Tag Archives: bowman 1992

NFL

Lewis, Nate

Skybox Premium 1993-94, #259
Bowman 1992, #247
Pro Set 1992, #638

CARDS: ProSet 1992, Bowman 1992, Skybox Premium 1993-94
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 8/8 RECEIVED: 8/22 (14 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Nate Lewis came a long way to get to the professional ranks, playing WR at 3 different colleges.
  • Began college career at Oklahoma A&M, before transferring to Georgia for his Sophomore and Junior Seasons.
  • After being dismissed from the football team for academic reasons, Lewis ended up at tiny Oregon Tech.
  • A leg injury caused Nate to miss a significant portion of the season, but he still managed 27 catches for 434 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Still there was enough tape to impress scouts, and with sub 4.5 speed, Nate was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 7th round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
  • Made the roster of the San Diego Chargers and saw 3 starts in his rookie season, moonlighting on kick and punt return units as well.
  • First career TD came on a 63 yard punt return against the Seahawks during his rookie year.
  • Played 4 seasons for the Chargers, posting 450+ yards from 1991-93.
  • Had a memorable 95 yard kick off return for a TD against the New Orleans Saints in the Chargers 24-21 win in 1991.
  • Finished out career playing 2 additional seasons for the Bears (94-95)

NOTES:

I really liked Nate’s Skybox Premium and his Gameday too. Unfortunately he switched out the Gameday for this Bowman. Ah well, at least he was nice enough to sign them and replace the other card too.

For a 7th round pick, Nate had some great cards over his career. Besides the ones mentioned above, he slid in on Action Packed (1992), Score, Proline, and Topps Stadium Club among others.

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130180213.91362
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169382522.6195t
PRYDSAVGTDLG
353279.3163t
NFL, University of Texas

Braggs, Stephen (2)

Cards: Bowman 1992, Topps Update 1989, Fleer 1992
Acquired: In Person 2016, Jordan Shipley Camp
See also: Stephen Braggs

Stephen was really surprised to see that there are a few fans of his still out there, and shocked that I had so many of them.  He knew my friend Nathan and while they were packing up stopped to sign them for me.  Nathan couldn’t find any cards of Braggs, so I spotted him a few extras that I had floating around from over the years.

Stephen’s Fleer 1992 photo was probably the best looking of the bunch, although the design was quite boring. The framing of the Browns helmet with the outline of the NFL logo is unnecessary and the angled Browns helmet is an absolute no-no. Of the 3 the Topps 88 is probably more of a classic than the others, just because the design style (as boring as it was) matched the aesthetic of what was being created then.

Coach Braggs, as of 2017, was  head coach now at Trinity Episcopal School in Central Texas. He also serves as the track and girls basketball coach.  Stephen also runs the Stephen Braggs Foundation.

NFL, usfl

Hull, Kent (1961-2011)

Card: Bowman 1992
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Kent Hull flew under the NFL radar after he graduated from Mississippi State in 1983, but the New Jersey Generals of the USFL would be waiting to swoop him up. He’d block up front for Herschel Walker and Maurice Carthon, paving their way to 1,000+ yard seasons each in 1984, and then blocking for quarterback Doug Flutie in 1985. When the USFL ran into financial trouble the Generals and Houston Gamblers were merged. Jim Kelly was to be his quarterback with wide receiver Ricky Sanders, and coach Jack Pardee running the show in the prolific Run ‘N Shoot, but the league collapsed before it could take the field again.

Kelly and Hull were almost immediately reunited in Buffalo and both became instant starters helping to energize a once woeful Bills team. Buffalo quickly assembled talent and marched into the playoffs with their Hurry Up Offense. With the final piece assembled in 1989 in the form of future Hall of Fame runningback Thurman Thomas, the Bills reached the Superbowl an unprecedented 4 times during the 1990s. During that span Kent started 121 straight games at center, from 1986-1993, and retired after the 1996 season.

In addition to his 3 ProBowl appearances, Hull was named to the Bills’ 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 2009, and inducted into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2002. Jim Kelly called him one of the finest players that he ever played with and his best friend. Considered a smart tactician, Hull called plays for the line and also was a team captain for 7 seasons.  Kent Hull passed away at home on October 18th, 2011 and is survived by his wife and two children.