Tag Archives: cincinnatti bengals

NFL

Francis, James

Gameday 1992, #21
Pro Set 1990, #680
Score Supplemental 1990, #85T
Action Packed Rookies 1990, #31
Action Packed 1991, #35

CARDS: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed 1991, Action Packed 1992, Gameday 1992, Score Supplemental 1990, Pro Set 1990
ACQUIRED: Paid Signing, 2023

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • James played LB at Baylor (1986-’89) where over his career he posted 434 total career tackles.
  • In 1989, he set an NCAA single-season record with eight blocked kicks.
  • Earned SWC Player of the Year honors in 1989, when he totaled 129 total tackles, 4 interceptions for 99 yards, 8 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries.
  • He also moonlighted on the Baylor basketball team as well in the off season.
  • A first round pick of the Cincinnatti Bengals in 1990, he had 78 combined tackles, 8 sacks, and an interception that he returned 17 yards for a TD at ROLB.
  • He’d convert to LOLB in 1992, and add 6 more sacks to his resume and another 3 picks for 108 yards including a 66 yard TD.
  • In 1994, Francis had a career high 101 total tackles when he moved to LLB.
  • Added another 3 pick season in 1996, returning another one 42 yards for a TD.
  • Joined the Redskins in 1999, playing there for one season.
  • Retired before he turned 32, citing that it wasn’t fun anymore and that losing just drags on you after a while.
  • Lives in Central Texas, and has kicked the tires on going into coaching.
Action Packed 1992, #33

ACCOLADES:

  • All Rookie Team 1990
  • Baylor Hall of Fame 2001

NOTES:

James doesn’t sign TTM so I had to get as many of his cards signed as I could through a very affordable paid signing.

It’s said that Jimmy Johnson of the Cowboys during the 1990 draft really wanted to draft James Francis in the first round to man his defense over eventual Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. He didn’t get the chance to debate it as Francis went off the board at #12 overall and Smith went off at #17. One has to wonder how the trajectory of the Cowboys might have been altered if Francis was still sitting on the board at #17.

Francis makes an appearance in Tecmo Superbowl where he’s a pretty solid option to play at LB.

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NFL

Waddle, Tom

Cards: Pro Set Power 1992, Pro Set 1991
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Tom Waddle is a player of football lore,  who proves that if you have the tools and can stick with it, you can make it in the NFL. Waddle was an acclaimed receiver for the Golden Eagles of Boston College. With great hands and excellent ability to cut on the fly running routes, it was thought that with his stellar numbers, at BC (finishing 3rd All-Time receiving) he’d sneak into the 1989 draft. As we all know, the 1989 NFL draft was an incredible draft from top to bottom, and despite it still being a 12 round draft, Tom did not hear his name called. Undeterred, Waddle signed a free agent contract with Mike Ditka’s Chicago Bears.

The Bears were pretty set at receiver with Wendell Davis, Ron Morris, Dennis Gentry, and Dennis McKinnon all in front of Waddle. He got in some garbage time as a punt returner and receiver over the next two years, and managed to hang on until he really got his break in 1991.  By the 1991 season we were looking at a vastly different Bears team. The offense was going through major growing pangs converting to a more pass friendly environment with Jim Harbaugh at quarterback. Runningback Neal Anderson and a good portion of wide receiver corps were decimated by injuries, so Tom got his shot on a Monday night game- and didn’t look back….

He’d end up starting 13 games in 1991, and make 55 grabs for 599 yards and 3 touchdowns in 1991. Teams saw that he was fearless trying to make the catch, and made sure to put a licking on Waddle, but he always managed to get his smelling salts, and return right back into the game. Tom recorded career highs in receiving yards in 1992 (with 674 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns on 46 receptions),  and followed that up in 1993 with 44 receptions for  552 yards and a touchdown despite a changeover with Dave Wannastedt becoming head coach. In 1994, Tom was demoted to 3rd string and injuries (concussion, leg) began to take their toll on him. He finished the season starting only 1 contest, but came off the bench still to post 25 receptions for 244 yards and a touchdown. Waddle signed with the Bengals after the season but retired soon there after.

Always a Chicago fan favorite, even after retirement, Tom works radio in Chicago both for ESPN and Fox, and has also done some time as a color and in studio broadcaster for both college and professional football.

G/Gs 60/41   Rec 173    Yds 2109    Avg 12.2    Td 9    Lg  68