Tag Archives: action packed rookies 1991

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

NFL

McGwire, Dan

Cards: SkyBox 1992, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Seattle Seahawks
See Also: Dan McGwire (2)

Dan McGwire. Now that is a blast from the past. A giant, towering specimen of a quarterback at 6 feet 7 inches with good bloodlines (Mark McGwire’s brother)- Dan, played collegiately at Iowa and then transferred to San Diego State for his final two seasons.  It was at San Diego State McGwire would pile up the yards and really earn his stripes in the WAC with a 146.8 quarterback rating his senior season. The Seahawks would go so far as to make him their #1 pick in the 1991 draft and the franchise’s first quarterback ever drafted in the first round as the team’s quarterback of the future to replace the never aging Dave Krieg- (AKA the Steve DeBerg of Seattle). McGwire would only start one game in limited playing time in 1991 and 1992 making little or no impact. The Seahawks would alarmingly respond by drafting their second quarterback ever drafted in the first round- Rick Mirer in 1993. In limited playing time Dan would throw for his first career touchdown that year backing him up. Things began to look up for the former first rounder when in 1994 McGwire saw the most playing time of his career playing in 7 games and starting 3 finishing with a 60.3 qb rating. In 1995 Dan would head over to Miami playing in one game and would retire after the season.

Without really thinking about it- McGwire does go down as an NFL draft bust, in a draft that overall had great collegiate statistical and credential talent on paper and hideous results in the pros. There is only one quarterback that rose from the ashes of the whole draft- and that would be All World Brett Favre. Otherwise nearly every quarterback from the 1991 draft was out of the NFL by 1995.

In the end, McGwire would finish with two touchdowns and six interceptions, and only 13 games under his belt. Since football Dan has become president for a vitamin enhanced H2o drink company and lives in Reno, NV.

G/Gs 13/5   Att 148   Comp 74    Yds 148    Pct 50%    Td 2   Int 6   Rat 52.3

NFL

Henderson, Jerome

Cards: Action Packed 1991, Score Supplemental 1992
Acquired: Patriots Blitz 1992

Speedy defensive back Jerome Henderson was taken out of Syracuse in the 2nd round of the 1991 draft by the New England Patriots. He would provide valuable depth for the team also acting as a punt returner that initial season. Things looked good for Henderson who made 5 picks, 2 fumbles, 101 tackles and 201 punt return yards over two seasons, but by 1993 he was already playing for the Buffalo Bills, where he’d remain through 1994. In 1995 Henderson would sign with the Eagles, where he recovered one fumble and returned it for a touchdown, before he returned to the Patriots in 1996. 1997 would see him step up to a new challenge as he moved into the free safety position for the New York Jets, where he’d finish his career after 2 more additional seasons in 1998. At last check Henderson is the defensive backs coach for the Cleveland Browns. It’s interesting looking at the certainly journeyman like career of Henderson and where he has been as he has spent his whole college career and pro career within a 500 mile radius of New York City with 5 teams and 6 stops.

G/Gs 98/33   Tac 205     Sac  1    Fum     Int   9    Yds  118    Avg  10.9    Td 0    Lg 45