Tag Archives: proset 1991

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Garrett, Jason

Cards: Pro Set 1991, Pro Set WLAF 1991
Acquired: In Person 1993, 1994, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp
Failure:  TTM 2010, C/o Dallas Cowboys
See Also: Jason Garrett (2)

A free agent signee of the New Orleans Saints back in 1989, Jason Garrett would hang on with the team through the 1990 season.

The WLAF San Antonio Riders would draft Garrett to be their starting quarterback but he’d separate his shoulder in the season opener against the Orlando Thunder and within a few weeks Mike Johnson would be firmly entrenched as the starter. (While Garrett would return to start games 7 and 8, Johnson would end the season as the San Antonio Riders encumbent, winning all their games as a starter going 4-2 for the team.)  Jason would not return to the WLAF after the season, and finish his career there with a 71 quarterback rating.

After a brief stint in the CFL for the Ottawa Roughriders, Garrett would be signed by the Dallas Cowboys where he would back up Troy Aikman. Initially a 3rd stringer, I was not high on the move by the team, however he performed well for the Cowboys over the next 8 seasons. During his time on the Cowboys, I’d get his autograph on these two ProSet WLAF cards. He’d be a premium backup policy through the rest of his career, seeing stints with the Giants (2000-03), Buccaneers and Dolphins (2004) before retiring.

Garrett is a student of the game and was immediately in demand as a quarterbacks coach. He quickly transitioned into the role for the Dolphins and served there for two seasons through 2006. Jason would return to Dallas (where clan Garrett is based now), and became offensive coordinator scaling the ranks of the organization. He was named interim head coach in 2010 after Wade Phillips was dismissed midway through the season, and at the conclusion of the season had the tag removed to become Dallas’ 8th head coach.

I sent off for all of clan Garrett (Jason, Judd, and John) last season, but did not hear back from them. As Jason only has 1 card (Ultimate WLAF 1992) that I do not have an his autograph on, I may try this again at a later date. Listed below are his WLAF statistics:

G/Gp  5/3    Att  113      Comp  66         Yds  609             Pct 58.9         Td  3      Int 3          Rat  71.0

NFL

Offerdahl, John


Cards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990 PB, ProSet 1991 AP, TheGoal.com
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 4/2   Received 4/12  (10 days)

John Offerdahl was a legendary Tecmo Bowl player on the Nintendo. The Dolphins could light up the sky with Dan Marino but outside of Offerdahl, the team had a very weak defense. The other problem was, most offenses were set up to have run plays that never allowed John to get free, thus you had to break through the blockers on run plays to get to the runningback.

A tackling machine at Western Michigan University, John Offerdahl would be selected in the second round (57th pick) of the 1986 draft by Don Shula‘s Dolphins. He’d step right into the starting lineup for the team, starting 15 games, 2 sacks and a pick, and a bazillion tackles. He’d be a lock for the ProBowl over the next 5 seasons recognized across the league for his solid tackling, nose for the ball, and flexibility to play all 4 positions at linebacker in the 3-4.  His 1990 would culminate in being named All Pro after the season, however injuries over the next 3 seasons would limit his mobility and by 1994, he would retire. It’s probably not going to happen for John and the Hall of Fame even if he hadn’t had such an injury plagued finale- strictly because he was a tackling machine. As efficient as he was, tackles are such an unglamorous statistic, and with a long line of defensive talent and sack masters waiting- I doubt John will ever receive his due.

John since retirement is quite a businessman and cook, owning a series of cafe’s (Offerdahl’s Cafe & Grill) and while selling his bagel franchises. He’s also quite a popular personality on the ‘grilling circuit’ as well going by “The Gridiron Griller!” (www.gridirongriller.com)  It probably is only a matter of time before he shows up on Food Network.

I sent John a few cards to sign along with some others to have. (-At this point in my life, it’s a good way to get rid of those cards and duplicates and my girlfriend is thankful for it.)  Well, the rumors are true, and John is a generous signer as I got this one back in the mail in about 10 days flat. He signed 3 and included a card from TheGoal.com as well. It included on the back a religious scripture from Ephesians 1:18:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.”

G/Gs  89/86     Tac  N/a    Sac 9.5     Fum  1     Int 4    Yds 44    Avg 11.o  Td 0  Lg  28

NFL

Millen, Hugh

Cards: GameDay 1992, ProSet 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, Patriots Blitz, In Person 1993, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Hugh was a veteran journeyman whose best years as a quarterback came playing for the New England Patriots for Dick MacPherson during the early 90s. Millen was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams out of Washington in the 3rd round of the 1986 draft. After breaking his ankle in training camp he became an unlucky casualty of the Jim Everett trade the next season. For the next two seasons, Millen would back up oft injured Chris Miller in Atlanta, starting 3 games and picking up some garbage time. Heading Plan B to New England in 1991 and 1992, he’d share time with Tom Hodson and Scott Zolak as starting quarterback of the team. His most notable game was when the team upset the Oilers on the weekend of ‘Babygate’ throwing to Greg McMurtry in the final minutes of the game. With the team’s collapse again in 1993, Millen would be traded to the Cowboys and the Patriots would select Drew Bledsoe.  He wouldn’t play in a game, but would sign my Game Day card in camp that season- as he would be released with the signing of Bernie Kosar. With Aikman, Kosar, and Jason Garrett, Hugh was once again expendable and would sign with the Dolphins. In 1994, Hugh would sign with the Denver Broncos where he’d finish out his career over the next two seasons backing up John Elway. For the 1996 season he’d sign with the New Orleans Saints but would not make the roster of the team and retire. He currently lives in Washington.

GameDay really had a nice card set when they came out in 1992. Its unique design coupled with innovative Photoshop masks to desaturate the background,  leave the players firmly in the focus of the image. Well tracked type, does not cloud the picture plane and helps activate the white space outside of the image area. When I got signatures on GameDay cards it was because most of them had a certain “whoa” factor that really caught my eye.

G/Gs  40/25      Att 928     Comp 560     Yds 6440    Pct 60.3      Td 22    Int 35     Rat  73.5