Tag Archives: san fransisco 49ers

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Simmons, Stacey

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Orlando Thunder
See Also: Stacey Simmons (2)

Drafted in the 4th round of the 1990 draft by Indianapolis, Stacey Simmons was a long bomb threat and return man for the Florida Gators. He’d spend one season with the Colts, starting 1 game, making 3 receptions for 25 yards against the Chiefs in in week 5 and 1 catch for 8 yards against the Giants that year.  Contributing primarily on special teams, Stacey had 19 kick returns for 348 yards, but would fail to make the roster of the Colts in 1991.

Signed by the Orlando Thunder of the WLAF in 1992, Stacey would make 6 catches for 55 yards for the Thunder.   While I was scanning through the player rosters I missed Stacey on my original run through that season. Being the obsessive compulsive geek I was, it drove me nuts enough that I wrote the Thunder for his autograph. The Thunder kindly forwarded my card to the 49ers, whom he had recently signed with, and he signed my card there. Simmons would continue to play football in the Arena leagues for the Tampa Bay Storm, winning 2 championships with them.

Since football Simmons has become a shrewd businessman opening up his own training facility in Florida that specializes in boot camps for many sports, conditioning, and speed. (staceysimmons.com).

G  N/a       Rec  6     Yds   55      Avg   9.2      Td 0      Lg  15

NFL, ufl

Bing, Darnell

Card: Topps Total 2006
Acquired: Texans Blitz 2010

A physical specimen, Bing declared early and entered the draft and was picked by the Raiders in the 4th round of the 2006 draft. Rex Ryan was confident he could find a place for Bing, but Darnell proved to be a difficult tweener to place because  as an in-line safety  he lacked the hip fluidity to play deep routes. Ryan however felt that they could utilize the athlete at outside linebacker and he was transitioned into the position.  After injuring his neck in 2006, he’d lose his season to injured reserve. Bing would be moved back to his native safety position for 2007 but be cut by the Raiders. He’d be picked up off of waivers by the 49ers and ended the season on the practice squad. In 2008 Bing would be signed by the Jets and subsequently released. The Lions would sign Bing, who once again thought that Darnell was a linebacker, where he’d would make 5 tackles on the active roster of the Lions. He’d be cut during the 2009 season. Signed by the Texans in 2009, he spent the next season on the practice squad. An injury during training camp would end his 2010, and in early 2011 he was cut again and is currently a free agent. A physically chiseled athlete, the knock on Darnell is that he looked like Tarzan but hits like Jane. Perhaps a year or two in the UFL will help him refine his skills but at this time his current plans are not known.

-UPDATE- 4/26/11 What a call. The UFL announced their ‘protected player list’- (which amounts to a supplemental draft of veterans from the NFL who were cut from squads that the teams want) and Bing was among the names selected by the Omaha Nighthawks today.

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Jackson, Rickey


Cards: Action Packed 1992, ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 3/21   Received 4/1  (11 days)

Rickey Jackson was a 2nd round by the New Orleans Saints in the 1981 draft after an All American Campaign at the University of Pittsburgh.   He’d go on to play in 195 games (13 seasons) making 123 sacks, and recover 26 fumbles- all records for the New Orleans Saints. Transitioning from Bum Phillips to Jim Mora without missing a beat, Jackson was a member of the Dome Patrol (along with Pat Swilling, Vaughn Johnson, and Sam Mills)- one of the best linebacking teams in NFL history. Over Jackson’s long career, he made 10+ sacks in a season 6 times. In 1990 he’d lead the league with 7 fumble recoveries, and in 1992 force 6 more. Rickey would be named to the ProBowl in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1992 and 1993 before signing with the San Fransisco 49ers in 1994, where he was utilized as a situational pass rusher at defensive end for his final two seasons.  In 1995 Rickey would make 9.5 sacks and win his first SuperBowl title and retire.  In summation, Jackson would be named AP in 1986,1987, 1992 and 1993. His number would be retired by the Saints, and after a long wait Rickey would be named to the NFL HoF in his first year of eligibility as a senior candidate in 2010 as the only Saint in the Hall.

G/Gs  227/225    Tac 1173     Sac 128   Fum    Int 8    Yds 68   Avg 8.6     Td 0     Lg  32