Tag Archives: chicago bears

NFL

Carrier, Mark (DB)

ProSet 1991, #1

Cards: Pro Set 1990 DRoY, Pro Set 1990 Interception Leader, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: 2019, Paid Signing

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played safety at USC from 1987-1989.

  • First player in USC history to win the Jim Thorpe award after a banner year in 1989 with 107 total tackles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 7 picks for 58 yards.

  • Selected in the first round, 6th overall, by the Chicago Bears in the 1990 NFL Draft to play free safety.

  •  Recorded Bears rookie record 10 interceptions.
  • Played 7 seasons with Bears from making 20 interceptions for 197 yards and a TD along with 10 FF, and 587 TT.

  • Spent 1997-1999 with division rival Detroit, playing in 44 games and adding another 11 picks and 5 FF.

  • Last season in 2000 was with the Redskins.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • 1990 Defensive Rookie of the Year

  • 100 Greatest Bears of All-Time

  • Jim Thorpe Award (1989)

  • Pro Bowl  (1990, 1991, 1993)

  • All Pro 1990

  • Second Team All Pro 1991
Action Packed Rookies 1990, #30. Pro Set 1991 Interception Leader, #18

NOTES:

This signing was quite affordable- I believe coming in at $10.00 a card, so I threw 3 out there. He’s nearly impossible to get by mail so I was very happy to get him on my Action Packed Rookies as it is a set need. It is a disappointing card, as it is his back… looks like in a huddle, and his face and hands are completely obscured.

Pro Set though- great cards. In fact he shares a Pro Set 1990 #800 with Emmitt Smith that was part of the Update set you mailed out for, as well as card #1 in Pro Set 1991. If another signing comes around this cheap, I will try again, even though his autograph is quite pedestrian.

Mark Carrier makes his debut in Tecmo Super Bowl and is a monster on defense for the Bears secondary clocking in as the 5th rated defensive back with the highest interception ability.

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NFL, NFLE, XFL

Pearson, Pepe

Playoff Contenders 2000 European Ticket #172

Card: Playoff Contenders 2000 European Ticket
Acquired: 2021, Future Prospects

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played 4 years for Ohio State from 1994-1997, rushing for 3036 yards.
  • Best year came in 1996, rushing for 1484 yards and 17 TDs, while catching 19 passes for 218 yards and finishing with 1702 yards from scrimmage for the Buckeyes.
  • Went undrafted in 1998 and bounced around the NFL on practice squads and offseason rosters with the 49ers, Browns, Lions, Jaguars, Steelers, Buccaneers, and Bears.
  • Joined the NFLE in 2000, playing for the Rhein Fire.
  • Ranked second in the league with 486 yards rushing and 3 TDs on 102 carries that year.
  • Scored the game winning touchdown in World Bowl 2000.

  • In 2001,  topped those totals rushing for 597 yards on 166 carries (3 TDs).
  • Briefly saw time on the roster of the XFL Las Vegas Outlaws in 2001.
  • Has extensive coaching experience as a positional coach (Ohio Dominican, Youngstown State, Marshall, Dayton Warbirds, and as of 2021 at Tennessee State.)
  • Also had head coaching stops in the AFL2 with the Daytona Beach Hawgs (04/05) and the Marion Mayhem (08/09) where with the latter he also served as GM.
  • As of the time of this post, is currently offensive coordinator for Eddie George at Tennessee State.

NFLE

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AAF, CFL, NFL, XFL

McKay, Mekale

Cards: Panini Contenders 2016, Leaf Draft 2016, Panini Prism 2016
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim

The Commanders big signing event of the season came at Dick’s Sporting Goods and with big names from the team appearing, it made total sense for me to go. Even though the event said NO OUTSIDE ITEMS, I figured I would take my chances and show up with my cards. It turned out nobody cared and I was able to go through the line 2 times to get all my cards covered. Mekale was next to Derron Smith, and they argued over which had the better cards. Mekale was sold on his Prism card, but he got trumped by Derron who had a Prism die cut card that looked like a fence. Overall it was a great event and I was happy with getting all the players’ autographs that were in attendance, as about two weeks later the league would disappear. Mekale’s autograph is very unique. I have never seen an M shaped quite like that.

Mekale was not drafted coming out of Arkansas (2012)/ Cincinnati (2013-2015), where he posted 108 receptions for 2034 yards and 19 TDs over his time between the two schools. A huge target stepping in at 6-5, McKay averaged an improbable 30.3 yards per reception in 2013 when he hauled in 16 catches for 485 yards and 7 TDs. He’d sign with the Colts after the draft in 2016, but be cut after training camp. Mekale then bounced around between the Jaguars, Broncos, Titans, Bears, and Cowboys over the next two years.

In 2019 McKay signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the now defunct Alliance of American Football. He’d post 22 receptions for 375 yards and 4 TDs including 1 2 point conversion. Mekale’s 17 yards a reception also was among the league leaders in that category. After the league ‘suspended operations’, Mekale drew interest from the Buffalo Bills and attended minicamp with the Browns.

Mekale was then selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL 2020, during the second round of the initial phase of the player draft. Over the course of the season he caught 12 passes for 184 yards and a TD, before the COVID pandemic cancelled the season. Two months later, McKay signed with the Blue Bombers of the CFL, but roughly a month later the league suspended play due to COVID as well.