Tag Archives: barcelona dragons

NFL, WLAF

Carr, Lydell

pswlaf91 lcarrCard: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: 2016, EBay, TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:  7/7/15      Received:  7/25/2016   (374 days)
Failure: 2013 TTM, C/o Home

Lydell Carr was the lead blocking back in the Sooners Wishbone attack.  Still none the less, he still gained 2,584 yards (5.0 yards per carry) during his time at Oklahoma.  He’d be selected in the 4th round of the 1988 draft by the New Orleans Saints, but injuries would derail his career. After being cut by the Cardinals in 1990, Carr joined the WLAF in 1991.

Starting at fullback, Lydell blocked for both Paul Palmer and Jim Bell while playing for the Barcelona Dragons, and powering the duo to 725 total rushing yards. The short yardage back, Lydell had 8 TDs on a mere 27 carries. After the team failed to win the World Bowl, Lydell was signed by the expansion Ohio Glory in 1992.  Lydell’s contribution was a mere 57 yards on 20 carries and a TD, but he’d help the team to 873 total yards on the ground, and Amir Rasul to second in the league with 572 yards rushing.

I knew Lydell’s nephew (I believe) and he even went to high school and college with me, however I had stopped collecting autographs during that period of my life when I could have probably gotten Lydell. Even with the renewed interest in Lydell’s career (thanks in part to Upper Deck’s 2011 OU set), he’s sporadic through the mail at best, and I have failed to get him on 2 occasions already, so I threw in the towel and just EBayed this one through.

Amazingly though a few months after I had composed this entry, Carr came through with this card signed in a bit over a year- clocking in at a svelte 374 days.

WLAF     Rush 47       Yds  146          Avg 3.1      TD 9      Lg 24
Rec   9        Yds 65        Avg  7.2         TD 0          Lg  17

NFL, WLAF

Sign, Bobby

psetwlaf91 bsignCard: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2015,  C/o Work
Sent: 8/3    Received: 8/19
(16 days)

Bobby was considered one of the best centers in the country, playing 3 years for Pitt and a final year at Baylor. It made sense to Sign to play in the SWC since he was from Texas. Unfortunately in that final year at Baylor (1988), knee injuries sidelined him for a good portion of the season.

Undeterred, Bobby signed with the Oilers as an undrafted free agent in 1989, but was cut before the beginning of the season. Sign was definitely a WLAF candidate, and the Saints signed him in 1991 and sent him to the WLAF for experience.  The Barcelona Dragons signed him via the enhancement allocation draft.  He’d anchor down an impressive offensive line along with Barry Voorhess and Scott Adams. For the season the line only allowed 22 sacks- good for second best in the league. This allowed the team to advance all the way to World Bowl I against the London Monarchs.  Bobby returned to the WLAF for 1992, and helped the Dragons win the division. Barcelona lost in the playoffs again to the eventual champions- this time to the Sacramento Surge 17-15.

Bobby returned to the Dallas area. After a bit of detective work I found that he is working for a high end clothier and tailor of quality suits.  I sent this card to him via the store where he has built himself quite a reputation for customer service. He sent me back a nice note along with the signed card, where he told me that he was blessed to play in the WLAF and sad when the league decided to go on hiatus after the 1992 season.

NFL, NFLE

Holcomb, Kelly

flr03plt holcombCard: Fleer 2003 Platinum
Acquired: Albany Acquisition 2014

Kelly Holcomb was part of a wave of talent that honed their craft in the NFLE. He finished his final season at Middle Tennessee State 146/244 for 2,154 yards with 15 TD vs 9 INT  in 1994.

Holcomb joined the Barcelona Dragons in 1996 as a developmental prospect of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He started all 10 games for the franchise as the Dragons finished the season deadlocked at 5-5.  Kelly’s 2,382 yards ranked 3rd in club history. Cut by the Bucs in 1997, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts but got roughed up, throwing 1 TD to 8 picks.  For the remainder of his time in Indianapolis he honed his game on the bench behind ironman Peyton Manning.

In 2001, Kelly joined the Cleveland Browns- a franchise only 3 years removed from being reborn. With starting quarterback Tim Couch epic struggles and fan frustration mounting, Holcomb began to eclipse Couch at quarterback. A post season game in which he led the Browns to a regulation record 429 yards passing, pretty much signaled the end of the Couch Era. In 2003, he started 10 games, throwing for 1,797 yards and 10 TDs. Still erratic play at the position led the Browns to sign Jeff Garcia- and in 2005, Kelly signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Kelly had perhaps his finest season under center with head coach Mike Mularkey in 2005,  throwing for 1,509 yards and 10 TDs in roughly 10 contests. After the season though the Bills decided to go in a different direction and Mularkey was fired. Dick Jauron was named head coach and JP Losman was named starter at quarterback. Holcomb did not start another game in Buffalo, before being traded to the Eagles in 2007,  who then in turn traded him to the Minnesota Vikings. He started 3 games that year and was cut after the season. Kelly retired in 2008, but had an impressive career run there with occasional flashes of brilliance.

G/Gs  37/24    Att 893    Comp 565     Yds 5916   Pct 63.3
Td  39    Int 38     Rat  79.2
Rush 43        Yds 30       Avg  .7        Td 1      Lg 8

NFLE 10/10   Att  319    Comp 191    Yds 2382  Pct 59.9
Td 14     Int 16     Rat 76.8
Rush38     Yds111     Avg 2.9      Td 2      Lg N/a