Tag Archives: winnipeg blue bombers

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Bell, Kerwin (2)

Cards: WildCard WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1992
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Jacksonville University
Sent: 1/10        Received:  2/17  (38 days)
Previous Post: Kerwin Bell
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Jacksonville University

I had tried previously in 2010 to get the former Florida and WLAF Orlando Thunder signal caller on a few additional cards, but didn’t have any luck there. Recently there have been a few signings by Bell passed through SportsCollectors.net so I decided to take another chance C/o Jacksonville University again. With these two cards being signed, I can officially close the book on Kerwin Bell, unless I was to stumble upon a Jogo card or two of him in his CFL gear.

A Florida Gators quarterback from the 80’s, Bell finished his Senior season with 2687 yards and 21 TDs. After bouncing around the NFL for a few seasons, the WLAF would call his number in the first round of their positional draft in 1991. He’d be on fire the first two weeks of the season and rake in Offensive Player of the Week honors both weeks for the Orlando Thunder. Kerwin set the league season game records for most completions (29), most TDs passing (5), most attempts (43), and most attempts without an interception (44).

Inexplicably, the Thunder turned around in 1992 and picked up Scott Mitchell from the Dolphins and gave him the keys to the car. Bell would ride the bench, but would go onto greater glory after the season, playing in the CFL for the Sacramento Goldminers, Edmonton Eskimos, Argos, and Blue Bombers. He’d also have a brief stop with the Colts during this period, completing 5 of 5 passes for a TD, retiring in 2001. Unofficially it is the highest QB rating among non-qualifying quarterbacks in NFL history.

Bell was inducted into the Gator HoF as a Gator Great in 1997.

 

Arena, CFL, WLAF

McGuirk, Patrick ‘Pat’

 

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991, Ultimate 1992
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 9/2 Received: 9/12 (10 days)

After playing in Junior College at San Mateo and raking in an All-Golden Gate Conference choice and team MVP honors,  Patrick McGuirk would play at Cal Poly (San Luis Obispo) making 42 tackles and a pick. He’d sign with the Blue Bombers of the CFL in 1990 but not make the squad.

In 1991, the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks, coached by Roman Gabriel, selected Pat in the 8th round of the league’s positional draft.  Despite the team’s woeful 0-10 record, McGuirk had a banner season, with 37 tackles, 9 passes defensed, 3 fumble recoveries and tied for third in the league with 6 interceptions. He would be snubbed for All-World honors.

After the season, the Skyhawks were euthanized by the league, and the players were put back into the WLAF’s draft pool. The Frankfurt Galaxy selected him in the 5th round of the league draft in 1992. He’d play for them that season, but did not notch a turnover.  (His Ultimate WLAF card is considered a major error card, as they note that he is a rookie, and omit his previous season’s statistics, even though he played for the Skyhawks.) The WLAF would be reorganized after the 1992 season but Patrick found new life, -in the AFL.

The young Arena Football League was the perfect landing spot for Patrick. In 1994 he’d sign with the Fort Worth Calvary, crushing ball carriers with 54 tackles, 21 pass blocks, 2 forced fumbles and 5 interceptions. Patrick quickly moved back to his home area in 1995 signing with the San Fransisco 49ers and was assigned to their practice squad.  He’d continue playing in the Arena leagues in the interim, but this time for the San Jose Sabercats where he’d have another impact season with 9 picks for 202 yards and a td. Pat’s followup 1996 season would culminate with 7 picks and 15 pass breakups which earned him first team All Arena honors, and earned him another shot to play on the roster of the 49ers and their practice squad. After the 1998 season, McGuirk would retire from football. He’d finish his career in the Arena leagues with 5 seasons under his belt, 258 tackles, 81 pass blocks, 3 forced fumbles, 29 interceptions for 317 yards and a touchdown.

He didn’t have far to go, as he retired to the San Fransisco area where he was born and currently works in the telecommunications industry.

Finally got another Facebook response. I started off really hot with contacting players through Facebook and getting their permission to send to TTM to their address (Howard Feggins, Corris Ervin, and Jon Horton,) and then just went stone cold. I shot out an email to Patrick in July since he is of the elusive Raleigh-Durham Skyhawk family, that I am woefully short of autographs from, -as they only lasted one season. In late August he got back with me and gave me his address, so I quickly turned around and sent him two cards to sign and a few to keep as momentos. He kindly responded in 10 days.  A real nice return on a hard to find team.

WLAF
Tac N/a   Sac 0       Fum 3   Int   6     Yds    60   Avg 10.0    Td  0    lg  34

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Slack, Reggie

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1991
Acquired: In Person 1992, Houston Oilers Training Camp
Failure: TTM 2010, C/o Home

Reggie Slack out of Auburn was flat out raw talent who just won games.  Drafted in the 12th round by the Houston Oilers in 1990, I had a really good feeling about this him and when he was able to play during the preseason- I was just glued to the TV. Reggie won the 3rd string quarterback position backing up Cody Carlson and Warren Moon. He did not take a snap during the regular season, but in the 1991 off season Reggie was made available to the WLAF for the 1992 season.

The Run N Shoot counterpart to the Oilers- the New York/ New Jersey Knights picked up Slack to play quarterback for the team.  He’d play great for the Knights both as a passer and as a runner,  finishing second in the WLAF with a 98.2 quarterback rating.  As a rusher he led all quarterbacks with 269 yards and 5 touchdowns. (His 7.7 yard average is unofficially the highest yards per carry for any player in the league, but his 35 carries did not qualify him for the achievement.) Unfortunately the World League folded after the 1992 season. Slack returned to Houston, but lost out to local fan favorite Bucky Richardson for 3rd string.

Reggie left the United States and headed to Canada where he signed with the Toronto Argonauts.  He played respectably for the Argos while he polished his CFL game,  before being traded to Hamilton in 1994.  In 1995, Slack signed with the Birmingham Barracudas, but after 3 games he quickly returned to the Blue Bombers and became a fan favorite. As Winnipeg fell apart in 1996, Reggie saw even more playing time under center,  but was not in the future of the franchise.

Undeterred Slack then signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and lead the team to an improbable Grey Cup appearance igniting the team in the playoffs for two upset victories. He’d continue playing for the Roughriders over the next two seasons but injures would take their toll and by 2000, he’d be out of football. Reggie returned in 2002, playing for Toronto that season and in 2003 for the Tiger-Cats before retiring after 2003.

Slack was a guy that I thought was the quarterback of the future for the Oilers when they drafted him. An electric player to watch who was fearsome on the option, I am glad Reggie found success in the CFL.  

I was super excited to get Reggie’s autograph on his Ultimate WLAF card at training camp that year in 1992. It was the only day I was there. When I called him out he, came trotting over in that red practice jersey, smiled and signed. I had always wanted to get Reggie’s autograph on his Wild Card WLAF issue that I got later, and even created one of him in his Knights and Oilers uniform as well. I sent out for his autograph back in 2011, but that turned out to be a dead end. I hope to give him another shot at a later date as he is one of my favorites.

WLAF
G/Gs  N/a     Att  215       Comp 140            Yds  1898       Pct 65.1%          Td 12          Int 7            Rat 98.2
Rush 35      Yds  269       Avg  7.7         Td  5            Lg   29

CFL
G/Gs  N/a    Att  2188     Comp  1241     Yds  16173  Pct  56.7   Td  84    Int  75 |
Rush  383    Yds   2578    Avg  6.7    Lg  48     Td   27

Reggie Slack throwing to Alexander Wright: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFedz7vsbVw