Tag Archives: Wild Card WLAF 1992

NFL, WLAF

Norgard, Erik

Card: Wild Card Wlaf 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home
Sent: 8/27  Received: 12/16 (105 days)

Young offensive lineman Erik Norgard was signed by the Houston Oilers as a free agent in 1989. A gem in the rough, at 6-1, 290, Norgard posessed the size, strength, and mobility, to play any position on the line in the Oilers’ run ‘n shoot offense. After he sat out his whole rookie season due to injury, Norgard was assigned by the team to the World League Allocation draft for 1992.

The San Antonio Riders stuck him right into the starting lineup and he’d play at guard blocking for Ivory Lee Brown. It paid off as Brown would lead the league in rushing yardage behind Erik and the team plowed ahead to a 7-3 record.

After the dissolution of the WLAF in 1992, Norgard returned to the Oilers, starting four games in 1993, and seven in 1994, before returning to being a key backup offensive lineman for the team. He’d move with the team to Tennessee in 1997 and play there through 1998. In 1999 he’d sign with the New York Jets and retire soon thereafter.  Over 9 seasons and 108 contests,  Erik caught 2 tackle eligible touchdowns, and started 12 games in the NFL.

 

NFL, WLAF

Dilweg, Anthony

Card: Proset 1989, Fleer Update 1990, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Work
Sent: 7/30   Received: 9/14  (45 days)

Anthony Dilweg is a rarety- a player from Duke drafted to play in the NFL. A monster quarterback when he got his chance to play at the college level under Steve Spurrier, he once threw for 450 yards in a game against Wake Forest, a record that still stands to this day. He’d be drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 3rd round of the 1989 draft. A notoriously weak draft after Troy Aikman at quarterback- Dilweg would perform well enough to grab the backup job behind Don Majkowski by 1990. Anthony’s moment in the spotlight would be opening day of that season where he’d throw for 250 yards and 2 touchdowns against a sleepwalking Los Angeles Rams defense in substitution for recently resigned holdout Majikowski. He’d be rebenched shortly after but would end up starting the last 5 and a half games after a rotator cuff injury set back Don.  Dilweg would be hot and cold throughout the rest of the season putting up a 119.9 qb rating against the Buccaneers, but would also put up a 33.2 rating against Minnesota as well and 22 sacks on the season. That second season however would end respectably enough as he threw for 1200 yards and 8 touchdowns, but with the team slumping to a 6-10 record that season, Lindy Infante would be released and the organization would clean house. New GM Ron Wolf would go in a new direction with a new head coach- Mike Holmgren. The team was determined to improve the quarterback situation and brought in Mike Tomczak from Chicago, who beat out the young Dilweg at QB. Anthony would be quickly signed by the Los Angeles Raiders, but would not make a start for the franchise.

The WLAF and the NFL agreed to allocate young talent to the WLAF starting with the 1992 season. With this decision the Raiders allocated Dilweg to the Montreal Machine. The Machine were lead by a stable of runningbacks, and a strong back 7 on defense. The problem with the Machine always seemed to be their lines, and especially on offense their quarterbacks ended up paying the price. Montreal in 1992 drafted the young Dilweg to fix their problems at quarterback after the retirement of Kevin Sweeney. They’d go with Dilweg right out of the gate for a road opener against the San Antonio Riders blitzing defense. -He wouldn’t even make it out of the first half succumbing to injury and being taken to the locker room.  Anthony would play sparingly after that for the rest of the season and retire after the WLAF went on hiatus.

Anthony after football has been able to parlay his brief NFL career into the financial industry where he has been highly successful in real estate. I sent these cards to him via his company and received these autographs in under 60 days.  He also included a nice thank you for being a fan- of the Packers, even though I had only mentioned my experiences in the World League. Below are his WLAF statistics for the Machine.

G/Gs N/a    Att 75     Comp 43     Yds 468      Td 2     Int 1     Rat 79.2

NFL, NFLE, WLAF

Pederson, Doug

Card: WildCard WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o The Philadelphia Eagles
Sent:  3/12        Received:  3/22   (10 days)

The Offensive Quality Control Coach as of 2010 for the Philadelphia Eagles, Doug Pederson has experienced a long and winding ride. Originally a free agent signee with the Miami Dolphins in 1991,  Pederson would end up being drafted by the New York/New Jersey Knights of the WLAF in 1992. Getting valuable experience playing in the Run ‘n Shoot behind Reggie Slack, Pederson would have a great season playing for the Knights throwing for 8 touchdowns to 3 interceptions. He’d return to the Dolphins where he’d bounce on and off the roster through 1995. In 1995 when the WLAF reformed as the NFLE, Pederson would be drafted by the Rhein Fire where he’d play behind Andy Kelly and Gino Toretta.

Later that year, the Carolina Panthers would select Doug during the team’s expansion draft with the 44th pick, but he’d not make the roster. After sitting out a year Pederson would return to play for the Packers, where he’s most fondly remembered as Brett Favre‘s backup.  When he finally got under center in 1998, Doug threw for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns in mop up duty. It was enough to impress coach Andy Reid (a former member of the Green Bay staff) who had just been hired as head coach by the Philadelphia Eagles. Pederson would tutor young Donovan McNabb that season and perform that duty so well, the Cleveland Browns in 2000 brought him in to do the same for young Tim Couch. Doug would finally return to the Packers to close out his career to serve as backup to Brett Favre through the 2004 season.  During the 2004 season Doug would be placed on IR from a broken traverse, a torn back muscle, and a broken rib.  While open-minded about the possibility of a return, Pederson would later retire due to his injuries.

He’d immediately begin coaching high school football in 2004 and in 2009 was hired by Andy Reid and the Eagles to serve as an Offensive Quality Control Coach. It’s sort of a head scratcher as to what tree to really include Pederson under- however he is considered a player of Mike Holmgren and a coach under the Andy Reid tree. Interesting to note, Doug has played or coached for 3 different teams twice: Miami, Green Bay and Philadelphia. I’d send out for his autograph along with former Sacramento Surge defensive back Louis Riddick and receive Doug’s autograph back in 10 days.  Below are Pederson’s combined WLAF and NFLE statistics.

G/Gs   N/a         Att 154         Comp 81         Yds  1263       Pct  52.6      Td 9      Int 5       Rat  86.0