Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o The Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers (at least during the 1990s) were a really good organization with TTM requests. Darrell Thompson is basically a Great Lakes legend where he went to school locally in Rochester, Minnesota and then at college at Minnesota playing for the Golden Gophers where he’d lead the team in rushing in 1986, 1989 and 1990. Thompson would finish with 40 rushing touchdowns and rank 4th on the college’s all time offensive yardage list with 4,518 yards rushing and 337 yards receiving, easily running away with the school’s rushing record. At 6 feet and 210 pounds, Thompson was an imposing force. The Green Bay Packers would make him the 19th pick of the 1990 draft and immediately pencil Darrell in at fullback. He would come in off the bench his rookie season while he was learning the system and do some spot duty at kick returning- even returning one for a touchdown. His second season would have him lead the Packers anemic rushing attack, chipping in 471 yards starting in 13 games. Thompson would suffer a series of setbacks from injuries starting only 4 games in 1992, but would rebound nicely in 1993 rushing for a career high 654 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Pack- but buried in the depth chart in 1994 Darrell and after only 8 games Thompson’s season would be over- and so would his career. He would work with at risk children and first time offenders in a Twin Cities project called Bolder Options which he expanded his involvement in after retirement. Thompson would also become a regular with the Minnesota Gophers athletic department and has gone into broadcasting, working radio for the Golden Gopher network.
Card: StarPics 1992
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992
Bernard “Big Daf” Dafney was a popular player at the University of Tennesee- scoring a touchdown on a trick play (‘fumblerooskie’) against Mississippi State where he gallopped for 32 yards. A verified man-mountain who had the physical size to translate to the next level (6’5″, 325), Dafney played in the Senior Bowl in 1992 before being drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round. The Houston Oilers had an imposing and established offensive line and while Bernard played well in training camp, he wasn’t able to crack the lineup and was cut after training camp. He’d be signed by the Vikings, and remained with the team from 1992 through the 1994 season before continuing his journeyman career playing for the Cardinals, Steelers and Ravens and Panthers, before retiring in 1997. Bernard would take what he learned and apply it to coaching starting at the high school level, where he had a passion for teaching and learning seeing some time with two local campuses- before he was sadly struck down by a heart attack in 2006.
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
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed 1992
