Tag Archives: san fransisco 49ers

NFL

Waymer, Dave (1958-1993)

Card: Action Packed 1990
Acquired: In Person 1992, Dallas Cowboys training camp

Dave Waymer was a dynamic defensive back who was drafted originally by the New Orleans Saints in the 2nd round out of  the 1980 Draft from Notre Dame. A Saints fan through and true, he’d go on to start 10 games in his rookie season recovering 2 fumbles. As Waymer’s career continued he’d become well known as a solid ball hawk on a defense that was more recognized for its linebacking corps nicknamed “The Dome Patrol”. Occasionally injuries would creep up on Waymer, but this did not stop him from creating a turnover for 12 straight seasons.  Waymer started his career at left cornerback, and then made the conversion to free safety in his final season with New Orleans in 1989. In Dave’s career in New Orleans he was able to force 37 interceptions and had 15 fumble recoveries. He’d depart via plan B to San Fransisco where he played for two additional seasons, splitting time at both strong safety and free safety and in 1992 signed with the Raiders where I got his autograph at training camp that season when the Raiders stopped in.  Waymer finished his career with 48 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries and one ProBowl under his belt in 1987.

Dave Waymer died of a cocaine overdose in 1993. I remember when I heard the news, I was genuinely shocked. He was the first autograph of a player I had who passed away. I even had his awkward looking Starting Lineup figurine that Kenner had released a few years earlier in his Saints uniform.  A truly nice guy, I think I was the only person who recognized him and wanted his autograph.

Gs/Gp  197/155       Tac  N/a     Sac   1      Fum 18
Int   48    Yds  536     Avg  11.1          Td    0       Lg   44

NFL

Smerlas, Fred

Cards: Score Supplemental 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1991, 1992 c/o The New England Patrioits

Fred Smerlas’ name alone feels like a lineman’s name. It so happens that Smerlas was a fire plug of a nose tackle, who is remembered for his playing time with the Bills, and then later for the 49ers and Patriots before he retired in 1992 after a 14 year career. Smerlas was a East Coast kind of guy, of Greek descent, playing for Boston College and then his time with the Bills and Patriots.  Smerlas career is interesting as when he was drafted in the second round by the Bills in 1979, the team had been a perennial doormat of the AFC East for years. His rise to prominence along the Bills defensive front helped solidify the Bills line and assisted in their climb to prominence.   During this period he’d be an integral part of Buffalo’s Bermuda Triangle Defense.

Fred notched 5 ProBowl appearances over his career (1980,1981, 1982, 1983,1988) and was a first team All Pro in 1982.  At the time of his retirement he was the all time leader in games played by an NT, and was third on the Bills list with a string of 155 consecutive games played, which is amazing considering he played in the trenches.

After football Smerlas has remained as popular as ever with his recognizable mustache and colorful persona. He has dabbled in a variety of business interests and considered even a run into the political arena along with his budding radio career.  A motorcyclist, Smerlas also gives a fair amount of his time and money away to charities. Smerlas was inducted into into the Bills 50th anniversary team in 2009.

Games 200       Sacks  29.5              Tac 383               FF  10
Int  2               Yds  28           Avg  14.0            TD 0

NFL, WLAF

Dodge, Dedrick

Cards: Proset WLAF 1991, Wild Card WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1991.
Acquired:  TTM 2010, C/o home.
Sent: 7/30   Received: 8/6 (8 days)

In 1991, Dedrick Dodge was drafted in the 4th round of the positional draft by the London Monarchs. (He was one of the true gems of the WLAF, being that he was not drafted in the NFL before being found by the WLAF.) Dodge would go on in 1991 to grab 2nd Team All World honors, and led the Monarchs with 6 picks that season en route to the league and the Monarch’s first championship.  Dodge had speed and a nose for the ball and would return 2 of those interceptions for touchdowns.  He was picked up by the Seahawks that same year where he played in 1991 and 1992 primarily as a reserve special teams player. Dedrick would also play for the Monarchs in 1992, posting a respectable 3 interceptions in a down year for the former WLAF champions. While the league reorganized after the 1992 season, Dedrick signed with the 49ers in 1994, where he played through 1996 snaring 4 interceptions and playing on special teams. (He won the Superbowl in 1995.) In 1997, Dodge would find himself on the Broncos where he won Superbowl XXXII, and finally in 1998 played one season with the San Diego Chargers before retiring. Since his playing days Dedrick has turned to coaching football and quickly climbed out of the prep school ranks and into college where he coached at ASU as the defensive backs coach in 2009. He is also an avid golfer.

Games 20   Tac  N/a      Int 9      Yds   237       Avg 26.3             lg  62           Td   2