Tag Archives: ultimate wlaf 1992

NFL, WLAF

Henry, James

Cards: Pro Set WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Work
Sent: 11/15       Received: 12/7   (22 days)
Failure: 2017, C/o Home

James Henry went to college at Southern Mississippi. A dangerous punt returner and defensive back, he had 23 punt returns for 399 yards and 2 TDs his senior year. Over his college career James had 8 punt returns for touchdowns.  Selected in the 4th round of the talent laden 1989 draft by the Seattle Seahawks, James failed to make the squad both in ’89 and ’90.  He also briefly played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Henry was selected in the 8th round of the WLAF positional draft in 1991. He played both defensive back and punt returner for the Birmingham Fire. His 10.7 punt return yard average was second in the league, and a 50 yard punt return for a touchdown in a 28-7 win over the Skyhawks.  Despite the Fire’s deep secondary, James contributed with 2 interceptions- including a 77 yarder he returned for a TD against the Thunder.

James returned to the Fire for 1992. but was unable to duplicate his success from the previous year as teams were aware of how dangerous he was in the open field. He finished with 14 punt returns for 47 yards.

During one of those games in 1992, I’d corral most of the defensive secondary and have them pen their autographs on their cards. James eluded me essentially for 25 years.  With James Henry’s autograph, I am now just down to one player from the Birmingham Fire’s ProSet WLAF set- Kenny Bell. I thought I had found Henry earlier this year via Spokeo and cross referencing his information with his trading cards, but the address in Mississippi never responded. Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus) and I have collaborated on addresses of players from the WLAF. He got a hit from Henry and passed the information along to me. I was very happy that this worked out.

WLAF    INT 2         YDS   83         AVG  41.5        TD 1        LG 77t
PR   37           YDS  294              AVG   7.9      TD 1        LG 50t

NFL, WLAF

Brinson, Dana ‘D-Rock’

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1992 League Leader
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home*
Sent: 8/7  Received: 8/31   (24 days)
Failure: TTM 2011, C/o Home
* Donation Enclosed

Dana Brinson was one of the most dangerous speed merchants to hit the WLAF during its short time.  He was one of the few names I recognized right off the bat when the league was formed and I felt that London already had an unfair advantage with his speed and pedigree on offense. Selected by the Monarchs as a wide receiver in the first round of the inaugural WLAF positional draft, Brinson originally played runningback in college and early in his NFL career, but produced for London as a jack of all trades. His statline was pretty loaded in 1991: 28 catches for 351 yards and a TD, 4 carries for 47 yards and a TD, 31 punt returns (tops in the league) for 181 yards, AND 12 kick returns for 317 yards and a 93 yard TD (first in league history). His best game came arguably against the Knights, when he had 8 receptions for 114 yards. Dana was injured during the Monarchs World Bowl I victory, but still earned second-team All-World League Honors at the conclusion of the season.  He did not return to the team for the 1992 season.

Dana Brinson originally played ball for Nebraska from 1985 to 1988. Clocking in at 5’9″, 165, Dana was an all around threat as a RB, PR, KR and WR at wingback. He’d have 330 yards on 27 punt returns in 1986 leading the Big 8.  Later he was voted the Big 8 All-Conference Kick Off Returner when he had 510 yards on 23 returns, and he also led the conference in punt return yards with 196.  During his time at Nebraska he’d score 2 TDs on punt returns and finish with 1154 career kick off return yards.

A member of the prestigious 1989 draft class, Brinson was selected in the 8th round by the San Diego Chargers. He did not endear himself to teammates or fans by saying that he’d unseat Lionel James -but he did just that. He finished his only season in SD with 17 carries for 64 yards, 12 receptions for 71, and 11 returns for 112 yards.  Somehow he even started at H-Back during the season, but a burner sidelined him for a few games. Later, Dana signed with the Falcons in 1990, but did not make the squad.

