Tag Archives: American Football

NFL, WLAF

Vick, Roger

Cards: Proset 1989, Score 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Orlando Thunder
See Also: Roger Vick (2)

 

I knew that Roger (who had played collegiately locally at Texas A&M) had a really nice ProSet card in 1989, so when he signed with the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF, I dug the card out of my collection and stumbled upon the Score 1990 card as well. After the Thunder throttled the Riders in San Marcos I would get Vick’s autographs on these cards as he left the dressing room.

The offensive MVP of the Aggies for the 1987 Cotton Bowl, Roger Vick was a strong fullback with a nose for the end zone, who was selected in the first round of the 1987 draft by the New York Jets. The blocking back primarily for underrated Freeman McNeil, he’d play for them through 1989 scoring 12 touchdowns, and then briefly with the Eagles in 1990- before sitting out a year in 1991.

In 1992, he was drafted by the Orlando Thunder, which ran a spread offense- (so to me he was a head scratcher on their team,) but Vick came out firing on all cylinders, finishing second on the team in rushing behind teammate Darryl Clack on the league’s #2 rushing offense.

Unfortunately the league would fold North American operations after 1992.  Since retirement, the consensus is that Roger Vick is Texas A&M’s best fullback in the college’s storied history. 

NFL

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
33312893.91039
RECYDSAVGTDLG
664697.1223

WL

RUSHYDSAVGTDLG
1164583.9430
RECYDSAVGTDLG
8486.0016
NFL

Johnson, Jeremiah

Card: Score 2009
Acquired: Texans Blitz 2009

Okay, here’s a guy I thought was a slam dunk and was very disappointed to have not seen make the final roster of the Texans in 2010.  The platoon mate to Johnathan Stewart in college started one season but made it count rushing for over a 1000 yards and a whopping 7.1 yards a carry. (He was so good that his stiff arm had a facebook page set up for it at one point!) He and his agent determined that a shoulder injury caused teams to stay away and as you know, runningbacks are a dime a dozen, so he was a free agent. Johnson would sign with the Texans along with fellow free agent runningback Arian Foster and be placed on IR after separating his shoulder in 2009.

In 2010, Jeremiah would have a pretty good training camp and in his limited playing time would work his way up in the preseason lineup. I was very impressed by his ability and physicality, and thought he had an outside shot at the starting assignment, but coaches thought otherwise. After an impressive performance against the Cowboys, Johnson would dislocate his toe in the final game of the preseason and would be cut. At this time the team is attempting to work out an injury waiver settlement and resign him to the practice squad or the regular roster in late September or early October as the team’s #3 back behind free agent signee Derrick Ward. It never happened. Here are some highlights of his preseason and college stiff arm work from YouTube. Currently Johnson is on the roster of the Denver Broncos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqOU9d8sR0M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynbo4ZjMJXk&feature=related

NFL

Barnett, Fred

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: In Person 1994, Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp

Wide receivers weren’t highly rated coming out of the 1990 draft and there wasn’t even one taken in the 1st round. In fact the #1 rated receiver Reggie Rembert didn’t even log 500 career yards. There were 6 receivers taken (7 if you include supplemental pick Rob Moore,) before Fred Barnett out of Arkansas State, was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles along with Calvin Williams (5th round) and Mike Bellamy (2nd round). The Eagles were desperate to rejuvenate a beleaguered wide receiver corps that had Mike Quick retiring due to patella tendinitis in 1990 and Cris Carter being cut the previous year.  With Mike Bellamy wearing out his welcome and being cut midway through the 1990 season, Barnett and Williams became Randall Cunnningham‘s go to duo. Fred would not disappoint, hauling in a 95 yard touchdown in his rookie year and was known to sacrifice his body to go up top to make the catch. (Perhaps there was added pressure because head coach Buddy Ryan hated wide receivers, even going so far as saying to Barnett, “To catch the damn ball or you’re fired!”) Barnett would make the ProBowl in 1992, – with 1083 yards and 6 touchdowns. After an injury plagued 1993, Fred would return to form and have a career high 1127 yards in 1994.  He’d leave the Eagles in 1996, playing two oft injured seasons for the Miami Dolphins before retiring in 1998.

Barnett since retiring has remained physically active and fit- even considering returning to the sport as late as 2005. He has dabbled in a variety of ventures including fashion design, acting, and a variety of charitable work. At last glance he still lives in the Philadelphia area and still passionately follows the Eagles. I got his autograph at Philadelphia Eagles training camp in West Chester back in 1994. Also of note is that Fred is a cousin of former wide receiver Tim Barnett of the Kansas City Chiefs.

G/Gs 96/88     Rec  361       Yds 5362        Avg  14.9       Td 32        Lg  95T