Tag Archives: indianapolis colts

NFL, WLAF

Parker, Anthony

Cards: Proset 1991, Proset 1991 WLAF ll, Proset WLAF 1991, Proset WLAF ll, Ultimate 1992 ll, Ultimate 1992
Acquired: TTM C/o Home
Sent:  9/21   Received: 12/5   (81 days)

Anthony Parker was a quick defensive back at Arizona State with impressive speed and among college’s best return men when an injury sidelined him before his senior season. After leaving Arizona State, Parker would be signed by the Colts suiting up for 1 contest notching a tackle in 1989.

Sitting out a year after not making the Jets roster in 1990, Parker was then drafted in the first round of the WLAF player allocation draft in 1991 by the New York- New Jersey Knights where he would make his mark. Parker in 10 games for the Knights made an incredible 11 interceptions for 270 yards and 2 touchdowns. His league leading numbers would help the team make the playoffs in their inaugural season. Anthony would be the only player named unanimously to the All-World Team and was considered the #1 prospect from the WLAF. He would also tie for the league honor of defensive MVP.

Returning back to the NFL, Parker would sign with the Chicago Bears ultimately finishing out with the Kansas City Chiefs suiting up for 2 games. In 1992 Anthony would finally get the shot starting two games for the Vikings- making 3 interceptions. He’d stay there through 1994 before signing with the St. Louis Rams, starting 16 games that season and 14 in the following year in 1996. Parker would also see some time as a punt returner. Anthony would finish out his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1998 posting 4 career interception returns for touchdowns. He finished his NFL career starting 69 games with 15 interceptions for 251 yards and 4 touchdowns and a long of 94 yards- really helping to justify to me one of the major reasons why the WLAF existed.  Below are his statistics from the 1991 WLAF season.

G/Gs 10/10    Tac  43    Sac 0   Fum    Int 11     Yds 270    Avg 24.5    Td 2     Lg 46t

NFL

Walsh, Steve

Card: Score 1990
Acquired: In Person 1990, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

When Troy Aikman was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the overall #1 pick in 1989, it didn’t take them long to make waves by grabbing Steve Walsh with their supplemental #1 pick soon thereafter, as Walsh was Dallas’ head coach Jimmy Johnson‘s quarterback at Miami. Walsh and Aikman duked it out for much of the season with Walsh (,not Aikman,) winning the lone game for the team that year- a snoozer against the Washington Redskins. The victory however didn’t figure into the team’s decision to keep him, and Walsh ended up being traded for a few draft choices to the New Orleans Saints after training camp in 1990.  The Saints, were looking to play hardball with encumbent quarterback Bobby Herbert. As Herbert returned to the lineup, Walsh saw his time decrease, but Walsh ended up having the his best season of his career there playing for the Saints a year later in 1991, starting 7 games and throwing for 11 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. After a forgettable 1992 and 1993 though, Walsh was sent packing and signed with the Chicago Bears where he was reuntied with an old familiar coach- Dave Wannastedt, the former defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. He’d take over as backup quarterback under Erik Kramer (who happened to be replacing Jim Harbaugh). Kramer would be injured and Walsh would run the show, under a well-managed, albeit conservative game plan, helping shepherd the Bears into the playoffs with a 9-7 record. He’d throw for 2,000+ yards and 10 touchdowns starting 11 games that season for the Bears, but with the 1994 season out of the way, he inexplicably would not start another game in Chicago or throw for anymore touchdowns in his career. After a forgettable 1996 with the Rams, Walsh played 1997 and 1998 with the Buccaneers throwing 4 more picks, before closing out his career with the Colts in 1999 with 2 more and retire. Since football, Walsh has gotten involved at the high school level and coaches football in Florida.

G/Gs  80/38     Att 1317    Comp 713   Yds 7875   Pct 54.1%   Td 40   Int  50  Rat  66.4

NFL

Culver, Rodney (1969-1996)

Card: Star Pics 1992
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Indianapolis Colts

Rodney Culver, from Detroit, was the starting tailback (and first African-American Captain) at Notre Dame in 1990 and 1991. He was drafted in the 4th round of the 1992 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts during the ‘dark days’ of the franchise (before the current ‘golden age’ of the Manning Era). With the departure of Eric Dickerson the team was going in a new direction at runningback and had a platoon of players at the position. Culver was used primarily as a goal line and short yardage back. He played in 1992 and 1993  for the Colts, before signing with the Chargers in 1994.  I’d get Rodney’s autograph during a blitz of the Colts franchise back in 1992. His autograph oddly has 2 numbers on it- his college number and a star with a 2 next to it. I have assumed it meant it was the second Star Pics card he signed. Culver played in San Diego for an additional two seasons in another platoon system, making an appearance in the Superbowl for the Chargers, after the 1995 season. Over his short career Culver showed flashes of starting potential, was a tireless team player, and dedicated hard worker. Full of wisdom beyond his years and an inspirational presence, Rodney was also a devout Christian going as far as when he’d score a touchdown he would point towards the sky in thanks.

On May 11th, 1996 shortly after takeoff from Miami, Rodney and his wife were tragically killed when their flight, Value Jet 592 crashed in the Florida Everglades killing all 110 on board. The crash would highlight massive oversight failures by the airline industry when dealing with safety, contractors, and transportation of potentially hazardous materials on commuter flights. In 1999, on the 3rd anniversary of the disaster, a memorial was dedicated to the victims of flight 592 in Miami-Dade county. Truly an unsung and quiet player, leaving us before his prime- Rodney Culver is another example of a exactly why I have been putting these autographs on my site. It’s not fair- really- and this is the best I can do to remember players like Rodney.

G/Gs 43/5      Att 241        Yds 689         Avg 2.9      Td 13      Lg 36  |
Rec 42      Yds 343       Avg 8.7      Td 3    Lg 27