Tag Archives: edmonton eskimos

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Bell, Kerwin

Cards: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate 1992 Promo
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v Orlando Thunder
Failure: C/o Jacksonville State, April 2010
See also: Kerwin Bell (2)

Kerwin Bell started the first game I watched in WLAF history- a shoot out on NFL network between the San Antonio Riders and the Orlando Thunder. Kerwin Bell would lead the Thunder to victory in that game wearing the helmet camera 35-34 over the Riders that day in 1991.

After an acclaimed career playing for the University of Florida, Bell would be drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 7th round of the 1988 draft, but he’d end up on Atlanta where he’d finish the season behind incumbent quarterback Chris Miller. In 1989 Bell would travel back to Florida where he’d play for the Buccaneers and would be out of football in 1990.

The Orlando Thunder would come calling in 1991 for the WLAF and he’d respond with a solid season throwing for 2214 yards and 17 touchdowns under coach Don Matthews. Wearing the helmet camera on opening night of 1991, he’d lead the Orlando Thunder to an exciting 35-34 victory over the San Antonio Riders, throwing 3 touchdowns to Byron Williams. With 1992 however the NFL allocated players to the WLAF from their player pool of ‘future stars’. With new head coach Galen Hall taking over for Matthews, the team snatched up Dan Marino‘s heir, Scott Mitchell, and Kerwin spent the season strangely on the bench. The team would win World Bowl II, and Bell would see only cleanup time throwing a touchdown in relief. The WLAF would disband after the season and Kerwin would join CFLUSA playing for the Sacramento Gold Miners in 1993 and 1994. He’d hop over to Edmonton in 1995 for a year before being signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 1996. Bell would stay there through the 1997 season where he’d post a perfect quarterback rating completing all 5 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. In 1998 he’d return to the CFL to play for the Argos where with a vengeance he’d throw for almost 5000 yards and almost 70% of his passes and be a CFL East All Star. He’d hop over to Winnipeg in 1999 for a season and a half before returning to Toronto to close out his playing career after 2001.

He’d jump into coaching being offensive coordinator for the Argos for a season and then into the high school ranks for a bit. After a successful stint at that level he’d be hired by Jacksonville University where he’s been since 2007. When I had gone onto the field to get Scott’s autograph, I was able to do virtually the same with Kerwin. I felt that Bell was the face of the WLAF and was annoyed when he was relegated to the bench in 1992. He graciously signed all 3 cards for me, including this Ultimate WLAF card which was a promo only handed out at games. I sent him two cards in April of 2010, (Kerwin’s Wild Card 1992 and his regular Ultimate 1992 card,) but did not heard back from him. After seeing a few successes in 2012, I took another shot at him and had a success in February of 2012. Below are his WLAF statistics and a few videos.

G/Gs 11/10       Att 331      Comp 185        Yds  2276        Pct  55.9%         Td  17        Int  14         Rat  77.8

Kerwin at Florida v Auburn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvE5ob0VQ-o
Comical moment involving Kerwin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPYvI4xOOxQ&feature=related
Kerwin discusses wide receivers at Jacksonville University http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTMpaA0i7YI&feature=related

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Mitchel, Eric

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The New England Patriots

A backup runningback to Barry Sanders, Eric Mitchel was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1989 during the 6th round from Oklahoma. A tremendous athlete with deceptive speed Mitchel would not make the final roster of the Patriots. Instead he’d go onto greater glory in the WLAF drafted in the 2nd round of the positional draft by the Orlando Thunder in 1991. Mitchel would be used primarily as a receiver through the first half of the season, but soon thereafter was inserted back into his native runningback position. He’d tear it up- rushing for an impressive 6.7 yards a carry. Eric even got some kick return time in with 276 yards on 8 returns, and a whopping 34.5 yards. The Ultimate 1992 card also depicts him making a throw- which he completed for a touchdown of 53 yards. His impressive all around 1991 season would ultimately result in Eric being named 2nd team All World.

Eric would return to the NFL in 1992 signing with the Cowboys, but was waived in March of that year. Mitchel would move up to the CFL where he signed with the Edmonton Eskimos helping them win the 81st Grey Cup in 1993. In 1994, Mitchel would play for the Las Vegas Posse in the CFLUSA, -unfortunately the most unsuccessful CFLUSA team. After 9 seasons in football, Mitchel retired but has spent time in real estate in and around Dallas, Tx.  Of note, you probably have seen the former Thunder player on late night TV as if you look closely at the security detail- you may just see him on the TV show “Cheaters” as one of the blurred out private investigators.

G 10   Rush 42    Yds  281   Avg  6.7    Lg 58   Td  3   |   Rec  26    Yds  312    Avg 12.0   Lg  75    Td 1
Kr  8   Yds  276   Avg 34.5     Lg  96t    Td  1   |  Att 1  Comp 1  Yds 53  Pct 100  Td  1   Int 0  Rat 158.3

CFL

Jones, Stephen

Card: All World 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The CFL

After graduating from Central Michigan in 1982, wide receiver/ kick returner Stephen Jones would play from 1985-1993 in the Canadian Football League.  He played in 1985 for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but headed over to the Edmonton Eskimos from 1986 to 1989.  On August 1st 1986, in a game versus the Toronto Argonauts, Jones would finish with the 3rd all-time single game kick-return yardage record with 228.  He’d then finish out his career with the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1990-1994. Stephen was a two-time CFL West All-Star in 1990 and 1992. In 1992, Jones helped the Rough Riders make the playoffs for the first time in over 10 years, as the team lost a heartbreaker 29-28 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the first round of the playoffs. As with many CFL players the information regarding players is quite scarce.