players with requests, so I put myself in my self-imposed penalty box and waited on this one. I sweated it out for a while but after a 3+ month wait he signed these two cards for me.

ultwlaf92 archerUltimate and ProSet went head to head during year two of the WLAF, with Wild Card showing up near the end. None of them found traction in the market, and today they are easily found in the secondary market. While ProSet focused on year one players, Ultimate was peppered with rookies and new names giving a nice blend to go along with ProSet. Wild Card showed up at the tail end of the 1992 season or had a weaker distribution network, so for autograph purposes it was completely out of the mix.

Archer was the quintessential journeyman quarterback, or one of the greatest third string QBs you’d ever seen. He played for no less than 7 teams during a 14 season football career spanning the NFL, WLAF, and CFL. He won World Bowl II with the Sacramento Surge in 1992, and later lost in the playoffs to the Jeff Garcia led Calgary Stampeders in his final game with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1998.

He still does radio today for the ACC in Atlanta and hosts an afternoon radio show.

NFL

Kunz, George

Card: Notre Dame Collegiate Collection 1990, Topps 1977
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012

One of the best offensive linemen to be produced during this period, George Kunz was an All American at Notre Dame before being drafted with the second overall pick of the 1969 draft. Co-captain of the 1968 Irish team, Kunz struggled through injuries his first two years for the Golden Domers, before finally finding him niche on the offensive line at Tackle. He quickly established himself in the upper echelon of linemen in the NFL, playing for the Falcons from 1969-1974. After the 1974 season, George was traded with a draft choice to the Baltimore Colts for 2 picks in the 1975 draft. He amassed 5 AP selections and appeared in 6 Pro Bowls for the Falcons. He continued earning Pro Bowl and All Pro nominations with the Colts, from 1975-1977. A back injury limited his playing time to only 1 game in 1978 and 1979, but he returned for one final season in 1980 before he finally retired. Over 11 seasons in the NFL George Kunz appeared in 129 games.

Based in part because Kunz played for some very, very bad Falcons teams, along with guys like Tommy Nobis, he’s been largely ignored by the NFL HoF selection committee. It also doesn’t help that he played at the unglamorous position of offensive tackle. George has lived in Nevada for quite a few years since retirement from the limelight, dabbling briefly in coaching and color commentary for NBC. He is an avid TTM signer and boasts a remarkable response rate for the amount of cards he signs.

G/Gs  129/126