Category Archives: usfl

NFL, usfl

Norwood, Scott

CARDS: Pro Set 1989
ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Scott Norwood played kicker at James Madison from 1978-’81.
  • He was also a talented soccer player as well.
  • Signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1982 but did not make the roster.
  • Joined the USFL playing for the Birmingham Stallions from 1983-’84.
  • Was 38 of 39 on XP and 28 of 38 on field goals, scoring 122 points.
  • After the collapse of the USFL, Scott signed with the Buffalo Bills in 1984.
  • In 1988, kicked a league leading 32 field goals and had 122 points.
  • Led the NFL in extra points in both 1990 and 1991.
  • Released after the ’91 season in favor of Steve Christie.
  • At time of retirement was the team’s all time leading scorer with 670 points.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1988
  • All Pro 1988

NOTES:

I’m not sure if it’s true or if it’s an urban legend but it’s said that the song ‘Stuck in a Moment’ by U2 from their album ‘Beautiful Day’, was inspired by Scott’s struggles after missing the game winning kick in Super Bowl XXV. The video certainly hints to that as it takes place in a football stadium.

I really feel for Scott. He really took a beating in the media after missing the kick and the Bills unceremoniously dumped him after the 1991 season. Even after his career long ended, he was subjected to autograph hunters that wanted him to sign memorabilia that had to do with the kick, or personalize it with ‘wide right’. How can you move on when you are constantly reminded of it?

Scott obviously really doesn’t sign TTM, so when my friend Rick said he had an extra to give me, I was more than happy to take this off his hands.

Arena, CFL, NFL, The Spring League, ufl, usfl

Bethel-Thompson, McLeod (2) ‘MBT’

CARDS: Upper Deck USFL 2023, Upper Deck CFL 2023
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 12/4/23 RECEIVED: 5/9/25 (522 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I was genuinely surprised to get McLeod’s autograph back on his parallel card after such a long wait. It had been so long that I had just given up in general on it after I had seen a few successes on him trickle in but nothing for me. Maybe he thought he mailed it out or the mailman lost it at the facility and delivered it months or a year later.. Who knows? But he was kind enough to drop the extra UD CFL card in for me.

CFL, ufl, usfl, WLAF

Popp, Jim

CARD: Pro Set 1991 World League Helmet Insert
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, San Antonio Brahmas v Houston Roughnecks

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Popp played DB at Michigan State from 1983-’86.
  • A knee injury ended his pro playing career before it started, so he transitioned into the front office as a graduate assistant at MSU.
  • After a year at NC in ’87, Jim spent the next three years working with The Citadel.
  • He then got a taste for the spring league circuit as a man of many hats working for the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks of the WLAF in 1991.
  • This led to the PSFL, where Jim was the Director of Player Personnel from ’91-’92.
  • Jim joined the CFL in 1992, working for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the same capacity through ’93.
  • With the CFLUSA in full swing, Jim got his first taste of the GM job with the Baltimore Colts winning the Grey Cup in 1995.
  • After the Ravens moved into town, the team was relocated to Montreal where they became the second incarnation of the Alouettes.
  • Popp again assumed a lion’s share of roles for the franchise and rebuilt the team from scratch.
  • The Alouettes made 8 Grey Cup appearances under his management, winning 3 times.
  • In 2019, was lured to be GM of the Toronto Argonauts.
  • It immediately paid dividends as the Argos pulled off a stunning Grey Cup win.
  • Jim worked at Alabama State in 2020 as an assistant coach, before resigning in 2021 to join the USFL.
  • He was retained in his position as Vice President of Player Personnel during the merger between the XFL and USFL in 2024.

NOTES:

I knew about Jim years ago when I was researching the success of former members of the WLAF. I got it in my brain that at some point he played QB for the Skyhawks but once I refreshed my memory I learned I was completely wrong. I did remember correctly that he has been a man of many, many hats. He’s had no qualms in doing anything and everything to absorb football knowledge. He even has taken over as head coach when he had to relieve them of their duties. He’s posted a 22-36 record, and led the Alouettes to the Grey Cup in 2006.

When the Brahmas played the Defenders in 2024, I saw him wandering up and down the sidelines. I immediately kicked myself because I had nothing for him to sign. Still I stopped him and struck up a conversation about the ‘good ol’ days’ of Spring football. It was at that moment he and I stopped in unison to take in the game, and Brad Wing faked a punt, throwing a TD to long snapper Alex Mollette. As the building shook with stunned excitement, we agreed this was a seminal moment for the team.

I was prepared this time for him in 2025- and after a long wait the Brahmas had their first home game. I caught him doing his laps, making notes during the pregame and doing his thing. He came over and signed this card for me. I don’t think he’d ever seen it before as he flipped it over in shock of something from the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. It was a nice short visit and he was on his way. A great, under the radar WLAF find.