Tag Archives: ottawa rough riders

Archer, David

Cards: Proset 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o Home.
Sent: 7/30  Received: 8/27    (28 days)

David Archer was signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Falcons in 1984, where he’d be the back up quarterback and starter in 1985 and 1986 until Chris Miller arrived in 1987. He’d then bounce around the NFL as the backup quarterback for the Redskins in 1988 and Chargers in 1989. He’d be cut and out of football in 1990, but was be picked up by the Eagles in 1991. It was at this point that the WLAF intervened and David Archer would have his moment in the sun when he went to play for the Sacramento Surge franchise in 1992. The Surge needed a veteran presence and a makeover to turn the franchise around from its dismal 3-7 showing of 1991 and Archer fit that bill to the T. Archer virtually went on to rewrite all the Surge records, and lead the team to World Bowl II, earning MVP honors passing 22 of 36 and 286 yards with 2 TDs as the team rallied to score 15 points in the fourth quarter. David also grabbed the single season passer rating record at 107 with a whopping 9.35 yards per completion and 29 touchdowns. Archer and the Surge were the Riders‘ nemesis in 1992, and when these two teams met it was usually a torrid match. He would lead the team in a comeback victory over the Riders in the final WLAF game at Bobcat stadium in 1992 after being snubbed in Sacramento in OT by the Riders earlier in the season.

After the folding of the WLAF, Archer played with the Eagles an additional season in 1992, and then jumped ship to the CFL USA with the Sacramento Gold Miners in 1993 and 1994, and then the Texans in 1995. He’d then play a single season for the Ottawa Rough Riders, before that franchise was disbursed in 1996. (Quite possibly there is some sort of morose record there for the most number of franchises played for that folded, as Archer had the ‘touch of death’ for 4 franchises over a 5 year period.) He’d take a season off in 1997 uninterested in playing for Saskatchewan, and then play one final season in 1998 for the Edmonton Eskimos.

Archer has since gone on to become a color commentator for the Falcons, SEC football and currently ACC football. I thought at some point I had gotten his autograph but I was completely mistaken. He signed these two cards in about a month.

WLAF
Att 317   Comp 194   Pct 61.4   Yds 2964
Td 23    Int 7   Rat 107.0   Lg 80t

Burgess, Tom


C
ards: All World CFL 1991
Acquired: TTM c/o the CFL

Tom Burgess was a prolific passer in college playing for tiny Colgate university in 1985 where he received the Andy Kerr trophy for the team’s most valuable player, and  also to the Colgate Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. Undrafted by the NFL, Burgess continued to follow his dream of playing professional football to the CFL where he played for the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1986-1987. He’d then spend roughly two seasons each with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Ottawa Rough Riders again, and finally finishing out his career with the Roughriders (again) in 1994-1995. Burgess played in two Grey Cups, winning it in 1989 and earning the MVP Honor in 1990.

After retiring to Phelps, New York Tom was inducted into the Roughriders plaza of honor in 2009.

Games N/a    Att 4034    Comp  2118      Pct  52.5%
Yds 30308       Td  190      Int 104      Rat 82.1

Kulka, Glenn ‘The Kulkster’

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

To say the least Glenn Kulka has had a controversial and colorful career. A mouthy player who never had a problem speaking his mind, Kulka was quite an athlete, not only playing gridiron football but also in hockey and professional wrestling. Nicknamed, “the Kulkster”, Kulka has amazing upper body strength and constitution, once bench pressing an amazing 225 pounds a record 53 repetitions. Glenn initially played minor league hockey, and based on his amazing athleticism was signed as an offensive lineman by the Edmonton Eskimos in 1986. Glenn wouldn’t really find his position of calling in football till he signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders who converted him from a linebacker to a  defensive end. In 1991 he was named a CFL All Star.  Unfortunately in 1992 Kulka was busted for cocaine possession but he turned this into a positive by serving as the league’s spokesperson against drug use.

After a meeting with Bret “The Hitman” Hart in 1995, Glenn would decide to pursue a career in pro wrestling and started transitioning out of gridiron football.  He’d continue wrestling working his way up the minors reaching the apex of his career wrestling from the WWE in 1999. He’d go on to wrestle in a variety of leagues after leaving the WWE, and retired briefly from the sport in 2000.  Later Kulka admitted to rampant steroid abuse that he started when he was with the Rough Riders and throughout his career in wrestling.  In retrospect Kulka has felt that he has lived a blessed life.  Glenn since retirement has enjoyed a variety of interests and business pursuits including car dealership and gym ownership, CFL commentary, some more wrestling, and as a theater performer.  As the master sportsman Kulka hasn’t finished his life in sports and has started pursuing a career in MMA. He also speaks out regularly against drug and steroid usage.

This card was part of the blitz of CFL players that I received when I mailed out to the CFL after they announced expansion plans. It is an error card as Glenn’s name reads as ‘Glen’ on the card.