Tag Archives: action packed rookies 1991

NFL

Bell, Nick

Cards: StarPics 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991, GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person 1991, 1993 Dallas Cowboys training camp

Nick Bell was drafted from Iowa by the Los Angeles Raiders in the second round of the 1991 draft. At 6-2, 255 he was a bruising powerback with highly deceptive speed and a vicious stiff arm. His rookie season would be limited to 9 games due to a bum hamstring. He’d start only one game but in garbage/ backup time Nick would still manage over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. A whole season in 1992 would still not allow him to break the starting runningback lineup of the Raiders starting only one game again but this time making a bit over 350 yards. Named starting runningback  Bell would be chomping at the bit to perform in 1993, but nagging injuries including an ankle injury suffered in training camp would continue to dodge him and give creedence to durability as a major problem for the young back.  He’d start a career high 3 games, but averaging 2.7 yards a carry probably combined with the mounting injury concerns ended his career prematurely at the end of 27.

Information of Nick’s whereabouts since retirement are sketchy. He has done some coaching in Cedar Rapids as a minor league football coach and a highlight video of him has recently appeared on YouTube.

G/Gs 35/5   Rush 226      Yds 853      Avg 3.8     Td 7    Lg 66   |
Rec 21     Yds 213     Avg 10.3    Td 0    lg 24

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui2g99ByNBI

Arena, NFL

Nagle, Browning

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1992, Pro Set Platinum 1992, GameDay 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament

“And with the 34th pick in the 1991 NFL draft, The New York Jets select: Browning Nagle, Quarterback, Louisville.”  Perhaps most notably known as the pick right after Brett Favre, Browning Nagle comes from a long line of NFL drafted quarterbacks from Louisville, KY. The team went quarterback surprisingly, (despite a glaring need for defense,) enchanted by Nagle’s strength and velocity on the ball. After a quiet rookie season on the bench learning the ropes behind Ken O’Brien, Nagle would step into the starting lineup for the Jets in 1992. In 14 games he’d throw 7 touchdowns and for 2280 yards, but he’d turn the ball over 29 times (12 fumbles and 17 interceptions). When Boomer Esiason arrived the following season Nagle headed back to the bench where after the 1993 season I’d meet him at the CGA Youth Golf Tournament and get his autograph. In 1994, he’d sign with the Colts and finish out his 1995 and 1996 on the Falcons.  After sitting out 1997 and 1998 Nagle would play two seasons in the Arena leagues, for the Predators (1999) and Buffalo Destroyers (2000) before retiring from football. His two seasons in the AFL were pretty good in respect to his NFL work. (553 att, 303 comp, 54.8%, 4120 yards, 74 td, 18 int, 98.6 rat)

In one of my fonder moments on the first day of the CGA Youth Golf Tournament in 1993,  I met Billy Joe Tolliver, Browning Nagle and Steve Bartkowski on the course. They liked my likenesses I drew of them so much they signed everything I had of them. We talked football for a few minutes and I rode around on the course with them for a hole. Since football, Nagle has been working at Medtronic as a senior marketing manager and is extremely active in the celebrity golf tournament network. Below are his NFL stats.

G/Gs 24/14     Att 437    Comp 213   Yds 2489   Pct 48.7%    Td 8   Int 20    Rat 53.5  Lg 51

NFL, NFLE, XFL

Harper, Alvin

Cards: Classic 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: In Person 1991, 1992 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

The fresh smell of the second training camp was still in the air and permanent fences still hadn’t been fully erected. Players didn’t always go up the alleyway and occasionally a poor soul would get swarmed by the masses like zombies to the fresh meat, when they came up the wrong way. Alvin Harper did exactly this the first time we got his autograph. He’d be one of our first victims that training camp on his abysmal looking Classic 1991 card. -Great pose however. He was a hell of a jumper. I also learned about trying to avoid getting autographs on glossy cards as with this card the autograph streaked a bit. Alvin Haper like David Anderson– loves to put a star for his “A”- but in this case it really makes sense because in a vain way because Alvin played for the Cowboys. Josh and I also met this guy who was crazy about meeting Harper the next year- and kept talking about how Harper was from a little town in Florida called Frostproof. He talked about it so much- I remembered it for this article without even looking it up!

Harper would be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in their 1991 draft along with Russell Maryland. His rookie season would pass by uneventful enough stretching the field with 20 catches for 326 yards. Alvin’s 2nd and 3rd year would see proportionate increasing in his playing time, yardage, catches and touchdowns, to a point where in his 4th year- Harper would lead the NFL in average yards per catch with a sizzling 24.9 yards per catch. This would be the apex of his statistical career.

I really scratched my head because in 1995 he was the top free agent wide receiver on the market, and the Cowboys were not interested in resigning him. Harper would sign with the lowly Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who were looking for his big play potential to stretch defenses. Harper was happy playing for bigger money closer to home in Frostproof. He was also courted by the Redskins and Chiefs. Things didn’t exactly pan out. Injuries and a bad offense didn’t help him and his career quickly fizzled out. Alvin would spend two seasons there, and then sign in 1997 with the Redskins and also the Saints. In his time with the Redskins though Harper found out about volunteer coaching through Howard University, and began that season. In 1998 he’d be out of football, but hoping to recapture some of that magic again signed with the Cowboys where he played one final season with them in 1999. Alvin has always kept one eye on the sport that he loves dearly- and played in the XFL for the Memphis Maniax in 2001, before retiring from the sport for good. Alvin kept coaching,- something that he truly enjoys and spent some time coaching receivers in the NFLE for the Rhein Fire in 2005. Harper was also officially hired on board by the Howard Bisons (whom he previously interned for) and in 2004 became the team’s offensive coordinator: A position he’s held into 2010.

Largely one could wonder how Harper would have fared if he stayed paired with Michael Irvin. Harper certainly had great tools and athleticism which the Cowboys really knew how to use, but he never quite fit the mold of a lead wide receiver that the Bucs and Redskins hoped he’d be. On a more humorous note, Alvin had a secret nickname- “Freaky Harp”, which I will leave it to you to figure out as he was banned from a Gentleman’s Club in Dallas for being in a phone booth, -and it wasn’t for making a phone call. Harper was also well represented on Tecmo Super Bowl Final Edition on Super Nintendo and was a real factor in the game… for the Buccaneers.

G/Gp 102/67     Rec 191      Yds 3473     Avg 18.2      Td 21      lg 90t