Tag Archives: Los Angeles Raiders

CFL, NFL

Fernandez, “Swervin’” Mervyn

Card: Fleer 1990
Acquired: Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1992

Mervyn Fernandez got a better offer so he packed his bags and headed to the Great White North of the CFL, where he became the poster child for the British Columbia Lions in 1982 winning the Western Division’s honor for the most outstanding rookie. He’d help the team win the Grey Cup in 1985 finishing a monster season up with 1727 yards and won the Most Oustanding Player award that season. In 1987 Al Davis would convince him to join the Raiders organization, where he’d play for the next 6 seasons and the burner would lead the NFL with a monster 26 yard average per catch in 1988. In 1989 he’d follow that up with 1069 yards on 57 receptions. In 1992 I’d get Swervin’ Mervyn’s autograph at Cowboys training camp along autograph alley when the Raiders came to town. He’d then head back up north in 1994 and rejoin the BC Lions for one final season and retire.

Mervyn since retirement has amassed a long line of awards from his time in the CFL, being inducted into the British Columbia Lions Wall of Fame, the Lions All-Time Dream Team and named in 2006 as one of the CFL’s Top 50 players of the modern era. Surprisingly Fernandez has not been inducted into the CFL HoF, but hopefully his time will come soon. Listed below are his Raiders statistics.

Games 86    Rec 209      Yds 3764       Avg 18.0       Td  19      Lg 85T

NFL

Smith, Steve “Rhino” (1964-2021)

Card: Skybox 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

As a big fan of the sport, I literally carry every card of every player I can find to camp. On occasion I’m asked, “Why do you have that guy’s card?” I was asked that exact question before I got Steve’s autograph back in 1993 at Cowboys training camp. There’s a few reasons why I do that, but the most prevalent is I love the sport, and by getting a player’s autograph I am honoring my memory of the sport with them. In a way players I get the autographs of are my signed draft choices. Some are future prospects, or have a special place already in my mind, or some like Steve Smith, have a purpose or a need to educate us after their playing days are over.

Initially at Penn State, Smith was a runningback but because of his tenacious blocking and depth at the position, he was converted to fullback where he played the remainder of his career in football and was the team captain of their National Champion Team in 1986. (Not expecting to be drafted, Steve was in the shower when the Raiders came a calling in the 3rd round of the 1987 draft with fullbacks being a dime a dozen.) Despite his initial impressions Steve would see a significant role in the offense as not only a blocker but a short yardage back and receiver. He garnered the nickname ‘Rhino’ from his teammates, and scored 3 touchdowns in 1988. In 1989 he’d meet a Raider cheerleader, that Steve would eventually marry. After playing with the Raiders for 7 seasons, Steve signed with the Seattle Seahawks, where he finished his career in 1995.

After football, Steve was struck with what he hoped initially was Lyme disease (when he started suffering symptoms in 2002,) but over the years has been unfortunately ALS, or Lou Geherig’s Disease.  Steve fought nobly and courageously with his wife steadfast by his side. (Lou Geherig himself lasted only two years after the initial diagnosis, but Steve fought it for almost 20 years.) Many of his friends and former teammates came to his aid over the years, such as DJ Dozier, Howie Long and Shane Conlan.

Steve Smith was once quoted as stating that “God has a purpose that has brought me to this point,” and perhaps it is to educate us about the increasing proof that ALS could be linked to concussions, as Steve was a  focus of an episode of  “Real Sports” on HBO documenting his life and daily struggle.

While Steve welcomed letters, donations, and words of encouragement, he had been unable to physically sign for many years. It is safe to assume that his wife had been ghost signing for him since at least 2010- if not further back. 

Games 128   Att 429     Yds 1627    Avg 3.8     Td 9    Lg  21   |
Rec 131   Yds 1250    Avg 9.5    Td 13    Lg 45

UPDATE  11/20/21- Steve passed away today after a lengthy battle with Lou Geherig’s Disease. He is survived by his wife and two children.

NFL

Montoya, Max

Cards: Proset 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990, Score Supplemental 1990
Acquired: In Person, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp 1991, 1993, 1994

Max Montoya was drafted in the 7th round by the Cincinnati Bengals out of UCLA in 1979. After claiming the starting job he’d start at right guard for the formidable Bengals offensive line in 152 games over the next 11 seasons and 2 Superbowl appearances. Max would also be named to the ProBowl in 1986, 1988, and 1989 before signing with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1990.

Max’s signing with the Raiders was controversial at the time as GM Mike Brown had stated that Montoya had made a commitment not to look elsewhere. He immediately became the highest paid offensive lineman in the history of the Raider franchise. He went to the ProBowl one more time in 1993 before retiring in 1995. Max’s final statistics include starting 203 games over 16 seasons.
Max was always planning for life after football during his playing days. After briefly coaching football, Montoya became a franchisor of Penn Station East Coast Subs and is involved in real estate. He also owns his own Mexican restaurant in northern Kentucky called Montoya’s.
I got Max’s autograph in 1991, 1993 and 1994 at Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. One of my most comically bad moments in autograph collecting history occurred with Max Montoya. As Max passed down the line in what was commonly known as ‘autograph alley’ I was coaching another kid on how to get autographs. Max gave me his autograph but passed by the other kid who kept holding out his card forthe wrong player  (Dallas wide receiver Alexander Wright). I told the kid, “That’s not Max Montoya,” but Alex heard me, and embarrassingly took offense thinking that I was making a racial comment. Ace Wright obviously didn’t want to sign my card- or Max Montoya’s for that matter either.