Tag Archives: winnipeg blue bombers

Johnson, Lee

tntafl14 lee johnsonCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: IP 5/17/14, San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Coach Johnson is a veteran of many leagues as both a player and a coach. He’s spent time in the NFL, CFL, NFLE, and AFL. Among his highlights, Johnson coached the defensive line of the Berlin Thunder to two consecutive World Bowl Championships in both 2001 and 2002. He then coached the Denver Crush to the Arena Football Championship in 2004. After taking the reins of the Talons, he coached them to a 14-4 record and a division title, in 2012.

After the San Antonio Talons game against the Iowa Barnstormers I gave out my custom cards to many players on the field. It created such a stir that Coach Johnson came over and asked me where his was. After I joked with him a few seconds about sharing the same first name, he quickly extracted a promise from me to make a custom for him as well.

I arrived at the Talons game versus the Voodoo early as usual. After talking to the COO of the Talons and giving him a copy of the set, he went over to Lee to show him what I had done. Coach immediately came over and talked to me with a broad smile, signed the card and thanked me for the extras. He asked me what I wanted for the cards I made and gave to him, but as usual the most important thing for me is the autograph gracing the card for my own collection, and their enduring happiness and willingness to chase their dreams. You know, on that note, I have always subscribed to the ultimate belief that a true gift is one that is not expected, and for purposes of what I had given to each of these players I know it meant a lot to them.

 

Pierce, Doug

tntafl14 pierceCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: 2014, IP San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Doug Pierce is a lanky and large prospect out of Friends College. He’s joined the AFL to make his football dreams come true. Playing for the Falcons in college Doug recorded 91 catches for 1,693 yards and 20 touchdowns in two years.

After college, Doug had tryouts with both the Titans and Vikings, later joining the Sabrecats prior to the 2012 AFL season, but finally landed on Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he spent two seasons. In 2013, he played for the Wichita Wild, and later to the Pittsburgh Power, before joining the San Antonio Talons for 2014.

Getting some valuable playtime in during the Iowa Barnstormers game, he caught two touchdown passes, including a rainbow bomb from Shane Boyd.  He finished the season with 36 receptions for 462 yards and 8 touchdowns, including a 42 yarder.

Barnes, Pat

to00 barnesCard: Topps 2000
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

Pat Barnes played for Cal during the late 90s, and was a second team All-American, under future NFL head coach Steve Mariucci. Putting up great numbers in the West Coast offense and defining himself as a future star, Barnes was a 4th round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 1997. He’d get lost in the shuffle behind Rich Gannon and Trent Green, and sign with the Oakland Raiders the following year.

Pat is best remembered for his time in the NFLE for the Frankfurt Galaxy, where he defined himself as perhaps the best quarterback in that franchise’s extended history. He’d lead the team to a World Bowl victory in 1999 throwing 3 touchdown passes in the win over the Dragons.

In between his two stints with the Galaxy, he’d return stateside to ride the bench for the 49ers in 1999.

Perhaps Pat would have etched his name more definitively into the Galaxy record books if he just had some more time, but with a new league on the horizon, Barnes jumped at the opportunity to play for the San Fransisco Demons of the XFL in 2001, backing up former Cal QB Mike Pawlawski. The Demons played in the Million Dollar Game, but lost to the Los Angeles Xtreme 38-6.

Pat again dabbled in another league, heading North to the CFL, this time to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in 2002. Another short run on the offseason roster of the Browns the following year, returned him to Winnipeg in 2003 where he retired after the season. Currently he lives in Los Angeles.

NFLE    Att 414     Comp 232    Yds 3422      Pct 56.0      Td 30    Int 18    Rat  89.3   |    Rush  38     Yds   179    Avg  4.7      Td  3      Lg   24