Category Archives: NFLE

NFL, NFLE

Holcomb, Kelly

flr03plt holcombCard: Fleer 2003 Platinum
Acquired: Albany Acquisition 2014

Kelly Holcomb was part of a wave of talent that honed their craft in the NFLE. He finished his final season at Middle Tennessee State 146/244 for 2,154 yards with 15 TD vs 9 INT  in 1994.

Holcomb joined the Barcelona Dragons in 1996 as a developmental prospect of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He started all 10 games for the franchise as the Dragons finished the season deadlocked at 5-5.  Kelly’s 2,382 yards ranked 3rd in club history. Cut by the Bucs in 1997, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts but got roughed up, throwing 1 TD to 8 picks.  For the remainder of his time in Indianapolis he honed his game on the bench behind ironman Peyton Manning.

In 2001, Kelly joined the Cleveland Browns- a franchise only 3 years removed from being reborn. With starting quarterback Tim Couch epic struggles and fan frustration mounting, Holcomb began to eclipse Couch at quarterback. A post season game in which he led the Browns to a regulation record 429 yards passing, pretty much signaled the end of the Couch Era. In 2003, he started 10 games, throwing for 1,797 yards and 10 TDs. Still erratic play at the position led the Browns to sign Jeff Garcia- and in 2005, Kelly signed with the Buffalo Bills.

Kelly had perhaps his finest season under center with head coach Mike Mularkey in 2005,  throwing for 1,509 yards and 10 TDs in roughly 10 contests. After the season though the Bills decided to go in a different direction and Mularkey was fired. Dick Jauron was named head coach and JP Losman was named starter at quarterback. Holcomb did not start another game in Buffalo, before being traded to the Eagles in 2007,  who then in turn traded him to the Minnesota Vikings. He started 3 games that year and was cut after the season. Kelly retired in 2008, but had an impressive career run there with occasional flashes of brilliance.

G/Gs  37/24    Att 893    Comp 565     Yds 5916   Pct 63.3
Td  39    Int 38     Rat  79.2
Rush 43        Yds 30       Avg  .7        Td 1      Lg 8

NFLE 10/10   Att  319    Comp 191    Yds 2382  Pct 59.9
Td 14     Int 16     Rat 76.8
Rush38     Yds111     Avg 2.9      Td 2      Lg N/a

 

CFL, College Football HoF, NFL, NFLE

Ware, Andre ‘Air Ware’ (2)

pset90 wareCards: Pro Set 1990, Upper Deck College Legends 2011
Acquired: 4/30/15, Houston Texans Draft Party
See Also: Andre Ware ‘Air Ware’

Lance and I arrived at the 2015 Houston Texans Draft Party with high hopes, but were ultimately disappointed when we didn’t have cards of the Ambassadors who showed up, and the players I did have a card of were only taking photo ops. Queue the Astrodome air raid siren, because Andre Ware came to the rescue.

As Lance and I made our way towards the photo op booth, I heard a familiar voice on TV. Andre Ware was being interviewed on Fox Spots Southwest. Recognizing that the broadcast was taking place in the stadium, I walked over to one of the people working at the stadium and asked them where Andre was. The stadium employees identified it as being at radio row where only the VIP fans were allowed. We got as close as the elevator, and after borrowing a pen and waiting for about 15 minutes, Lance and I decided to locate the ground floor exit of the VIP area to get a better vantage point.  We walked for about 5 minutes, and emerging out of the crowd from the other direction, wasudlgd11 ware Andre Ware. Kudos to Andre for cheerfully signing 2 cards for me and Lance, even though he had his hands full with two kids by his side and all their stuff.

I can’t encourage collectors enough to build out a compact and expanded box of cards that covers the full gamut of players, former players, and sports personalities. With Andre covering the Texans on the radio as a color commentator and also being  a local legend, it made sense to have a few extras on the off chance he did make an appearance.  Otherwise  these are great cards of Ware, and leaves me with only a handful of extras that I would love to have autographed for my collection.

CFL, NFL, NFLE, XFL

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