NFL

Klingler, David

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1992, Classic 1992, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o The Cincinnatti Bengals. In Person 1996, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp.

David Klingler was another in a line of Houston Cougar record-setting quarterbacks (Andre Ware) under the Run and Shoot offense. He’d set a then record with 11 touchdown passes and 716 yards in a game against Eastern Washington in 1990, winning the Sammy Baugh award after that season. David would also break Ware’s career passing records and set the NCAA record for touchdowns in a season (since broken) with 54. In 1992, Klingler would be the #1 pick of the floundering Cincinnati Bengals franchise with the 6th pick overall (right after Terrell Buckley).(Thinking in terms of quarterbacks that were from the 1992 draft, the only members of this draft to make the Pro Bowl ever in their careers were Brad Johnson and Jeff Blake.) The Bengals had a fresh new coach in Dave Shula, and he wanted a fresh, new face at quarterback along with him. This meant Klingler also had the very unenvious position of replacing extremely popular player Boomer Esiason at quarterback. Klingler in his rookie season would start 4 games under center for the Bengals posting 3 touchdowns to 2 picks, and throwing for an anemic 5.4 yards per throw. He’d also be sacked 18 times in 1992- a rate of a bit over 4 a game. In 1993, Klingler was dubbed starting quarterback, where I’d send off through the mail to get his autograph. In 13 games, the Bengals allowed Klingler to get sacked 40 times, but he’d try to make up for it with his rushing ‘prowess’, running for 282 yards and a 6.9 yard average. He would only throw for 6 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. David would almost duplicate those numbers in 1994, starting in only 7 games and being sacked 24 times. In 1995, he had a forgettable season with the Bengals and was released. Considered one of the many busts of the early nineties, Klingler never really stood a chance behind a patchwork line and in his first career game he was sacked 7 times by the Steelers. The Raiders would take a flyer on Klingler, where he played 2 more seasons and I got his autograph in 1996 at Dallas Cowboys training camp. After his 1996 season with the Raiders, he’d be signed by the Packers looking for competition behind Brett Favre, but he’d lose out in training camp and retire soon thereafter.

Klingler since leaving the NFL has graduated with a Doctorate in Old Testament Studies from the Dallas Theological Seminary. He remains an avid football fan and backer of the University of Houston.

G/Gs   33/20    Att 389    Comp 718     Yds 3994     Pct        Td 16     Int 22   Rat 65.1

NFL

McMurtry, Greg

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 1992, 1993, Patriots Blitz

2 sport start Greg McMurtry was taken in the baseball amateur draft in 1986 by the Boston Red Sox, but decided to remain in school, attending Michigan at Ann Arbor. It was a huge coup for Michigan because McMurtry was offered a huge signing bonus to join the Red Sox. He’d go on to be an excellent player at wide receiver for the Wolverines, playing in the Rose Bowl and snagging All-American Honors. McMurtry would even be allowed to wear the hallowed #1 jersey for the team. He was selected in the 3rd round of the 1990 draft by the woeful New England Patriots, who were desperate to find a compliment to Irving Fryar.

In 1991 the Houston Oilers visited the New England Patriots and I had given a friend an immense spread to take the Patriots. The Patriots ended up winning the game with McMurtry catching the game winning toss from Hugh Millen 24-20. It was one of those really humbling moments being an Oiler fan. Greg’s 1991 season would be his best, with 614 yards and a 15 yard average. He’d play through 1993 for the Patriots, and then finish out his career with the Bears in 1994.

G/Gs  67/44   Rec 128   Yds  1631   Avg   12.7   Lg  65T   Td 5

NFL, NFLE

Barnett, Tim

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Kansas City Chiefs

Tim Barnett is a cousin of Philadelphia Eagles receiver Fred Barnett, who went to Jackson State. The Chiefs would take him in the third round of the 1991 draft hoping to improve their wide receiver corps which already had the superior rushing game in Christian Okoye and Barry Word. In his rookie season Tim started 8 games, making an impressive 41 catches for 564 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’d start to really come about in 1992, starting only 3 games but establishing himself as a long range threat (18.4 yard average on 24 catches) with a long 77 yard touchdown reception. Tim helped the Chiefs advance in the playoffs that year- catching a critical touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs from Joe Montana. 1993  saw another decrease in playing time once again, with Tim starting no games, however he quietly accumulated 17 receptions and a touchdown.

Unfortunately the young Barnett had been building up a rap sheet in his spare time as well for domestic assault and was on two year’s probation for misdemeanor assault and battery, -once even for pistol whipping his wife. On June 14th, 1994 Tim Barnett exposed himself and grabbed a 14 year old girl at a motel in Milwaukee. Kansas City considered Barnett toxic and immediately granted him his release. Later it was revealed that the victim had made the story up in hopes of getting a settlement out of Barnett, but the damage had already been done.

Barnett later played in the NFLE for the Scotland Claymores in 1995. He’d have a steady season with 21 receptions for 298 yards and 3 touchdowns, while the team slumped to a 2-8 record under 3 head coaches.

G/Gs 44/11   Rec 82   Yds 1188  Avg 14.5  Td 10  Lg 77T

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.