Tag Archives: action packed rookies 1990

NFL

Barnett, Oliver

aprks90 barnettCard: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 8/6        Received: 8/15   (9 days)

Jerry Glanville drafted Barnett in the third round of the 1990 draft. The defensive lineman had experience playing across the line but it looked like Glanville penciled him in at defensive end.  A physical specimen and gym rat, Barnett set the Kentucky Wildcats combined weightlifting record (850 squatting) with 1,685 lbs. He finished his career at Kentucky with 212 solo tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and a school record 26 sacks- which was not bested until 2015.

Glanville was hot out of Houston, and after orchestrating the Jeff George trade that netted him Chris Hinton and Andre Rison, and a few first round choices, the Falcons developed in a hurry.  Barnett was a depth play by the team, as you could never have enough fresh bodies playing on the line in a 3-4 set up.  Barnett was an enigma to scouts because they felt that he never completely played up to his potential.

Oliver had a serviceable and respectable career in the NFL.  His best season arguably came in 1991, when he recorded 47 tackles, 1 sack, and recovered a fumble that he returned for 75 yards for a TD.  In 1992 he started a career high 7 games recording 54 tackles. In 1993, Barnett signed with the Bills, playing 2 seasons for Buffalo, before finishing out his career in 1996 with the San Francisco 49ers.

In 2013, Barnett was inducted into the Kentucky Wildcat Hall of Fame.

G/Gs  85/18     Tac 177    Sac 5.0      Fum  1
Int   0    Yds 0     Avg -.-    Td 0

NFL

Williams, James ‘JD’ (1990 DB)

pset90 jdwilliamsCards: ProSet 1990, Score 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Work
Sent:  8/10    Received: 8/21   (11 days)

sco90 jdwilliamsFormer walk-on James ‘JD’ Williams was a standout defensive back from Fresno State, who boasted great measurables due in part to his track numbers. He ran the 100 meters in 10.58 seconds (4.29 40), had a triple jump of over 53 feet, and a vertical leap of 39 inches. JD also had some accolades and stats to go with it, earning First team All-Big West Conference selections as both a Junior and a Senior- his only two years as a starter.  He had 9 pass deflections, 58 tackles, and 4 sacks in 1989. Williams was also a dangerous special teams contributor, blocking 6 punts in 1988 (NCAA Division I-AA Record). With a smooth backpedal, solid tackling, and a natural bump and run defender, Williams shot up the draft charts that year.
aprks90 jwilliamsThe Buffalo Bills picked JD with the 16th selection of the 1990 Draft. He’d be the second defender off the board and the first cornerback overall. (Outside of safety Mark Carrier, this proved to be a poor draft overall for the secondary with only safety LeRoy Butler and corner Eric Davis even making ProBowl appearances.) Williams admittedly was not prepared for the rigors and competition at the NFL level.  JD was allowed to wear the hallowed #31 jersey that the Bills had retired to: ‘memorialize the spirit of the fan’… or something corny like that.  (Williams wore 31 in college.) He joined the Bills at the right time, providing much needed depth for the team to reach 4 consecutive Super Bowls.
aprks90 jwilliams BIn 1995 JD signed with the Arizona Cardinals, but in a twist of fate, he broke both of his ankles. It was his best season as a pro. He was never the same. Williams spent one season after that in San Francisco, and retired after the 1996 season.

From there Williams decided to finish his degree, and somewhere along the way got back into coaching. He’s been working at the college level for sometime now as a defensive backs coach with stops at Cal Poly, San Jose State, Fresno State, California, Washington and currently (as of 2015) at UNLV.

G/Gs 70/35      Tac 133        Sac 0        Fum 1
Int 11       Yds 74         Avg 6.7      Td  0        Lg  29

NFL

Warren, Chris

aprks90 warrenCard: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: Paid Signing 2014, Sportscollectors.net

Chris Warren doesn’t pop up much, and the underrated and unheralded back was on my list. One of the last cards I got in those Action Packed Rookies packs I’d buy at 7-11, this is a very solid picture of Warren. He eluded me when he joined the Cowboys blocking for Emmitt Smith at Cowboys’ Training Camp in Austin, but I kept the card all those years. When the paid event came up, I thought I might as well knock him off my list.

Chris Warren started at UVA but finished his college career at Ferrum College, a tiny Division III school in Virginia. After putting up solid numbers for the Panthers, Warren was drafted in the 4th round of the 1990 draft by the Seahawks. Seattle had recently lost career leading rusher Curt Warner to free agency, and with JL Williams not getting any younger, Warren was a good fit for the team returning kicks and getting spot duty when he could. In 1992, Warren recorded his first of 4 1,000 yard seasons for the Seahawks. In 1994 he ran for a career high 1,545 yards on 333 carries. He also logged a career high with 323 yards receiving. Chris played for the Seahawks through 1997. In his final season with the team he recorded a career high 45 receptions, but with him now recording back to back 800 yard seasons,  Warren was not viewed as a feature back anymore- at least for the money Seattle was willing to pay him.

Warren signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys in 1998. He spotted Emmitt at runningback while blocking up front for him over the next 2 and a half seasons. Warren played one final game for the Philadelphia Eagles retiring after the 2000 season. His son in 2014 recently signed a letter of intent to play for the Texas Longhorns.

G/Gs 162/91      Rush  1791      Yds  7696   Avg  4.3    Td 52     Lg  52
Rec 273    Yds 1935    Avg 7.1      Td 5    Lg76