Tag Archives: Houston Oilers

NFL, NFLE

Furrer, Will

Card: Upper Deck 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1995

Will Furrer was a top line quarterback for Virginia Tech in the early 90s. Drafted by the Chicago Bears  in the 4th round of the 1992 draft, he was thought at some points to be the club’s quarterback of the future, but after a rough first season, he’d find himself on the street after a rough 2 games that season. He would sit at the #3 slot of the Cardinals and Broncos rosters, not attempting a pass in 1993 or 1994. I’d get his autograph in 1995 when he’d sign with the Houston Oilers, backing up Chris Chandler at quarterback. With Chris, injuries always seemed to take their toll on him, so Will would eventually get his shot.  After not making the roster of the Oilers the next season, Furrer would sit out for a season, but in the by 1995 he was getting time in the reformed NFLE playing for the Amsterdam Admirals where he’d play through the 1996 season. In 1996, he’d throw for 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Will would make his mark with the franchise setting career marks for most attempts in a season with 368. Furrer would lead the NFLE in most quarterback stats that season. He’d return to the NFL in 1997 and be 3rd string quarterback for the St. Louis Rams.  After the season, Furrer would retire. Since that time Will Furrer has been involved with IF Marketing & Advertising in partnership with Tony Boselli and Jeff Novak out of Georgetown, Texas.  Below are his NFLE statistics.

G/Gs N/a   Att  453    Comp  257    Yds 3231    Pct 56.7%   Td  24  Int 15   Rat 82.9  lg 48

NFL

Jones, Cedric

Card: Score 1990
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1991

Cedric Jones was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1982 draft. A dependable receiver with soft hands, Jones played 9 seasons for the Patriots, before he was signed Plan B by the Oilers attempting to find more wide receivers that would fit the Run and Shoot mold. A prized team player who could play all four wide receiver positions Cedric was very proud of his time with the Patriots and has fond memories of the team’s run to Super Bowl XX.  I got Cedric’s autograph at training camp at Trinity in San Antonio that year. He was walking off the field by himself and I was probably the only person who recognized him. He mumbled something to me about liking the football card and exchanged pleasantries with me before making his way off the field.

An avid history buff, Jones since retirement has found himself managing over the NFL’s Youth Football offices and at one point Cedric was part of a radio broadcast team and also as a financial consultant. Currently he’s Director of Athletics for the New York Athletic Club and on the board of “Beyond the Boroughs” scholarship fund. He continues to follow the Patriots while he raises his family and participates actively in charitable causes and speaking engagements.

G/Gs  120/37     Rec 191     Yds 2703   Avg 14.2    Td 16    Lg  65

College Football HoF, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL, usfl

Rozier, Mike

Cards: ProSet HH 1991, Score 1989, ProSet 1989
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent: 4/3  Received: 4/19  (16 days)

There were some incredible Nebraska teams over the years, and Mike Rozier was one of those immense talents coming out of college that was a surefire pick. The 1983 Heisman Trophy winner, he’d go pro in 1984- but throw the NFL for a loop jumping to the USFL and be signed by the Pittsburgh Maulers. He’d amass 792 yards and 3 touchdowns on 223 carries his rookie season. Tempted to jump back to the NFL, Rozier would resign and play for the Jacksonville Bulls in 1985 crushing opponents for 1361 yards on  320 carries. He’d also chock in 12 touchdowns. With the USFL crumbling and his rights relinquished to the Baltimore Stars, Rozier would be drafted in the supplemental draft by the Houston Oilers of the NFL with the second overall pick in 1984. The Oilers would finish buying out his contract and he’d make the jump to the NFL.

After his rookie season where he played fullback, Rozier would play runningback for the rest of his career from 1986 on out.  A great mixture of power and speed, injuries quickly limited Mike’s production in the NFL in an age where arthroscopic knee surgeries were not necessarily a given to rehabilitate players. Rozier would go to the ProBowl in 1987 (957 yards), and 1988 (1002 yards). By 1989 the team was utilizing a runningback by committee approach with Lorenzo White, Alonzo Highsmith, and Allen Pinkett alongside Rozier, but with the departure of head coach Jerry Glanville, Mike would be cut by the Oilers in 1990 after 3 games.  He reunited immediately with Glanville who was now in Atlanta and put up 675 yards in 13 games. Seeking a new contract after the season for roughly $1 million, Rozier briefly toyed with the idea of signing with the WLAF’s Birmingham Fire, but with comparatively low salaries- it probably never really entered into a serious negotiation. Mike would get his wish however and resign with the Falcons playing in 11 games and finishing out with 361 yards, but after arthoscopic knee surgery in January of that year he’d soon after announce his retirement.

After football, Mike moved back to New Jersey where he was born. Unfortunately in 1995, he was shot in his hometown of Camden where he suffered internal injuries to his liver. In 2003, he was brought back to Nebraska for a team reunion, and in 2005 Mike was inducted into the Camden sports Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Finally, in 2006 Mike Rozier was inducted into the College Football HoF.

G/Gs 92/59        Rush 1159      Yds  4462      Avg 3.8      Td 30    lg 67    |
Rec 90    Yds 715    Avg  7.9  Td 1   lg  52