Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Barnett, Harlon

 

Cards:  Action Packed Rookies 1990, GameDay 1992, Topps 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Michigan State University
Sent: 7/20   Received: 7/28  (8 days)

Harlon Barnett was a outstanding hard hitting defensive back  who served as a team captain for the Michigan State Spartans back in the late 1980s. At 5-11, 180 he was a bit undersized to play safety but converted to free safety his senior season and earned All American Honors recording 69 tackles, 3 picks, and 3 fumble recoveries.

The Browns would take a stab at their home state product, and nab Harlon in the 4th round of the 1990 draft. After missing the majority of his rookie season with a back injury, Barnett would return to the line up in 1991 as the team would reshuffle its secondary after the departure of Felix Wright to Minnesota and the drafting of Eric Turner. As injuries would continue to plague the Browns beleaguered secondary, Barnett would start 10 games, making a modest 60 tackles and 1 sack that season. After a lackluster 1992, Harlon would sign with the New England Patriots and play for them 2 seasons making 4 interceptions. In 1995 he’d head over to Minnesota and retire after the 1996 season. Barnett is an astute student of the game and headed into coaching with stops at LSU and Cincinnati. He is currently the defensive backs coach of Michigan State where I got his autograph on these 3 cards in a short 8 days.

Great cards here of Harlon, who was more of a role player and special teams star for the teams he was on. Action Packed once again had a stellar scouting team in place, and had a rookie card out before his rookie season really got underway. This Topps 1992 card was when they finally got the message that action shots were important to collectors. It’s a good shot of Harlon as well, and along with the GameDay cards, these represented the 3 cards I had in my collection of the former MSU star.

G/Gs  99/54     Tac  264    Sac  2.0    Fum 3      Int 4     Yds 91    Avg 22.7      Td 0       Lg 40
Barnett makes a pick against the ‘Canes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB2sKwemGUM
Anthony Johnson takes it on the nose from Harlon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w53R0bikjjw&feature=related

NFL

Thomas, Blair

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 4/22     Received:  8/6  (106 days)

Blair Thomas is from a long line of Penn State runningbacks: Franco Harris, Curt Warner, and Lenny Moore. He’s also part of a long line of, some would say… cursed Penn State runningbacks: DJ Dozier, Curtis Enis, and Ki-Jana Carter.

Thomas was a great runner for the Nittany Lions. He would finish second all time behind Curt Warner in school history, breaking the 1400 yard barrier rushing twice in his career and earning All American Honors in 1987 and 1989. A cut back runner, Thomas was best suited for a zone blocking system.

The Jets under Bruce Coslet drafted Thomas with the 2nd overall pick of the 1990 draft just after Jeff George. As the highest rated RB off the board, he’d be most notably taken ahead of future Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Thomas had a respectable season where he led the AFC rookies in total yards (824 yards),  NFL rookies in yards per carry (5.0),  and dash 55 yards on a reception for a touchdown during his rookie year.  After the season he’d be immortalized favorably in Tecmo Super Bowl. In 1991 Blair started 12 games, and rushed for a career high 720 yards, but his yards per carry would drop substantially to a 3.9 average. Injuries began to catch up to Thomas by this time, and after only starting 7 games in 1992 and 5 in 1993, he would be let go by the Jets in 1994.  Thomas would head over to the Patriots for 4 games, then to the Cowboys for an additional 2.  In 1995, he’d play one final year for the inaugural season of the Carolina Panthers, retiring after the season.

Blair has maintained his football ties since retirement. He has coached running backs at Temple University, and worked for Football University- travelling to Barrow, Alaska to help the town set up its football program.

G/Gs     64/26   Att 533   Yds 2236  Avg 4.2   Td  7   Lg 41t   |
Rec  71    Yds  513   Avg 8.0    Td  2    Lg  55t

NFL

Molden, Antwaun

Card: Bowman 2008
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

Promising cornerback from Eastern Kentucky- Antwaun Molden was drafted in the 3rd round by the Houston Texans in the 2008 draft. A series of unrelated injuries have limited the young, rangy defensive back from participating with the team since being drafted. In 2008 he made a fumble recovery and a tackle, and in 2010 he made 6 tackles. He’s played primarily on special teams for the Texans, but has seen little or no time on the field in the secondary.

With the team blowing up its defense after the 2010 season because of an extremely porous secondary, it is suspected that it is do or die time for Antwaun as the team will be looking to shake things up. Antwaun’s future may lie eventually at safety as this former track man has the speed to play the position, but has yet to find the place he fits best in the Texans’ defense.

UPDATE: On late Tuesday, August 30th, 2011, Antwaun would be among the Texans first round of cuts and would be claimed by the Patriots.