Tag Archives: ttm autographs

NFL, WLAF

Berardelli, Paul

Card: ProSet WLAF 1991
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Home
Sent: 8/7     Received: 8/16   (9 days)

A three year starter while at Villanova from 1985-1988, Paul was teammates with Steve Gabbard on the Philadelphia Eagles developmental squad back in the 1989 season.  After a stint on the Packers in 1990, Paul was drafted in the 4th round by the London Monarchs during the WLAF’s positional draft. There he’d be reunited with Steve, (and along with Doug Marrone,) they’d become the most formidable offensive line in WLAF history allowing only 10 sacks on the entire season. He’d become the vocal ringleader of the offensive line, nicknamed ‘The Nasty Boyz. ‘ Thanks to the play of the line,  Stan Gelbaugh averaged roughly 280 yards passing per gam.  At the end of the season the Monarchs won World Bowl I over the Barcelona Dragons. Paul, Doug, and Steve, all received 1st team All-World Honors from the league as well for their outstanding blocking.  The NFL took notice, and poached the rosters of the more successful WLAF teams. Head coach Larry Kennan returned stateside, and while the Monarchs came in and put up a good fight to start the season in 1992, the team did not repeat as WLAF champs.

Retiring from football, Paul decided to enter into education after the season concluded. He’s since climbed the ranks from substitute teaching all the way up to principal at Delsea High School in New Jersey. Villanova also retired his jersey in 1998.

He considered future Sacramento Surge DE (and future Pro Wrestler)Bill Goldberg, to have been a bear to block, and looks back upon his time in the WLAF, the memories, and the players he met while he was with the Monarchs, very fondly.

I had actually been after Paul for sometime after identifying him on Facebook. Since he never responded to my emails, I went ahead and sent something out anyway and in the letter I talked about the WLAF and mentioned that I had spammed him on Facebook quite a few times. He wrote me back and dropped me a nice note and offered to answer any questions that I had about his time in the WLAF. It really is these gems that make this hobby special, especially when I get just as much out of reminiscing about it as a player does.

Arena, College Football HoF, NFL

Spielman, Chris

Card: ProSet 1990
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home*
Sent:  9/2/11  Received: 7/8/12 (309 days)
* signing fee now of 20.00.

Chris Spielman was a fearsome linebacker that played for the Lions, Bills, and Browns during the 80s and 90s.  A tackling machine from Ohio State, he’s really remembered for his time in Detroit where he sucked up the middle of the field as Mike Cofer blanketed quarterbacks at OLB. A second round pick of the Lions during the 1988 draft, he’d be the 6th linebacker taken off the board, after Aundray Bruce went #1 overall.

After a rookie season that included a club rookie record 153 tackles, 7 blocked passes, and a fumble recovery, he’d be named defensive rookie of the year in 1988. Chris followed his 1988 season up with an equally impressive 1989, with another 125 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, earning him his first starting Pro Bowl nod. Spielman wrangled in his second appearance by leading the Lions in tackles in 1990 (despite spending 4 weeks on injured reserve) with 108 tackles,2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and his first interception. 1991 culminated in an AP nod, as he lodged 126 tackles, a sack and 3 FFs. Despite leading the team in tackles in both 1992 and 1993 with 146 and 148 tackles respectively he didn’t get named back to the Pro Bowl until 1994 (124 tac, 3FF). 1995 saw a shift from left inside linebacker to middle linebacker for Chris, after the Lions converted to a 4-3, but he still managed to tally 90 tackles, 2 FF, 1 sack, and an interception.

Spielman signed with the Bills in 1996 and returned to his native position and true to form with 111 tackles. Injuries claimed half of Chris’ 1997 season and it’d be his last statistically. He’d attempt a comeback with the Browns in 1999 but elected to retire before the beginning of the season to take care of his wife who had been struck by breast cancer.

Of note, Chris is apparently one of the first high school athletes to appear on a Wheaties box, is the Lions’ All-Time leading tackler with 1,020 tackles, and is considered one of draft guru Mel Kiper’s more notorious misses.

Chris has climbed into the broadcasting booth since retirement and also as head coach of the Arena Football Columbus Destroyers in 2005.  Spielman was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009, and has a foundation for Cancer research, that he dedicated to his wife, who passed away of breast cancer in 2009. He also has written a book about his time with her entitled: “That is Why I am Here”. You can visit his website at: http://chrisspielman.com/index.php

I wrote him last year after seeing some very short responses on sportscollectors.net for quite a few cards, so after I didn’t hear back from him after a few weeks I sorta gave up on this one. It was nice to finally get an autograph back from him 311 days later, but it disheartened me to see that he enclosed a pricing list. Apparently Chris has been getting a lot of requests, and can not honor them anymore for free. He has some very stringent rules on the mailings, but guarantees that they will be signed by him. You must also enclose $20.00, but thankfully since I sent mine last year, it didn’t apply to me, and he signed a card for free and returned the rest. Can’t knock a gift horse in the mouth though, and the fact remains that he was a player that I wanted, and happy to add to my Hall of Fame.

G/Gs 148/148    Tac 1181     Sac 10.5     Fum 13       Int 6      Yds 36     Avg 6.0      Td 0     lg 13

NFL, WLAF

Garrett, John

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o The Dallas Cowboys
Sent: 4/26  Received: 5/2  (7 days)
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o The Dallas Cowboys

The Garrett family has a long history in the NFL starting with their father, Jim, who had served in the league as a scout for almost 40 years. The boys, Jason, Judd, and John have all experienced a measure of NFL success, and all of them spent time playing in the WLAF during the early 1990s making their legacy quite unique.

John finished his career at Princeton leading all the receivers his senior season with 45 receptions for 617 yards and 2 touchdowns. He quickly signed with the Cowboys in 1988, eventually landing on the practice squad of the Cincinnati Bengals the next season where he made 2 receptions for 29 yards. John would later spend time in the off-season, with Buffalo Bills as well in 1991.

That year, all 3 brothers decided to play in the inaugural season of the World League of American Football.  John ended up being drafted by the San Antonio Riders in the second round of the WR positional draft, to catch passes from his brother, Jason.  (Judd was drafted by the Monarchs.) The Riders however had a rocky season, and injuries and inconsistencies eventually saw Jason split time with Mike Johnson at quarterback.  John finished the season though tied for 3rd on the Riders with 23 receptions. He’d also catch the last TD of Riders season from his brother Jason, during the final game  in a loss to the Knights. It is at this point that I am unsure if he was injured or cut before the 1992 season was underway. I do know he was at training camp for the Riders, and played in their scrimmage versus the Ohio Glory,  (as evidenced in the card pictured above,) who were the replacement franchise for the Skyhawks from the 1991 season.

He then returned to the NFL spending the next 12 seasons, with the Bucs, Bengals, and Cardinals in a variety of coaching postions. 2004 saw Garrett jump into the college ranks working for Virginia Cavaliers under Al Groh.  After a successful time with the Cavs John was reunited with his brothers Jason and Judd on the Dallas Cowboys in 2007.

I had sent to all three brothers in the past thinking that perhaps I could get them all in one envelope back in 2010. Unfortunately I didn’t have any success and I assume that it is lost.  I rarely send out to more than one player in one envelope anymore. It just increases the chance that you won’t get anything back at all.  John had only one card, but turned this around care of the Cowboys in roughly one week signing it with a bible inscription from Colossians 3:23-  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human.”  It’s a great card, and although a heavy percentage of Ultimate cards suffered from cutting issues, overall I really liked the design and style of what they were doing at the time.

Rec  23    Yds  386     Avg  16.8     Td  3     Lg  48