Tag Archives: proset 1991

AFL, CFL, NFL, wfl, WLAF

Stephenson, Kay

Card: ProSet 1991, ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, San Antonio Riders v. Sacramento Surge

Kay Stephenson would get his break playing backup quarterback in the AFL for the San Diego Chargers in 1967 and the Bills in 1968. Stephenson played in the WFL and was the starting quarterback in the first game of the league’s existence for the Jacksonville Sharks. In 1975 he’d be named player personnel director and offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Express. After the WFL  folded he’d be hired on by legendary coach Chuck Knox to be an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Rams where he’d follow Knox to the Buffalo Bills, becoming a member of Knox’s coaching tree.

Stephenson was named head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 1983, replacing Knox who was hired by the Seattle Seahawks. He is most notable in his stint as the man behind the Bills helmet color change from white to red. It is rumored that the reason behind this was a need to differentiate the Bills from the rest of their division to help the team cut down on interceptions. (At that time the Patriots, Dolphins and Colts all had white helmets.) After an ignominious debut with the Bills where the team posted a  10-26 record, Kay would be fired in 1986. He’d actually be selling real estate when the  WLAF approached him in 1990 to coach the Sacramento Surge. While the team had a rough inaugural season- Stephenson would guide the team in its second season to a World Bowl II with a dynamic offense led by former NFLer David Archer.  After their thrilling victory over the Riders– I got Kay’s autograph on his two cards as they were leaving the locker room. I remember quite distinctly that he smoked like a chain smoker.

After the WLAF folded, he’d hop over to the Sacramento Gold Miners of the CFL to coach there for the 1993 and 1994 season. Stephenson during his time with the Gold Miners would post a 16-19-1 record before the franchise relocated to San Antonio and renamed itself the Texans. With the Texans the team posted a  12-6 record and qualified for the playoffs, but lost in the semi-finals. With the disbanding of the other CFLUSA teams after the 1995 season, Kay would find himself in the assistants’ chair again until he was promoted to head coach for the Edmonton Eskimos for the 1998 season where he resigned after a 9-9 season. Interesting tidbit about Stephenson is that he has been involved with 5 teams that experienced major downturns, contractions, or all together folded (Surge, Goldminers, Texans, Express, and Sharks). Below are his WLAF coaching statistics:

G 20    W  11     L   9     T  0     Pct .555

NFL

Meads, Johnny

Cards: Topps 1990, Fleer Ultra 1991, Pacific 1991, ProSet 1991, Score 1991
Acquired: In Person, Houston Oilers Training Camp 1991, TTM C/o The Tennessee Titans 2010
Sent: 4/3 Received: 4/16  (13 days)

Okay, here’s a guy with a middle name worthy of a linebacker, Johnny “Sand” Meads. Thibodaux, LA is home to tiny Nicholls State, and the Houston Oilers would call Johnny’s name near the top of the 3rd round. This draft was a good defensively at linebacker and yielded names such as Carl Banks, Wilber Marshall, Gary Reasons, and Fredd Young. In fact it was so good 3 of the Oilers starting linebackers came out of this draft. Robert Lyles, John Grimsley and… Johnny Meads. The draft really represented defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville‘s vision for the Houston Oilers- an attacking defense led by quick and aggressive linebackers. In 1986 Johnny would score 111 tackles from his outside linebacker position and record 4 sacks. He also had extra value. At 6’2″ 232 with a wide wingspan, Johnny was a great special teamer, blocking 2 punts in 1989. By 1990, Meads was the senior member of the Oilers defense and made the transition from the 3-4 to the 4-3 defense anchoring down his starting position at linebacker. Johnny would be named defensive player of the week for his 1990 performance against the Saints in which he recorded 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception and 3 forced fumbles and amazingly he’d play most of the season with a broken thumb in a cast, and would still make 95 tackles and 5 forced fumbles.  1991 would see his final season as a starter, as the team was determined to go younger at the position. They’d bring in Eddie Robinson and Joe Bowden the next season and by the 4th week of 1992- he’d be cut and find himself on the roster of the Redskins for two weeks before retiring. Since football Meads has worked in the Tennessee Titans organization and is currently a scout for the organization. I’d get the Fleer 1991 Ultra autographed while at camp that year and he’d kindly sign the others for me in 2010. Great autograph with the way the “M” sweeps under the rest of his last name. The points of the “M” indicate his alertness, drive, and intelligence. A perfect linebacker autograph.

G/Gs  119/97    Tac  528     Sac 23.5    Fum 1    Int 1     Yds 32   Avg 32.0   Td 0    Lg 32

CFL, NFL, usfl

Verdin, Clarence

Card: ProSet LL 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, Colts Blitz

Clarence Verdin was a refugee from the Houston Gamblers of the USFL. With deceptive speed and great cutting ability, Verdin would light up the scoreboard in 1984 and 1985 under the Run N Shoot offense, before heading over in 1986 to play for the… -Washington Redskins where he would win a Superbowl playing for the team. Clarence would spend two seasons there, before the Colts picked Verdin up where he’d really be known as the team’s primary return man and as a spot wide receiver. He would see the endzone on occasion and treat fans to his touchdown celebration in something he called ‘the Verdance’. Clarence would go to the ProBowl in 1990 and 1992 for his return skills, leading the team in touchdowns in 1992 with 2, and returns (50) and yards (1050) in 1993. After the 1993 season, he would sign with Falcons, before an abbrieviated 6 game stint in the CFL in 1996, for the British Columbia Lions.

At last glance in 2003 Clarence was living in the New Orleans area, owned a series of barber shops and worked for an oil corporation. Below is a video of one of his returns from his days playing days in the USFL.

G/Gs 118/25  Kr 237   Yds 8076  Avg 20.8   Td 1  Lg 88T |
Pr 178   Yds 1650  Avg 9.3   Td 4   Lg 84t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds15aLbmMgI