When I sent cards to the CFL as part of a blitz package, the league was kind enough to send me more cards with autographs on them from the Jogo 1992 set. Most NFL fans probably don’t have a clue who Alondra Johnson is but that’s okay because he blazed his own trail North of the Border terrorizing offenses for 16 seasons in the CFL. A 2009 CFL HoF inductee, Johnson (from West Texas A&M) played in 6 Grey Cup Championships winning three (1992,1998, and 2001) with the Stampeders. Originally signed as a free agent by the British Columbia Lions in 1989, Johnson would play for them for three seasons before he signed with Calgary in 1991 playing for head coach Wally Buono. 1998 would be punctuated by Alondra getting the CFL’s most valuable defensive player award and in his career he’d be named a 6 time Western All Star and 3 time CFL All Star. He’d suit up for the Stamps an additional 12 seasons and a final one in 2004 with Saskatchewan. In 2007, Johnson signed a one day contract to retire as a Stampeder. At the time of his retirement, Alondra’s 1095 career tackles ranked second all time in CFL history. In 2005 he was inducted into the West Texas A&M Hall of Champions, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Stampeders Wall of Honor. Johnson once described his playing methodology as, “Speed-times-force-times-mass equals serious punishment.” At last glance Alondra is living in Los Angeles, planning his next move.
G 248 Tac 1095 Sac 45 Fum 16 Int 17 Yds n/a Avg -.- Td 1 Lg N/a
The season had ended and I got a letter two weeks later stuffed with cards from the Indianapolis Colts! For a team that finished- 1-15, it still made me super happy to get these cards from the players. Maurice Carthon was in that lot. Initially unheralded Maurice Carthon- blocking fullback to the stars- would be signed by the upstart USFL, where he’d block for the New Jersey Generals and… football rushing record holder Herschel Walker. After the 1985 season, Carthon didn’t miss a beat jumping straight to the New York Giants. A strong inside runner with excellent run blocking skills and impressive pass protection ability, Maurice would play for the Giants primarily during the Bill Parcells era winning a championship ring in both SuperBowls XXI and XXV. Carthon would play one season for the Colts in 1992 where I’d get his autograph, and then retire. Since then Maurice has spent his entire post playing career as an assistant in the NFL with the Patriots, Jets, Lions, Cowboys, Browns, Cardinals, and as of this post in 2010 with the Chiefs. He is considered an apostle of the Parcells’ coaching tree working for Bill at three different teams.
Bruising tailback Keith Byars was drafted from Ohio State by the Buddy Ryan regime in Philadelphia after losing out on the Heisman Trophy race to Doug Flutie in 1985. A do all back, Byars was an absolutely devestating receiver out of the backfield and a solid blocker. His effectiveness was limited by lisfranc injuries and coach Buddy Ryan used this to scare other teams away from him so they could take him with the 10th overall pick of the 1986 draft. Although injured from time to time, Keith never failed to give it his all, rarely running out of bounds to avoid a hit, playing with such offensive weapons Keith Jackson and Randall Cunningham. From time to time Byars would be used to make trick plays, throwing 6 touchdowns in his career. In his final season with the team in 1992, Byars would amazingly line up at runningback, fullback, and tightend in almost an H-Back role. After 7 solid seasons for the Eagles, Byars would sign with the Dolphins as a free agent in 1993 where he’d make the transition to fullback playing there for over 3 seasons. Keith would then sign with the Patriots playing for two seasons and making his only SuperBowl appearance there before one season with the Jets in 1998. After football Keith has been involved with broadcasting and enjoys coaching high school football in Boca Raton, Florida.
