Card: Panini Contenders 2000 European Ticket Acquired: 2021, Future Considerations
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Jim Kubiak was a traditional dropback passer who played for Navy from 1991 to 1994.
Over 4 years he threw for 6008 yards (558/969) and 23 TDs.
His career yardage and completion totals represented a school record.
Commitments to the Navy prevented him from playing immediately out of college.
As a member of the NFL, he was an off-season member of the Panthers (96), Colts (98-99), Jets (00), and Colts again (03).
Jim garnered extensive experience from his time in the World League playing for the Dragons (99) and Admirals (00).
Threw for 7 TDs and 2 INT for the Dragons in 99, and 4 TDs and 817 yards in 2000 for Amsterdam.
Over the next 5 years, Kubiak honed his skills in the Arena Football League, playing for the Buffalo Destroyers (01-02), Dallas Desperados (03), Detroit Fury (04), and Georgia Force (05).
Best year in the AFL came in ’03 with the Desperados, throwing for 4762 yards, 97TDs/17 Int, on 388 of 557 passing.
Spent the entire 2004 season on IR with the Fury.
Retired after blowing out his knee early in the 2005 season with the Georgia Force, but worked in their front office in both 06 and 07.
After a few college stops, also worked with the Soul (05) and the Force (08-12) as their OC.
NFLE
ATT
CPD
YDS
PCT
TD
INT
RAT
231
124
1370
58.2
11
7
80.9
AFL
ATT
CPD
YDS
PCT
TD
INT
RAT
1242
788
9985
63.4
189
36
114.4
ACCOLADES:
2nd Team All Arena 2003
NOTES:
Jim Kubiak is not related to Gary Kubiak. Kubiak spent time working as a color man for a few years in Buffalo for the Bills. Currently he is a director of the WNY QB Academy.
Card: Ultimate World League 1991 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Prison Sent: 5/9 Received: 5/18 (9 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Eric Naposki played college football at UConn where he excelled as a hard hitting outside linebacker.
In 1988, as a street free agent, he literally slipped onto the Patriots, by sneaking a number from a registration table, getting a tryout and then later making the final cuts.
Appeared on special teams in 3 games, but injuries derailed his career from continuing forward.
Eric went on to sign with the Colts Cowboys and the Jets, but did not see significant playing time.
Experienced his greatest success after joining the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football in 1991.
In his first season with the team, Naposki recorded 51 total tackles, an interception for a TD, 2 forced fumbles, and 7 sacks.
Was arguably one of the most popular players on the team and even had his own fan club thanks in part to his Spanish fluency.
Upon returning stateside injuries again prevented him from moving forward, although he was in camp with the Washington Redskins.
Returned to the Dragons in 1992 but the league reorganized after the season.
Retired later that year after injuries continued to dog him, this time in camp with the Seattle Seahawks.
After a few years off, Naposki returned to the Dragons in 1996, winning World Bowl 97.
TAC
SAC
FUM
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
N/a
16.5
N/a
1
27
27.0
1
27t
ACCOLADES:
Barcelona Dragons Hall of Fame
NOTES:
As this was a first for me, it should be noted, that yes, I wrote Eric in prison for his autograph. While this may seem wrong to many, I do not presume to give fame to him or the crimes that were committed in regards to this case- rather my solicitation for his signature is an attempt by me to frame a certain time in our lives when things were more simple and innocent.
Eric wrote me a long and impassioned letter on multiple slips of paper talking to me about the time he played in the World League. He also included a copy of these copies of his accomplishments from his playing days, and thanked me for writing him. Erik was convicted of murder in 2012, and received life without parole. The case itself is not without its warts, as he was convicted on purely circumstantial evidence, and a loss of exculpatory evidence, partially due to a delay in the prosecution of the case. -He has always maintained his innocence. Currently his case is under investigation by a 501 nonprofit legal organization
that is committed to exonerating individuals who claim to have been wrongly convicted. From what I understand he also passes the time working as a member of the California Wildfire Inmate team.
I am not sure if Eric’s card is an error card or not as it spells his name Erik, and so does the Barcelona Dragons article above, however in most media it is spelled Eric.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
