Tag Archives: new orleans saints

CFL, NFL

Fenerty, Gill “Gill the Thrill”

Cards: Topps 1992, GameDay 1992, ProSet 1991
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 5/10   Received: 10/26   (169 days*)
*Slight delay. Forwarded from old address.

One of my longer waits this season, Gill Fenerty responded in roughly 6 months to my autograph request. I had given up on this one, so to get it back, especially when I had newer stakes in the fire, and on top of the problems with my forwarded mail, it was a nice charge to my slower than normal month. I like guys like Gill- a real blast from the past. I love his Topps card. Even though he’s in a two point stance, Gill looks ready to launch off the line like an armored tank.

It’s safe to say that Gill Fenerty is probably tiny Catholic College Holy Cross’ most famed football graduate. The Crusaders’ do it all runningback would be drafted out of college in 1986 in the 7th round by his hometown Saints, after finishing as the school’s all-time leading rusher but opted to play in Italy of all places instead. He’d sign with the Argonauts of the CFL in 1987, and tear it up North of the border posting 625 carries for 3094 yards, a 5.0 average and 32 touchdowns over the next 3 season. Gill also contributed 140 receptions for 1190 yards and 7 touchdowns. With a short career in the CFL, he left a lasting legacy by setting team marks for rushing yards in a season (1247), in a game (215),  CFL Rookie of the Year Honors, in addition to CFL All Star Honors for every season he played in the gridiron league.

In 1990, The Thrill would return home to his native New Orleans Saints. Raised in NO, Fenerty came into a runningback corps that had proven 1,000 yard talents Reuben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard in the backfield. -Even the fullback, Craig “Ironhead” Heyward could’ve been a featured starter on many squads. Undaunted, Gill joined the squad and quickly endeared himself to fans as a hometown favorite that did it all for the Saints rushing, receiving, and kick returning.

With Bobby Hebert sitting out the 1990 season, the team went to bat with Steve Walsh and John Fourcade as starters at quarterback. Both Reuben Mayes and Dalton Hilliard suffered season ending injuries allowing Fenerty to step into the lineup as a key contributor for the team.  He’d finish with 355 yards rushing, 209 yards receiving, and 572 on kick returns.  In 1991, Thrill started 12 games for the team, as Hebert would return to the starting lineup and guide the team to its first division title. Fenerty had excellent hands. He’d lead all runningbacks out of the backfield with 26 receptions in 1991 but was not retained by the squad for 1992.  After his playing time with the Saints, Fennerty signed with the Shreveport Pirates and played one season for the expansion CFLUSA franchise before retiring.  Most notably Gill is immortalized as one of the better return men in Tecmo Super Bowl.  He currently lives in the Atlanta area and is a successful CPA.

G/Gs 31/12     Rush 212     Yds  832        Avg 3.9        Td 5      Lg 60t      |
Rec  44   Yds 444    Avg 10.1    Td 2    Lg  50
KR   30    Yds 600    Avg 20.0    Td 0     Lg  58

 

 

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Garrett, Judd

 wcardwlaf92 garrettultwlaf1992 garrett llpsetwlaf91 garrettpset91wl ju garrettpsetwlaf91 garrett wbpsetwlaf91 garrett ll

 Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992, ProSet WLAF 1991 LL, ProSet WLAF 1991 WB, Ultimate WLAF 1992 LL, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: In Person 1993, TTM 2011, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp, C/o The Dallas Cowboys
Sent: 8/13  Received: 8/20  (7 days)
Failure: 2010, C/o The Dallas Cowboys

The Garrett family has a long lineage of players who have made it to the professional level. Father Jim, and brothers Jason and John have all played or coached in the NFL or WLAF.

Judd Garrett was drafted in the 12th round of the 1990 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He’d be released, but quickly placed on Dallas’ IR list. The WLAF London Monarchs would draft Judd to play runningback for the team in 1991.  While Garrett would spend very little of his time rushing the ball, he’d be an exceptional receiver out of the backfield, making a league high 71 receptions in 1991. In World Bowl I, he’d set a World League record with 13 receptions during the game. He’d return to the Monarchs in 1992, and while the team sunk, Judd would still amass 55 more receptions, finishing his brief career as the WLAF’s leading receiver with 126 catches.  He’s also notable as being the first points scored in the WLAF as he was stuffed in the endzone by the Frankfurt Galaxy for a safety.

ult92 jugarrettAfter playing for the WLAF he’d sign with the Cowboys again. I’d get his autograph at camp but he’d not make the squad. Garrett would play in the CFL for two seasons after that with the Las Vegas Posse (1994) and the San Antonio Texans (1995) before his playing career ended.

Judd went into coaching where he’s served with the Saints (1997-1999), Dolphins (2000-2005), Rams (2006-2007) and is currently serving in the front office of the Cowboys along with his brothers Jason and John.  I attempted to get the autographs of all 3 earlier this year, but met with no success.  I sent again just to Judd in early August and was happy to get a seven day turn around plus a very nice thank-you letter for being a fan and for following him and the league.

G/Gs N/a     Rush  28         Yds    78         Avg  2.8     Td 0    Lg 15   |
Rec  126     Yds  1129    Avg 9.0   Td 2    Lg 47

 

NFL

Carroll, Wesley

Cards: Score 1991, Star Pics 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Topps 1992, ProSet 1991.
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home.
Sent: 7/19   Received: 7/25  (6 days)

Wesely had apparently fallen behind on his TTM autographing. As from what I had researched he had not been signing anything in roughly a year, when all of  a sudden sports collectors.net started registering some hits that got progressively smaller in date range. I went ahead and took a stab at Wesely, partially because he was on my list for Action Packed Rookies to get signed, and also because he was a member of the Miami-FL team that handed the University of Texas one of its most embarrassing bowl losses. I sent him 3 cards to sign, and 2 additional cards to keep. He ended up signing all of them and returning them in a scant 6 days.

A fifth year player, Carroll played 3 years at Mississippi Junior College before transferring to UM in 1989. A fine all around athlete with good size, Wesely made a good slot receiver due to his willingness to block and also fearlessness over the middle. In his senior season at Miami he registered 952 yards and 6 touchdowns on 61 receptions. At the time of his departure from the college he ranked second all time with 114 catches.

The Saints would make Carroll their second round choice in the 1991 draft and he’d be one of 11 from Miami taken that year. A modest rookie season would leave Carroll with 18 receptions and a touchdown in 12 games in 1991. He’d follow that up with 5 starts in 1992, grabbing another 18 balls for 292 yards including a 72 yard bomb for a TD. This would be statistically his best season. In 1993 Carroll would sign with the Bengals via free agency adding 8 more catches to his resume,- but racked up a heavy injury bill over his short playing time and retired before the 1994 season.
Further investigation reveals a workers compensation claim that Carroll won against the Saints and Bengals for his injuries in 2010 that covered industrial injuries to his cervical spine, lumbar spine, left upper extremity, both knees, left lower extremity, left thumb, and hypertension, causing 46% disability and need for further treatment. It is with this, that I hope that Wesley is enjoying as restful a retirement as physically possible.

G/Gs  40/5    Rec 42     Yds  557       Avg  13.3     Td 3      Lg 72t