Tag Archives: action packed rookies 1990

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Simmons, Stacey

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Orlando Thunder
See Also: Stacey Simmons (2)

Drafted in the 4th round of the 1990 draft by Indianapolis, Stacey Simmons was a long bomb threat and return man for the Florida Gators. He’d spend one season with the Colts, starting 1 game, making 3 receptions for 25 yards against the Chiefs in in week 5 and 1 catch for 8 yards against the Giants that year.  Contributing primarily on special teams, Stacey had 19 kick returns for 348 yards, but would fail to make the roster of the Colts in 1991.

Signed by the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF in 1992, Stacey would make 6 catches for 55 yards for the Thunder.   While I was scanning through the player rosters I missed Stacey on my original run through that season. Being the obsessive compulsive geek I was, it drove me nuts enough that I wrote the Thunder for his autograph. The Thunder kindly forwarded my card to the 49ers, whom he had recently signed with, and he signed my card there. Simmons would continue to play football in the Arena leagues for the Tampa Bay Storm, winning 2 championships with them.

Since football Simmons has become a shrewd businessman opening up his own training facility in Florida that specializes in boot camps for many sports, conditioning, and speed. (staceysimmons.com).

G  N/a       Rec  6     Yds   55      Avg   9.2      Td 0      Lg  15

NFL

Lathon, Lamar

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed 1992, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1992, 1993, 1994, Houston Oilers Training Camp
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

Lamar Lathon was a fearsome linebacker who came through the University of Houston in the waning days of the Southwest Conference. Lamar was a devastating force in 1988, but his 1989 was ended by a car accident. He’d recover in time for the 1990 draft and along with fellow Houston Cougar Andre Ware – Lamar would be drafted in the first round. Lamar was a target of Jimmy Johnson and the Cowboys, but Lathon ended up the first draft choice of Houston Oilers head coach Jack Pardee who insisted he’d beef up the defensive side of the front with his athletic ability. Lamar would suffer a setback and pretty much his 1990 season would be a wash as he needed arthroscopic knee surgery. Many pundits immediately labeled him ‘a bust’, but Lamar would prove them all aprk90 la lathonwrong with his dominant 1991 season. I have two fond memories of his time in Houston. The first was against Cincinnati in Riverfront Stadium. The Bengals always had the Oilers number at home, but the Oilers would come out and crush the Bengals from the opening whistle. To seal the victory Lamar would have a critical interception he’d return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. He’d also slam the door on Sammie Smith‘s career with a forced fumble he recovered at the 1 yard line against the Dolphins. Later on in the season the Oilers would play host to the Cowboys in overtime when Lamar stripped Emmitt Smith (fellow 1990 draftee) of the football. The Oilers were able to drive the other direction and score the game winning field goal. (Josh never forgave me for that game.)  Lamar would play for the team through 1994 (at outside linebacker and defensive end) until Jack Pardee was fired as coach. With Jeff Fisher in place- the Oilers would go in a different direction and Lathon would sign with the Carolina Panthers in 1995.

He’d have his best statistical years since 1991 with the Panthers, as Dom Capers 3-4 blitzing defenses really suited Lamar’s speed. ap91 la lathonHe’d rack up 8 sacks in 1995 and in 1996 have 13.5, and was named to the Pro Bowl. He’d play only two games in 1998 and then retire from a fractured right knee and was released. In 2001 he attempted a comeback (citing a burning desire to play) and had tryouts and physicals with the Cowboys, Colts, and 49ers, and Giants but was not signed by any squad. Since football Lamar has dealt with some setbacks and minor run-ins with the law.

I really wanted to get Lamar’s autograph (on his Score and ProSet 1990 Rookie cards as they look downright intimidating), but have not heard back from him. I’ll probably try him again once I get a good address or a confirmation of a recent success.

G/Gs 115/92      Tac  414       Sac 37.5     Fum 8
Int  4     Yds 78    Avg 19.4      Td   1     Lg  52t

NFL

Bennett, Tony “Alligator”

Card: Score Supplemental 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o The Green Bay Packers

A brutal hitter with good speed and excellent pass rusher- Tony Bennett was taken in the 1990 draft by the Green Bay Packers in the first round. (In retrospect the 1990 draft was a great linebacking class, led by Junior Seau, Chris Singleton, and James Francis.)  Bennett would be the 6th linebacker taken in the top 18. The knock on Alligator Bennett was that he didn’t respect the run enough.

After a slow 1990, Tony would take off, sacking opposing quarterbacks 13 times in 1991 and 13.5 times in 1992. After a 102 day holdout in 1993, Tony would make 6.5 sacks- he’d leave via free agency to the Indianapolis Colts in 1994 and record 28.5 sacks over the next 4 seasons for them retiring after an injury plagued 1997. All in all a respectable career for 8 seasons logged. I got these two cards autographed by Tony after I had really good results mailing the Packers back in the early 90s for players like Darrell Thompson, Brett Favre, Reggie White, and Sterling Sharpe.

G/Gs  108/89   Sac 64.5     Tac 397   Fum 19       Int 0  Yds 0  Td -.-  Lg -.-