Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Hurst, Maurice

Cards: Proset 1991, Action Packed 1992.
Acquired: TTM Patriots Blitz 1992, C/o New England Patriots

Maurice Hurst was my ‘nickel back’ in Tecmo Super Bowl Special Edition III or whatever it was back on Super Nintendo. He was an easy pickup and a solid starter for me whenever he had to be put in the lineup in a pinch and would usually get around 3 interceptions a season.  I’d send off for his autograph in a bulk mailing to the Patriots, during their disastrous late 80s and early 90s.

Maurice played for historically black college Southern University and was drafted in the 4th round of the amazingly deep 1989 draft by the New England Patriots.  A fine rookie campaign netted him 5 interceptions and a touchdown, and he provided otherwise good coverage in an aged and beleaguered secondary doing a little bit of everything including kick and punt returning. He’d go on to average 3-4 picks roughly over the next few seasons.

Hurst was a  gambling corner, and would have a career high 7 picks and two sacks in 1994, but the fact he played in New England during the darker days of the franchise overshadowed an otherwise ProBowl campaign. Burned twice in week 10 of 1995, Hurst was ignominiously cut and subsequently retired.  In 2009 he was nominated to the Patriots 50th anniversary team and is currently ranked third on the team’s all time interception list.

As of 2010, he is president of Olympic Commerical and Residential Construction LLC assisting the city of New Orleans in its rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and working in the residential and private sectors.

Games 105    Tac 365      Sac  3         FF  4
Int 27         Yds  263      Avg  9.7       Td 1

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Colbert, Darrell

Card: Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home (12 days)

Darrell Colbert was originally a free agent pick up of the Kansas City Chiefs, and in 1987 was the only rookie to make the roster that season where he nabbed 4 catches in 15 games over the next two seasons. He’d catch a 40 yard bomb against the Oilers in the 1987 preseason, keying the Chiefs 32-20 victory. After being cut in 1988, Colbert would remain in shape, playing with the BC Lions and Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL in 1990.

In 1992, he was drafted by the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF who utilized him as a wide receiver and primary punt returner. Colbert finished as the team’s leading receiver with 464 yards and second on the team with 33 receptions. (In the short history of the franchise, his 464 yards would be a team season record.) He’d also have the team’s longest play from scrimmage in 1992 with a 63 yard catch.  Darrell played a part in the ‘Do or Die’ game against the Sacramento Surge, catching a pass and racing down the sidelines for an apparent TD that was called back, and also catching a two point conversion during the second quarter to tie things up. The league reorganized after the 1992 season.

In 2010, Darrell was inducted into Texas Southern University’s Hall of Fame as an 80’s All-American  inaugural member where he is the college’s all time leader in catches, yards, and receiving touchdowns. I tracked down Darrell outside of Waco, Tx recently, where he signed my card in roughly 12 days. Below are his statistics from the WLAF.

Games 10   Rec 33     Yds   464   Avg  14.1  Td 1  Lg 63    |
Pr  21  Yds  142   Avg 6.8  Td 0  Lg 18

Arena, NFL

Clark Jr., Bernard ‘Tiger’

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991.

Part of Jimmy Johnson‘s first recruiting class at the University of Miami, Bernard Clark was a player who showed up in big games, winning the MVP award of the 1987 Orange Bowl National Championship Game making 14 solo tackles in the game. In another shining moment, Bernard almost singlehandedly end Notre Dame’s 23 game winning streak in the Orange Bowl in 1989, pulling down an interception and making 17 tackles.

He parlayed these big performances into being drafted in the 3rd round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1990, but never started a game. In 1991, he spent 12 games with the Bengals before being cut and playing for the Seahawks for 2 games. He subsequently was picked up by his college coach Jimmy Johnson who was trying to create competition at middle linebacker in 1992 where I’d get his autograph in training camp that year. After he was cut, he would then play for the Orlando Predators of the AFL in 1994 and 1996.

After playing professional football, Bernard then pursued a career in coaching with a variety of stops at the NCAA Division I level before returning to coach in Florida and then Hampton. As of 2010, Bernard continues to climb the college coaching ranks now handling linebackers for the University of Pittsburgh and his college coach Dave Wannstedt. Clark’s nickname is “Tiger” – given to him by his parents when he was a baby because of his loud growling.

Games 24   Tac 0  Sac 0  FF 0   Int 0  Yds 0 Avg 0 Td 0