Tag Archives: Rhein Fire

NFL, NFLE

Junior, EJ

CARDS: Fleer 1990, Game Day 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, 2022 C/o Home
SENT: 10/27/21 RECEIVED: 2/13/23 (474 days)
SENT: 1/25/22 RECEIVED: 2/19/22 (25 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • EJ Junior played from 1977-’80 at defensive end for Alabama.
  • Over his college career he had 190 tackles and 21 sacks.
  • He’d be the 5th overall pick of the 1981 NFL Draft by the St Louis Cardinals who shifted him to OLB.
  • Had 49 tackles, 10 pass deflections, an interception and a sack his rookie year.
  • Displayed versatility seeing action at OLB and MLB.
  • In ’84 led the team in tackles with 99- and had 9.5 sacks, and 6 pass deflections.
  • His 5 interceptions in ’85 were the most by a Cardinals LB since 1956.
  • Ranked second on the team with 106 total tackles, 2 sacks and 8 pass deflections.
  • From 1986-’88, EJ was hampered by a series of injuries.
  • Signed by the Miami Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in 1989.
  • Found new life as the Dolphins designated pass rusher, posting a total of 11 sacks between 1990 and 1991.
  • Joined the Bucs in 1992- finishing his season with the Seahawks dressing for 5 contests.
  • Played one final year in 1993 for the Seahawks, dressing for 4 games, before transitioning to the team’s linebackers coach for the ’94 campaign.
  • Over NFL career played in 170 games- starting 120.
  • Worked as the Director of Player Development for the Dolphins from 1996-’98.
  • Spent a season with the Vikings (’03), and Jaguars (’05) as a minority intern coach.
  • Earned first assistant coaching gig working in the NFLE with the Rhein Fire in 2005.
  • Returned stateside in 2006 and served as a linebackers coach for Southwest Baptist until 2008.
  • Head coach at Central State (OH) from 2009-’13 finishing with a 9-45 record.
  • After a brief hiatus, served as defensive line coach at Delaware State from 2015-’17.

ACCOLADES:

  • Alabama Sports Hall of Fame 2012
  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Senior Bowl Hall of Fame 2007
  • Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame 2010
  • NFL All Rookie Team 1981
  • Pro Bowl 1984, ’85

NOTES:

I sent to EJ to try and get him on these two cards. After I sent to him I saw a lot of RTSes from that address. I turned around and mailed these two same cards a few months later to his new address and he kindly responded. I must have been the last mail he got before his forwarding address expired, as over a year later the original cards I sent out in 2021 came back autographed.

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NFL, NFLE

Johnson, Alonzo (Central St)

Playoff Contenders 2000 European Ticket, #163

CARD: Playoff Contenders 2000 European Ticket
ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Alonzo Johnson played WR at small school Central State (OH)
  • After going undrafted he was signed by the New Orleans Saints in 1998, seeing action for one contest.
  • He’d head over to Europe playing for the Barcelona Dragons of the NFLE in 1999.
  • In Alonzo’s debut he caught 20 passes for 300 yards and 3 TDs, including a 65 yarder.
  • He’d return to the league the following season, this time for the Rhein Fire, in 2000.
  • During that season, Alonzo caught 41 passes for 538 yards and 3 TDs, including a 55 yarder.
  • He also was used as a returner by both squads, seeing the majority of it with the Fire where Alonzo logged 21 punt returns for 121 yards, and 21 kickoff returns for 384 yards.
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NFLE
NFL, NFLE

Carter, Ontiwaun

Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000, #263
Playoff Contenders 2000, #153

CARD: Playoff Contenders European Ticket 2000, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2000
ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations
TTM, 2024
SENT: RECEIVED: 5/9 (73 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ontiwaun Carter played RB at Arizona from 1991-94.
  • In each year he saw his rushing yards increase, to a career high 1,163 as a senior.
  • At the time his 3,501 total rushing yards ranked 2nd, and his 805 carries ranked first in school history.
  • Signed as a FA with the Miami Dolphins in ’95 but was among the final cuts.
  • Joined the NFLE in 1996 playing for the Rhein Fire, rushing 22 times for 110 yards.
  • He returned to the league in 1997, and as the defacto #1 back for the Fire, ran for 587 yards on 120 carries and 2 TDs to lead the WLAF.
  • Key cog in the franchise appearing in World Bowl ’97.
  • Started working with troubled youths back in the states.
  • Returned for one last season with the Rhein Fire in 2000.
  • Went into ministry after playing days were over and is the founder of Restorer of the Breach Ministries in Las Vegas.

NOTES:

Pastor Carter was kind enough to write me a nice note, thanking me for bringing a smile to his face. -These are the responses that make what I do feel rewarding.

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