Category Archives: WLAF

NFL, WLAF

Henry, James

Cards: Pro Set WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Work
Sent: 11/15       Received: 12/7   (22 days)
Failure: 2017, C/o Home

James Henry went to college at Southern Mississippi. A dangerous punt returner and defensive back, he had 23 punt returns for 399 yards and 2 TDs his senior year. Over his college career James had 8 punt returns for touchdowns.  Selected in the 4th round of the talent laden 1989 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, James failed to make the squad both in ’89 and ’90.  He also briefly played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Henry was selected in the 8th round of the WLAF positional draft in 1991. He played both defensive back and punt returner for the Birmingham Fire. His 10.7 punt return yard average was second in the league, and a 50 yard punt return for a touchdown in a 28-7 win over the Skyhawks.  Despite the Fire’s deep secondary, James contributed with 2 interceptions- including a 77 yarder he returned for a TD against the Thunder.

James returned to the Fire for 1992. but was unable to duplicate his success from the previous year as teams were aware of how dangerous he was in the open field. He finished with 14 punt returns for 47 yards.

During one of those games in 1992, I’d corral most of the defensive secondary and have them pen their autographs on their cards. James eluded me essentially for 25 years.  With James Henry’s autograph, I am now just down to one player from the Birmingham Fire’s ProSet WLAF set- Kenny Bell. I thought I had found Henry earlier this year via Spokeo and cross referencing his information with his trading cards, but the address in Mississippi never responded. Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus) and I have collaborated on addresses of players from the WLAF. He got a hit from Henry and passed the information along to me. I was very happy that this worked out.

WLAF    INT 2         YDS   83         AVG  41.5        TD 1        LG 77t
PR   37           YDS  294              AVG   7.9      TD 1        LG 50t

NFL, WLAF

Painter, Carl


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991 League Leader
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 11/4     Received: 11/13  (9 days)
Failure: 2011, 2017, C/o Home

The Orlando Thunder had a stacked offense. At runningback they featured a variety of styles of runners including former Detroit Lion track man Carl Painter. Carl earned his keep primarily on kick off return duties, averaging a league leading 24.9 yards on 24 returns. He set a league single game record when he had 6 kickoff returns for 178 yards against the Knights. Carl sprained his shoulder in a week 8 contest against Sacramento, and finished the season with 15 carries for 47 yards to go along with 13 receptions for 157 yards.

Painter played two seasons for the Detroit Lions, after being selected by them during the 6th round of the 1988 draft. Over two seasons, he had 106 yards on 32 carries and 4 catches for 42 yards. He also chipped in 18 kick returns for 361 yards and a 20.1 yard average.

A sensational runningback at Hampton, Carl rushed for 3,223 yards from 1983 to 1987, and led the team in scoring in both 1985 and 1987, netting him all-conference honors with the Pirates. In 2009, he was inducted into Hampton University’s inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame.

Being that Carl had 2 cards in the vaunted ProSet WLAF 1991 set, I had tried multiple times to get Carl but had lucked out. I have been collaborating with Mark of Mark’s Signing Bonus for some time on tracking down players from the league. Luckily he got a nice hit on Carl, so I sent out to him immediately the next day. Carl wrote me a really nice note, thanking me for remembering him along with the two autographs. As of 2017 he works in management for a city Parks and Recreation department in Virginia.

NFL   27/0         RUSH 32       YDS 106       AVG 3.3        TD 0        LG 13
REC  3                  YDS 42          AVG 10.5         TD 0             LG 27

WLAF   RUSH 15      YDS   47      AVG  3.1           TD 0         LG 18
REC    13                    YDS 157        AVG 12.1          TD 0         LG 26

KR    24       YDS    597          AVG 24.9          TD 0             LG 48

NFL, WLAF

Rouen, Tom


Cards: Wild Card WLAF 1992, Topps 1994
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 7/11    Received: 8/21    (41 days)

In 1989 Tom earned first team All-Big Eight and consensus All-American honors at Colorado, with a 45.9 yard average per punt and 43.9 yard net- leading the nation.  In 1990 he earned second team honors as he ranked fourth in the conference with 54 punts and a 40.8 yard average. After going unselected in the NFL draft, he bounced around training camps before ultimately signing with the WLAF.

Like Chris Mohr before him, Tom made the best of his one year stint in the league, punting 48 times for 1,992 yards and a 41.5 yard average, playing for the Ohio Glory. He also boomed an 85 yard punt and had 14 kicks downed within the 20 yard line. For his efforts he was named to the All-World League squad.

He’d bide his time but eventually sign with an NFL team in 1993, replacing tenured punter Mike Horan in Denver.  Rouen went on to play for the Broncos for the next 8 seasons. During that period he’d etch his name into the team’s record books and earn All-Pro Honors once in 1994.  In 2002, he had a whirlwind tour of the league. Cut by the Broncos, Tom signed and was cut by the Giants and then was subsequently picked up by Pittsburgh.  Afterwards he spent his next two NFL seasons (2003-2004) in Seattle.  Rouen still wanted to play and saw action in the training camps of Carolina and back to Seattle (both 2005). Later he’d attempt one last shot with the 49ers in 2006, but failed to unseat incumbent Andy Lee.

Tom is a member of the Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team. Technically it appears that Tom is the last man standing from the WLAF- as Chris Mohr retired the previous season.

WLAF  10/0      P  48        YDS 1992         LG 85     BLK   0
NFL   188/0       P  810     YDS  35189     LG 76     BLK   9