Tag Archives: proset wlaf 1991

NFL, WLAF

Berardelli, Paul

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 8/7     Received: 8/16   (9 days)

A three year starter while at Villanova from 1985-1988, Paul was teammates with Steve Gabbard on the Philadelphia Eagles developmental squad back in the 1989 season.  After a stint on the Packers in 1990, Paul was drafted in the 4th round by the London Monarchs during the WLAF’s positional draft. There he’d be reunited with Steve, (and along with Doug Marrone,) they’d become the most formidable offensive line in WLAF history allowing only 10 sacks on the entire season. He’d become the vocal ringleader of the offensive line, nicknamed ‘The Nasty Boyz. ‘ Thanks to the play of the line,  Stan Gelbaugh averaged roughly 280 yards passing per gam.  At the end of the season the Monarchs won World Bowl I over the Barcelona Dragons. Paul, Doug, and Steve, all received 1st team All-World Honors from the league as well for their outstanding blocking.  The NFL took notice, and poached the rosters of the more successful WLAF teams. Head coach Larry Kennan returned stateside, and while the Monarchs came in and put up a good fight to start the season in 1992, the team did not repeat as WLAF champs.

Retiring from football, Paul decided to enter into education after the season concluded. He’s since climbed the ranks from substitute teaching all the way up to principal at Delsea High School in New Jersey. Villanova also retired his jersey in 1998.

He considered future Sacramento Surge DE (and future Pro Wrestler)Bill Goldberg, to have been a bear to block, and looks back upon his time in the WLAF, the memories, and the players he met while he was with the Monarchs, very fondly.

I had actually been after Paul for sometime after identifying him on Facebook. Since he never responded to my emails, I went ahead and sent something out anyway and in the letter I talked about the WLAF and mentioned that I had spammed him on Facebook quite a few times. He wrote me back and dropped me a nice note and offered to answer any questions that I had about his time in the WLAF. It really is these gems that make this hobby special, especially when I get just as much out of reminiscing about it as a player does.

NFL, WLAF

Gabbard, Steve

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 7/6  Received: 7/28  (22 days)

Steve Gabbard played collegiality at Florida State as a defensive tackle, but his 6’3″, 293 frame screamed offensive line to coaches in the NFL. The Eagles signed him as a free agent in 1989, and moved Gabbard to tackle, stashing him on their practice squad. In 1991, the World League of American Football was just getting started and the London Monarchs used their first offensive line pick on him. It would prove to be bountiful for the Monarchs, as their line yielded only 10 sacks on the whole season.  Along with Steve, teammates Doug Marrone, and Paul Berardelli were named first team All World along the offensive line helping pave the way for an offense that averaged 380.6 yards per game.  After the season, Steve signed with the Green Bay Packers where he appeared in 4 games for the team.  He signed his lone WLAF card for me and wrote ‘God Bless!’, On the envelope. Really a nice find.

 

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Goetz, Ron


Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 5/29     Received: 6/7      (9 days)

Finally knocked out another elusive member of one of the WLAF European squads in Ron Goetz, linebacker for the Barcelona Dragons in 1991 and 1992. Goetz, played at the University of Minnesota where he got a reputation as a linebacker with a motor that never quit. Originally when he arrived at the institution he was a runningback, but got converted to linebacker by the end of his Freshman campaign. By his senior season in 1989, Ron had made quite a name for himself receiving All-Big Ten honors recording 68 tackles and 2 picks, – one of which he returned for a game winning touchdown against the University of Wisconsin.
This was good enough to receive attention from NFL scouts and the Minnesota Vikings drafted him in the 12th round of the 1990 draft.  Though he did not make the team, the WLAF’s Barcelona Dragons made him their first pick at linebacker in 1991. Goetz did not disappoint. Playing at inside linebacker for the Dragons,  Ron led the league at linebacker with 4 interceptions on the team’s exceptional defense that helped propel the team to World Bowl I against the London Monarchs.  Although the team did lose the game 21-7, they were able to claim the division title outright in 1992, with again stellar defensive play keying the way. Ron had 2 sacks and 3 picks for the Dragons that season, but the league reorganized after the year and did not return until 1995.  Goetz returned stateside, but stayed North of the border, first signing with Ottawa Rough Riders in 1993, and then the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1994.  He’d remain with Saskatchewan through 1997 and retire back to Minnesota where he lives today.

Tac N/a     Sac  3     Fum       Int  7     Yds 33      Avg 4.7       Td 0     lg  26