Tag Archives: chicago bears

Minter, Barry

Card: Classic 1993
Acquired: In Person 1993, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Barry Minter is a great story about a ‘diamond in the rough’. Drafted out of Tulsa in the 6th round by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1993 draft, I think that most people didn’t hold out much luck for him making the stacked Dallas roster. When he was walking to the field one day I and asked him for his autograph he stopped and smiled widely as it was the first time he had seen the card. Barry was unsure how to sign it, since it was his college card so he told me that he’d put his Cowboys # on the back. A real cool cat, Josh and I wished him luck for the upcoming season. He got traded within 2 months as part of a player swap deal with the Chicago Bears.

The Cowboys got disgruntled linebacker John Roper, tight end Kelly Blackwell and Markus Paul. The Bears got Vinson Smith, Minter and some draft choices. Looking back at it, the Bears definitely got the better end of this deal. Minter performed respectably well for the Bears playing through 2000 for the team recording a career high 6 sacks in 1997 and 96 tackles in 1999. During the second game of the 2000 season, he’d be injured and replaced by Brian Urlacher. In 2001 Barry signed with Cleveland playing in one game and retiring after that. Barry’s strength was his ability to play virtually any position in the linebacking corps as he played both MLB and RLB frequently.

G/Gs  111/61    Tac 351     Sac 11.5    Fum 7
Int  5    Yds 90     Avg 18.0     Td 2   lg 34T

Pease, Brent

Cards: Proset 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Boise State University
Sent:  4/28    Received: 5/13  (15 days)

Small town Brent Pease was born in Moscow, Idaho, and was a starting quarterback for the Montana Grizzlies. In 1987, he was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 11th round, but did not make the final roster. He was quickly picked up by the Houston Oilers and started 3 games during the NFL strike that year going a respectable 2-1 and throwing for 3 touchdowns.  After the strike shortened season, Pease would earn his roster spot but would quickly get bumped to 3rd string after a disastrous 1988 campaign that saw him post a 0 quarterback rating. Still he’d contribute to the Oilers, replacing punter Greg Montgomery during the season as holder for Tony Zendejas‘ kicks. In 1989 would sign with the Miami Dolphins and then he’d see time in the CFL in 1990, where he was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and finally come back to the Chicago Bears that year. He’d be drafted in the inaugural WLAF allocation draft by the Birmingham Fire in 1991, where he’d play for a season before going to the New York- New Jersey Knights in 1992.

In the WLAF for the Fire, he played well enough to steward the team to the playoffs until he was replaced by Eric Jones in the lineup. He’d then get bumped around in the quarterback shuffle in New York behind Reggie Slack and Doug Pedersen in 1992. Pease would then play for the Cincinnati Rockers of the AFL in 1993 and then retire.

Since football Pease has jumped into coaching where he has quickly climbed the college ranks. Returning to his alma matter Montana he grew quickly into the offensive coordinator job helping the college establish itself as one of the stronger passing programs at the I-AA level. After brief stints at Northern Arizona,  Kentucky, and Baylor, where all the teams offenses experienced prolific growth under his tutelage. Brent would return to his home state of Idaho where he currently serves as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach.

Utilizing the power of the internet, I located Brent quite quickly and sent off to him after I found his cards. Brent’s name has generated a lot of buzz as Boise State has remained a stalwart contender over the last few years and numerous internet reports have been linking Pease to college head coaching jobs around the country.

Games N/a   Att  210  Comp  99   Pct  47.1%   Yds 1076
Td 5   Int  9   Rat 52.8

McMichael, Steve “Mongo”

Cards: Action Packed 1990, Skybox 1992, Gameday 1991.
Acquired: In Person, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993.
See Also: Steve McMichael (2)

Steve McMichael before graduating from the University of Texas set the college’s career records for most tackles (369) and sacks (30)  and was named Hula Bowl MVP in 1979. McMichael was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 1980 and had a quiet rookie season playing for them that year only getting 5 tackles. By 1981 he was already on the street but quickly picked up by the Chicago Bears, where he’d become a mainstay at defensive tackle (and on occasion NT) in the NFC Central for the next 13 seasons (13 for Chicago and 1 for Green Bay). He’d provide solid work in the trenches as a technically sound run stopper and pass rusher. A two time ProBowl selection in 1987 and 1988, Steve would also be a two time AllPro in 1985 and 1987. He’d also notch over 10 sacks 3 times in his career along the way and played in 191 games for the Chicago Bears. (His 191 games started is a club record for consecutive starts). He’d also finish his career with 3 career safeties and was a key contributor to the Bears solid efforts to win SuperBowl XX, ironically against his ex team the Patriots. McMichael would play one more season across the lake in Green Bay before retiring in 1994.

Steve after football would pursue a career in Pro Wrestling, adopting the name “Mongo” and coming in under the WCW banner. His wife would also get into the act and was a part of wrestling’s early 1990’s attempt to sell sex. Mongo would have a much publicized wrestling career and even took on other former pro football players such as Kevin Greene and Reggie White. His life would begin to match that of the soap opera that was wrestling when his wife (Debra) left him for another wrestler in 1999. He’d leave the sport until 2008 where he refereed a match for TNA wrestling. Since those years Mongo, has done pre-game commentary for Bears games and is coach for the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Football League. He has also since remarried and was inducted into the College Football HoF in 2010.

I got Steve’s autograph when he was riding around with Earnest Byner during the CGA Youth Golf Tournament in 1993.

My strange connection to Mongo is that while I was working at a used video game store, his ex-wife’s best friend was my boss. I’d overhear from time to time my boss talking about taking morning jogs with Debra, and how her new husband sometimes was abusive towards her. It’s sad how that ended up but nonetheless things have worked out for McMichael, the hope is things have worked out for Debra too.

Games  213   Tac  838        Sac 95         FF 13
Int 2         Yds 5            Td 0