Tag Archives: action packed rookies 1990

Arena, NFL

Willis, Peter Tom

 

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, ProSet 1990, Score 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 5/4 Received: 7/2  (59 days)

A strong-armed, mobile quarterback with outstanding accuracy and touch, Peter Tom Willis served as backup on the Seminoles from 1987-1988 before he received his break to become a starter in 1989. In only his first true season as leader of Florida State’s offense, he threw for 3124 yards and 20 touchdowns. His 6 TD passes against Memphis State would set a school record and he would be voted MVP of the Fiesta Bowl when he threw for 422 yards and 5 touchdowns over Nebraska. At the time of his graduation, his 4291 career passing yards ranked 3rd on the school’s all-time list.

The Chicago Bears drafted Willis in the third round of the 1990 draft. He’d be the fourth quarterback off the board after Jeff George, Andre Ware, and Tommy Hodson. Expected to be the quarterback of the future, he sat on the bench behind Jim Harbaugh and Mike Tomczak seeing a little mop up action his rookie and sophomore seasons. In a 27-14 loss to Cleveland in 1992, Willis threw for two touchdown passes and 279 yards in relief of Harbaugh, however his 5 game performance and 0-2 record as a starter still meant the jury was out. In 1993 with new head coach Dave Wannstedt in place Peter Tom would see backup duty again throughout the season, in a lackluster performance against Tampa Bay.

In 1997, Willis resurfaced in the AFL with the Tampa Bay Storm playing 3 commendable seasons with the franchise.  In 1998 he’d throw for 70 Tds and only10 picks, and follow that up in 1999 with 65-8. He’d retire from the sport after the season and enter into the radio booth with the Seminoles where he did radio color commentary from 1998 to 2008. He currently resides in the Tampa area.

I sent to Peter about 2 months ago and where he signed these 3 cards. I was a bit disappointed in the signatures. They appear to be from a dried up sharpie. I don’t think it’s a stamp however because the the ink of the signature would pool recognizably on the Action Packed card.  Action Packed, Pro Set and Score were the 3 companies that I enjoyed collecting cards of back in the early 1990s. I especially like this Score card of Peter in his college uniform.  Below are Willis’ NFL statistics:

G/Gs   21/3    Att  183   Cmp 104   Yds 1261   Pct 56.8     Td   6     Int 15    Rat  54.9 |

 

NFL

Thomas, Blair

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 4/22     Received:  8/6  (106 days)

Blair Thomas is from a long line of Penn State runningbacks: Franco Harris, Curt Warner, and Lenny Moore. He’s also part of a long line of, some would say… cursed Penn State runningbacks: DJ Dozier, Curtis Enis, and Ki-Jana Carter.

Thomas was a great runner for the Nittany Lions. He would finish second all time behind Curt Warner in school history, breaking the 1400 yard barrier rushing twice in his career and earning All American Honors in 1987 and 1989. A cut back runner, Thomas was best suited for a zone blocking system.

The Jets under Bruce Coslet drafted Thomas with the 2nd overall pick of the 1990 draft just after Jeff George. As the highest rated RB off the board, he’d be most notably taken ahead of future Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Thomas had a respectable season where he led the AFC rookies in total yards (824 yards),  NFL rookies in yards per carry (5.0),  and dash 55 yards on a reception for a touchdown during his rookie year.  After the season he’d be immortalized favorably in Tecmo Super Bowl. In 1991 Blair started 12 games, and rushed for a career high 720 yards, but his yards per carry would drop substantially to a 3.9 average. Injuries began to catch up to Thomas by this time, and after only starting 7 games in 1992 and 5 in 1993, he would be let go by the Jets in 1994.  Thomas would head over to the Patriots for 4 games, then to the Cowboys for an additional 2.  In 1995, he’d play one final year for the inaugural season of the Carolina Panthers, retiring after the season.

Blair has maintained his football ties since retirement. He has coached running backs at Temple University, and worked for Football University- travelling to Barrow, Alaska to help the town set up its football program.

G/Gs     64/26   Att 533   Yds 2236  Avg 4.2   Td  7   Lg 41t   |
Rec  71    Yds  513   Avg 8.0    Td  2    Lg  55t

NFL

Johnson, Anthony

Cards: Score Supplemental 1990, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990, Athletes in Action
Acquired: TTM C/o home, 2011
Sent: 5/26   Received: 6/6  (11 days)

During the Lou Holtz era at Notre Dame, the team during the late 80s and early 90s always seemed to get their backs drafted, in a list that included: Mark Green, Ricky Watters, Tony Brooks, Rodney Culver, Reggie Brooks and Jerome Bettis.

Anthony Johnson would also be drafted as well by the Indianapolis Colts during the second round of the 1990 draft to go with a new offensive talent  in Jeff George, Stacey Simmons,  and Ken Clark. While his rookie season would be fairly non-existent, in 1991 Johnson would demonstrate his effectiveness as a fullback, blocker and receiver out of the backfield for the Colts registering 42 catches. After the departure of Eric Dickerson in 1992, Anthony would rush for 552 yards and make 49 receptions for 517 yards. In 1993, he’d chip in another 300 sub yard season rushing and almost 450 yards receiving, and then sign in 1994 with the Jets. After a quiet 1994, Johnson would be signed by the Chicago Bears in 1995, but play in only 8 games before being cut and picked up by the expansion Carolina Panthers.  He’d resign with the Panthers in 1996 and rejuvenate his career totalling his first 1000 yard season rushing after 6 seasons.  He’d also be the franchise’s first 1000 yard rusher in the second season of the Panthers existence. Johnson would return to the bench in 1997, but remain on the roster of the Panthers through 1999, and then play one final season with the Jaguars in 2000.

Since retirement Johnson has served the Lord, and at last check had been working as a chaplain for the Jaguars. He signed these three cards in a little over 10 days for me via his home address in Jacksonville and even included one of his Athletes in Action cards. I really liked his Action Packed Rookies and Score Supplemental cards, and was really happy to put these into the books even though Johnson has a surprisingly humble autograph. He signed his full autograph on the Action Packed card, and then only AJ for the remainder of them. In addition he penned all of them with “Jesus” following the autograph.

G/Gs   159/50     Rush 815      Yds 2996     Avg  3.6    Td  9      Lg 29    |     Rec  284       Yds 2422      Avg 8.5       Td  7      Lg 57t