Dana had 3 outstanding action cards, and I had been trying to locate him since the beginning of the WLAF project. Recently I saw that an unsavory EBayer was selling his autograph online and that got me to searching. Eventually, I was able to finally locate him through Facebook. He signed these 3 cards with a donation in a very short time. He was very touched to know how his former teammates were doing. In 2009 Dana was elected to the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

NFL G 10/0      RUSH 17      YDS 64      AVG 3.8      TD 0      LG  9
REC 12      YDS 71      AVG 5.9      TD 0      LG 11
PR  11     YDS 112     AVG 10.2     TD 0     LG 52

WLAF          RUSH   4        YDS 47       AVG 11.8     LG  23T    TD 1
REC  28      YDS 351     AVG 12.5       LG 38      TD 1
KR  12        YDS 317     AVG 26.4    LG 93T   TD 1
PR  31        YDS 181     AVG 5.8       LG 24     TD 0

NFL, WLAF

Barnes, Lew ‘Little Lew’

Cards: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Wild Card WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 8/9   Received: 9/9  (30 days)

Lew Barnes was an Oregon Duck during his college days from 1983 to 1985. A consistent receiver with blazing speed, Barnes posted 117 receptions for 2048 yards, a 17.5 yards per reception average, and 18 TDs over his time in Eugene. Lew is notable, as he was the only Oregon All-American named on offense between 1971 and 2007.  At the time of his graduation Barnes was the Ducks all-time leading receiver.  He was drafted in the 5th round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.

The Bears, well, they were hard on their receivers and the Super Bowl Champions were through and through a running team. Lew faced an uphill battle making the squad, but was fortunate. As starting return man Dennis McKinnon underwent his 3rd knee operation- the Bears needed a punt return man and it just so happened that Barnes fit the bill. Lewis made the best of his single season in Chicago. He led the league with 57 punt returns (482 yards), and returned a kickoff 85 yards for a TD.  Barnes broke his left leg during the preseason in 1987 and spent the entire year on IR. The following year in 1988, he got cut during the preseason- only a few days after a 97 yard kickoff return TD got called back over a questionable illegal block against the Cowboys. While the Bears really liked Barnes, he got caught in a numbers game, especially with rookie wide receiver 1st round pick Wendell Davis in camp.

Barnes quickly landed a job with the Falcons, reuniting him with former Duck QB Chris Miller. He’d play in 13 games, and post solid numbers again on punt returns, with 34 for 307 yards, including a 68 yarder, but not see any time at receiver.  He’d then play 2 games in 1989 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lew decided to play for the WLAF in 1992.  He’d be selected by the Frankfurt Galaxy.  During his lone season with the franchise, Lew led the team in yards from scrimmage. He’d be 3rd in receptions with 24, but second in yards with 402 and a guady 16.7 YPC. Lew also was counted on for special teams duty, posting 198 yards on 10 kick returns, and 46 yards on 11 punt returns. He’d help the franchise win the division and reach the playoffs for the first time in history, before the league went on hiatus.

Lew had two spectacular action shots from Ultimate and Wild Card. Being that the Galaxy did not play ever in San Antonio, I never was even able to attempt to get any members of the franchise. With his place in Oregon and NFL history, I thought Lew would be easier to locate, but nobody had a whiff of him at all. It took me quite a few years, but after cross referencing a lot of data on Spokeo, I was able to find an address I was confident in and take a shot. He responded and wrote me a very nice note. With excellent cursive penmanship, he thanked me for writing him, and told me that he too had a great-great relative in his past that had my full name, and we could possibly be… related? Small world!

NFL 16/0     REC 4           YDS 54      AVG 13.5     TD 0    LG 14
KR   9       YDS 236        AVG 26.2      TD 1      LG 85t
PR 93      YDS 830        AVG 8.9         TD 0      LG 68

WLAF  REC 24   YDS  402  AVG 16.7    TD 3    LG 86t
KR  10     YDS   198       AVG 19.8      TD 0     LG 33
PR  11     YDS  46           AVG 4.1          TD 0    LG 12