Tag Archives: score 1991

NFL

Carroll, Wesley

Cards: Score 1991, Star Pics 1991, Action Packed Rookies 1991, Topps 1992, ProSet 1991.
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home.
Sent: 7/19   Received: 7/25  (6 days)

Wesely had apparently fallen behind on his TTM autographing. As from what I had researched he had not been signing anything in roughly a year, when all of  a sudden sports collectors.net started registering some hits that got progressively smaller in date range. I went ahead and took a stab at Wesely, partially because he was on my list for Action Packed Rookies to get signed, and also because he was a member of the Miami-FL team that handed the University of Texas one of its most embarrassing bowl losses. I sent him 3 cards to sign, and 2 additional cards to keep. He ended up signing all of them and returning them in a scant 6 days.

A fifth year player, Carroll played 3 years at Mississippi Junior College before transferring to UM in 1989. A fine all around athlete with good size, Wesely made a good slot receiver due to his willingness to block and also fearlessness over the middle. In his senior season at Miami he registered 952 yards and 6 touchdowns on 61 receptions. At the time of his departure from the college he ranked second all time with 114 catches.

The Saints would make Carroll their second round choice in the 1991 draft and he’d be one of 11 from Miami taken that year. A modest rookie season would leave Carroll with 18 receptions and a touchdown in 12 games in 1991. He’d follow that up with 5 starts in 1992, grabbing another 18 balls for 292 yards including a 72 yard bomb for a TD. This would be statistically his best season. In 1993 Carroll would sign with the Bengals via free agency adding 8 more catches to his resume,- but racked up a heavy injury bill over his short playing time and retired before the 1994 season.
Further investigation reveals a workers compensation claim that Carroll won against the Saints and Bengals for his injuries in 2010 that covered industrial injuries to his cervical spine, lumbar spine, left upper extremity, both knees, left lower extremity, left thumb, and hypertension, causing 46% disability and need for further treatment. It is with this, that I hope that Wesley is enjoying as restful a retirement as physically possible.

G/Gs  40/5    Rec 42     Yds  557       Avg  13.3     Td 3      Lg 72t



NFL

Rathman, Tom

Cards: ProSet 1989, Score 1991, Upper Deck 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o The San Fransisco 49ers
Sent: 6/14    Received: 6/20  (6 days)

Tom Rathman was a  dominating fullback who set records at Nebraska averaging well over 7 yards a carry his senior season in 1985.  He’d be drafted in the 3rd round of the NFL draft by the San Fransisco 49ers and immediately saw time on special teams while his playing time increased at fullback. During the 1987 season, head coach Bill Walsh shifted Roger Craig from fullback to runningback and started Tom at fullback blocking for him. For only catching 5 passes during college, Tom not only displayed a hard nosed inside running style, he also became an accomplished receiver notching a career high 73 receptions in 1989. Craig also benefited from Tom’s blocking rushing for 1502 yards in 1988, and 1089 in 1989. As Roger moved on to the Raiders after the 1990 season, the 49ers selected Ricky Watters in 1991. Tom continued paving the way, blocking for 1,000 yard backs. Tom played for the 49ers through 1993 and then signed with the Raiders in 1994 for one final season.  Despite playing 9 seasons and leading NFL runningbacks in receptions in 1989, Tom Rathman was never named to the Pro Bowl- partially because the fullback position was never considered a separate position from runningback in Pro Bowl voting until 1993.

After 9 seasons, Tom would take some time off and then return to sport as a coach. In 1997 he’d become the 49ers runningbacks coach, on Steve Mariucci’s staff and then later followed Mooch to Detroit in 2003. In 2006, he coached with the Oakland Raiders, – a position that he held with the team until he returned to the 49ers staff in 2009.

The gods of Tecmo Bowl saw Tom Rathman, and looked favorably upon the stout fullback in his quest for glory. Rewarded by Tecmo he’d be graciously awarded monster hitting power and receiving ability becoming truly a one-two punch with Roger Craig. Well worth it, I was surprised to get Tom’s autograph on these 3 cards in a short 6 days care of the 49ers organization.

G/Gs 131/107   Rush 544      Yds 2020     Avg  3.7     Td 26      lg  35     |       Rec 320    Yds  2684    Avg 8.4    Td 8       Lg 36

NFL

Smith, Dennis

Cards: Pacific 1991, Score 1990, Score 1991, Score Supplemental 1989, ProSet 1990 ProBowl, ProSet 1990.
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 8/6 Received: 8/11 (5 days)

Wow, new record with Dennis here, partially because he lives in virtually the same city. I sent only 3 cards to get signed with a few extras for him to keep. It was very gracious of him to sign all 6 anyway with the additional duplicate.

Dennis was a local product from Santa Monica. He’d go to USC under head coach John Robinson and would be paired with Joey Browner, and Ronnie Lott forming one of the most fearsome secondaries in the nation. In 1981 Smith would be taken by the Denver Broncos during the 1st round with the 15th pick.

A devestatingly hard hitter lining up at strong safety, Smith would only start 4 games his rookie season, hauling down a pick and recovering 2 fumbles. In 1983, he finished with 5 sacks, 4 picks and 114 tackles. 1984 would see his legend grow, as he made 92 more tackles and returned a fumble 64 yards for a touchdown.  It’d be in 1985 that Dennis finally started earning his stripes, earning his first ProBowl nomination that season, with 4 sacks, 3 picks and 66 tackles and quickly earn his second successive ProBowl nod the following season in 1986. After the strike shortened 1987 season and a slow 1988, Smith would earn his 3rd nomination in 1989 with 3 fumble recoveries, 2 picks, and 82 tackles while draftee Steve Atwater cemented down the other safety position. He’d grab his 4th and 5th nominations in 1990 and 1991 with 110 tackles in both seasons, and 5 picks in 1991. Despite almost duplicate numbers in 1992, with 4 picks, 2 fumbles and 120 tackles, he did not earn PB honors, but nabbed them one final time in 1993, before retiring after the 1994 season.

Over his career Dennis Smith was named AP 4 times in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1989. Among Dennis other achievements is being inducted into the Denver Ring of Fame in 2001, the Colorado Hall of Fame in 2006 and the Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team. Since then he’s dabbled in real estate and reality television.

Nice cards through and through here. It was hard to choose which one to send to him. Some great shots here of Dennis playing it up for drama’s sake on some of these, but otherwise his Score Supplemental 1989 stands out as his most solid action shot to me. Otherwise, the best designed card, I have to hand it to ProSet here, as both of their cards are solid.

G/Gs 184/170   Tac 1152    Sac 15    Fum 17    Int 30    Yds 431    Td 0