Tag Archives: Action packed 1991

NFL

Johnson, Richard “911”

Card: Action Packed 1991
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1992

After an All Big 10 and All American showing at Wisconsin, Richard Johnson was taken in the first round of the 1985 draft behind future teammate Ray Childress. To say that Richard Johnson’s career would get off to a slow start is an understatement.  He wouldn’t even make his first interception until the 1986 season, and soon would ride himself into head coach Jerry Glanville‘s doghouse. Johnson would cling to the roster- just because of his first round status riding behind Steve Brown and Patrick Allen in the secondary, making spot starts and 7 interceptions over 5 seasons.  Aptly nicknamed “911” for his ability to show up when the Oilers needed him, during the 1988 playoffs, Richard would make a critical interception against the Browns preserving the Oilers’ victory.

With Glanville out in 1990, and the team doing an overhaul, new head coach Jack Pardee decided to go with a different defensive philosophy in the secondary, and Richard, found a chance to redeem himself.  Starting all 16 games in 1990 across from Cris Dishman, Johnson would lead the AFC in interceptions with 8, more than doubling his total, before an ACL injury sidelined him in the playoffs.  In 1991, teams would throw away from Richard, afraid of his cover skills, and he wouldn’t make another interception, before his career ended during the 1992 season.

The game Tecmo Bowl rewarded Richard for his excellent 1990 performance, where he is considered one of the best defensive backs in the game. I’ve been debating sending this former Oiler a few more cards to sign, and may do so at a later date. Richard Johnson, defensive back, is not to be confused with Richard Johnson, wide receiver who played for the Houston Gamblers and Detroit Lions roughly during the same time period.

G/Gs 98/37     Tac n/a     Sac 1.0   Fum 1    
Int  15     Yds 106      Avg  7.0    Td 1     lg 35

NFL

Hester, Jessie


Card: Action Packed 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, Colts Blitz

The 23rd pick of the 1983 draft by the Los Angeles Raiders, Jessie Hester was a marvelous ‘straight ahead’ speedster out of Florida State. His rookie season was pretty solid. Hester would make 665 yards on 32 catches. As a deep threat the Raiders system really appealed to the young player as Jessie averaged a whopping 20.8 yards per reception. In 1984, Hester would then make 23 catches for 632 yards,- an incredible 27.5 yards a reception, but because Hester only made 23 receptions- he didn’t qualify as a league leader. (If he did, his 27.5 average would have made him second all time in the NFL books.) Jessie would play one final season in LA in 1987 and that’s when it’d hit rock bottom for him as he’d only make one catch that season for 30 yards. He would be cut by the Raiders after the season and suffer through another rocky year making 12 catches for the Atlanta Falcons.  
It was in 1990 that Hester would finally find his home with the Indianapolis Colts. He’d have his finest hour as a pro that season making a career high 924 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. I remember NBC even talking during half-time about how the lowly Colts had at least one bright spot in Hester. Jessie would play the next 4 seasons there for the Colts, and held the record for most consecutive games with a reception for the team (until it was broken by Marvin Harrison). He’d garner somewhere over 3300 yards playing with the Colts during his time with them and then sign to play with the Los Angeles Rams, in their final season before heading out to St. Louis for a final season with them before retiring.  Since football Jessie has served as a head coach most notably in Florida where he guided his school to the State Championship game twice. I attempted to get his autograph through his school in early 2010, but did not hear back from him.

G/Gs 147/104      Rec 373      Yds 5850     Avg  15.7     Td  29      lg   81t

NFL

Kasay, John

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o Seattle Seahawks

One of only 2 kickers drafted in the 1991 NFL draft, John Kasay was taken in the 4th round by the Seattle Seahawks. Despite playing for some offensively anemic teams of the Seahawks back in the early 1990’s Kasay managed to lead the team in scoring for the first four seasons of his career, but at the eve of the 1995 free agency period he was left on the block, and the expansion Carolina Panthers made their move and snapped him up.  He’d finish his Seahawk career 82/105 on field goals.

John would move on to the Panthers where as of 2011, he is the only member of the 1991 draft still playing and also the only member of the expansion Carolina Panthers still active. (In fact no members of the Jaguars or Texans expansion teams remain on their rosters.)   Kasay’s career is all the more remarkable one, in an age where kickers have become highly disposable, and this is due to his longevity, affordability, and consistency- key for any kicker to possess.  Among kickers, Kasay’s tenure with one team is only second to Jason Hanson (Detroit, 1992). In 1996, he set the NFL record with 37 field goals (a record since broken) and went to the Pro Bowl.  In 2002 his season would be lost to injury after 2 games, but would recover by the following season. 2008 would see John lead the NFL in extra points with 46, and at the grand old age of 41 is the 3rd leading active scorer (8th overall) in the league with 1823 points.

G/Gp   285/285     Xpa 535       Xpm 524         Fga 529        Fgm 433            Pct   81.9%