Tag Archives: score supplemental 1990

NFL

Morgan, Stanley


Cards: ProSet 1989, Score Supplemental 1990
Acquired: TTM, C/o Home 2011
Sent: 10/15       Received: 3/7   (143 days)

The Patriots drafted late in the first round of the 1977 draft, but at #25 they were fortunate enough to get Stanley Morgan out of Tennessee. With good hands and alarming speed for the era (sub 4.3), Morgan holds the all purpose yardage records for the Volunteers with a bit over 4600 yards.

Stanley would average over 20 yards per reception his rookie season. A feat he’d repeat  for the next 5 seasons. In fact he’d average a whopping 24.1 ypc in 1978 on 34 receptions, and in 1981 when he’d have 23.4 ypc. From 1979-1981 Morgan would lead the NFL in yards per reception. He’d earn his first Pro Bowl nod in 1979, followed by nominations again in 1980, 86 and 87.  In 1987 Morgan would have a career high 1491 yards and 84 receptions, logging 9 100 yard games that season. While injuries would begin to pile up on Stanley over the next two seasons,  by the end of his career after 13 seasons with the Patriots in 1989, Morgan would hold the Patriots’ records for receiving yards (10,352), receiving average (19.4), receptions (534), and touchdown receptions (67).

Stanley’s speed was a strength but his greatest asset was his longevity, where he managed to play 14 seasons. Although his final few were on the downward slope, he still managed to contribute even in his final season with the Indianapolis Colts where he played a final season in 1990 quietly logging 23 receptions, 364 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Morgan is another one of these players who was way ahead of his time. Playing primarily in a rush first offense from the 1970s, you have to wonder if Morgan would have received more notice by the NFL HoF for his work, or how he would have fared in one of the pass happy offenses of the 90s. (At the time of his retirement Stanley was ranked 20th all time in receptions.) I think he’s one of these players that was at the upper echelon and quietly racked up great numbers but just played at the wrong time, only appearing once in a Super Bowl (XX)  and will never be noticed by the hall. While appearing in Tecmo Superbowl, Morgan’s abilities and speed would not be represented correctly in the game.

Since retirement Morgan has retired back to Tennessee where he resides in Memphis and participates in charity events helping impoverished African Americans go to college, plays a lot of golf and keeps up with the Patriots. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame as the 12th member in 2007, was named to the team’s All-time 1970s and 1980s team, and the Patriots 35th and 50th Anniversary teams.

I sent Morgan 3 cards in the mail back in October and had definitely given up on this one. I think it had just been a while since he checked his PO Box or maybe because it’s close to tax time because I noticed a lot of people around the web receiving autographs back from him about the same time. I was happy to get these back but disappointed he did not sign my Action Packed Rookies from 1990. Regardless you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth and these two action shots of him from the ProSet 1989 and Score Supplemental 1990 set were quite nice.

G/Gs  196/180     Rec  557        Yds   10716       Avg   19.2     Td  72     Lg  76t

NFL

Willis, Ken


Card: Score 1990 Supplemental
Acquired: In Person 1991, Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

The Dallas Cowboys considered kicker to be a budget position at the eve of free agency, and after the reign of Roger Ruzek was officially over went through a string of kickers including controversial Luis Zendejas who had a bounty placed on his head by the Eagles. The team would have an open tryout in 1990 and bring in free agent Ken Willis from Kentucky in training camp. About nobody gave him a chance to win the starting job but by the end of camp he’d have the job cemented over. Willis was a likable guy for the Cowboys, and his two seasons for the team were serviceable.
While not connecting on a field goal of over 50 yards his rookie season in 1990, 1991 on the other hand  would result in Willis making a career high 39 attempts which would be a team record. He would also connect on 4 of 7 from greater than 50 yards. He’d also be the second leading scoring kicker in the league behind Chip Lohmiller. These would all be career highs for the young former Kentucky Wildcat, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a ludicrous 1 million dollars in 1993. (The Buccaneers were desperate for the best available talent after losing kicker Steve Christie to Buffalo and reached out to Willis.) The Cowboys left Willis exposed on free agency and Jerry Jones was irritated because he had a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Willis and punter Mike Saxon among others not to sign with other teams. (Jones offer was a measly $175,000. Willis would have been an idiot not to have taken the Bucs deal.) The Cowboys moved on however, and so did Willis. Unfortunately Ken’s tenure in Tampa was incredibly short being 1 of 4 from 30-39 yards and missing 3 critical kicks against the Vikings sealed his fate. Willis would shuffle on up to play for the New York Giants but would suffer a career ending stress fracture of one of his legs. Willis would retire at the age of 26.  Unfortunately due to his painful injury Willis wears shin splints to this day and lives in relative anonymity teaching high school Algebra in his home state.

G 47       XPA   90   XPM 90        FGA 80    FGM  55        PCT  68.8%

NFL

Bennett, Tony “Alligator”

Card: Score Supplemental 1990, Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: TTM 1993, C/o The Green Bay Packers

A brutal hitter with good speed and excellent pass rusher- Tony Bennett was taken in the 1990 draft by the Green Bay Packers in the first round. (In retrospect the 1990 draft was a great linebacking class, led by Junior Seau, Chris Singleton, and James Francis.)  Bennett would be the 6th linebacker taken in the top 18. The knock on Alligator Bennett was that he didn’t respect the run enough.

After a slow 1990, Tony would take off, sacking opposing quarterbacks 13 times in 1991 and 13.5 times in 1992. After a 102 day holdout in 1993, Tony would make 6.5 sacks- he’d leave via free agency to the Indianapolis Colts in 1994 and record 28.5 sacks over the next 4 seasons for them retiring after an injury plagued 1997. All in all a respectable career for 8 seasons logged. I got these two cards autographed by Tony after I had really good results mailing the Packers back in the early 90s for players like Darrell Thompson, Brett Favre, Reggie White, and Sterling Sharpe.

G/Gs  108/89   Sac 64.5     Tac 397   Fum 19       Int 0  Yds 0  Td -.-  Lg -.-