Archive for Football
Not All Draft Picks are Created Equal
Posted by: | CommentsMost of you know the bigger Cinderella stories of the NFL and NBA drafts. Tom Brady, a sixth-round draft pick, won three Super Bowls (twice as MVP of the game). Ben Wallace was underdrafted, but became a four-time All-Star and NBA champion. They, and many others had success on the field and the court despite being highly looked over, and their stories are fondly remembered. Often, however, we tend to forget those players who excelled at the college level, were drafted high, and then never seemed to make any noise in the pros. Remember these guys?
Ryan Leaf (QB)
2nd overall selection in the 1998 NFL Draft
Ryan Leaf, a former Washington State University quarterback, is arguably the biggest draft bust in the history of the National Football League. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers, one pick behind four-time MVP Peyton Manning. Leaf, in his short NFL career, threw a total of 14 touchdown passes against 36 interceptions. Expected to turn around the Chargers’ franchise, he only won four games with them in 18 total tries before being released. He retired in 2002 at the age of 26. Interestingly, many people believed the Colts should have taken Leaf as the number one pick in the draft ahead of Peyton Manning.
In 2006, Ryan Leaf joined the West Texas A&M football staff as the quarterbacks coach. He also became the school’s golf coach in 2007. After two years with the football program he resigned; in May of 2009 he was indicted on burglary and controlled substances charges in Texas. Leaf has admitted being unprepared for the NFL when he was drafted in 1998, claiming that once the game of football became a job, it lost its luster to him.
Michael Olowokandi (C)
1st overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft
Wow, 1998 was not a good year for California teams to draft. Michael Olowokandi, a Nigerian-British center, nicknamed “The Kandi Man,” was selected as the first overall pick in the ’98 draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers passed up stars like Mike Bibby, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce with that pick. Even though he played ten years in the NBA, he never lived up to expectations. He played 500 games in the league, averaging only 8.3 points per game (and even less rebounds).
Olowokandi also struggled with injuries. In 2003, his last year with the Clippers, he sustained a hernia and knee injury and was signed by the Minnesota Timberwolves at less than market value. For the remainder of his career, each offseason he’d receive rehabilitation treatment but nothing seemed to do the trick. The fact that he was drafted over many other basketball superstars, delivering an underwhelming career marred by injuries, made Michael Olowokandi one of the biggest NBA draft busts ever.
Jason White (QB)
2003 Heisman Trophy Winner
After getting surgery on both knees in 2001 and 2002, Jason White led the Oklahoma Sooners to the national championship game, earning a Heisman Trophy along the way in 2003. White lit up the score board for the Sooners that year, throwing 40 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. He even beat now-NFL stars Larry Fitzgerald and Eli Manning for his Heisman Trophy. The next year, White again led his team to the title game, finishing third in Heisman voting. He lost both national championship games he played in, but finished his collegiate career as Oklahoma University’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.
Despite all his success in college ball, he was undrafted in 2005 and only tried out for one team. He later signed a deal with the Tennessee Titans, but decided to retire soon after.
Jason White currently owns and operates a memorabilia store that sells OU and OSU merchandise, and an Athlete’s Foot shoe store. Before that, he worked with insurance agent Steve Owens, another former Oklahoma University Heisman Trophy winner. In 2007, a bronze statue of White, commemorating his Heisman victory, was dedicated on the University of Oklahoma campus.
Bobby Hurley (PG)
Duke University Basketball Player (1989-1993)
Bobby Hurley was a star on the rise at St. Anthony High School, and later Duke University. He led his high school to a 32-0 record in his senior year, earning the school the number one ranking in the country. He then went to Duke, where he would lead his team to national championship titles in 1991 and 1992. Hurley did it all, but excelled at passing the ball. He is still the NCAA leader with over 1,000 career assists. Hurley’s Duke jersey number was retired soon after he left the school.
He ended up being drafted 7th overall in the 1993 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, but he never took off in the NBA. After just 19 games, he got into a bad car accident and suffered life-threatening injuries. Luckily, he was able to recover and came back the next season. After that accident, however, he never had a season where he averaged more than 4.2 points per game or 3.3 assists per game. Hurley only played in the NBA until 1998.
After retiring from the NBA, Bobby Hurley went on to become a thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder. A fan of horse racing, he owned Songandaprayer who won the 2001 Fountain of Youth Stakes. Just last month, in December 2009, he was sued by PNC Bank for defaulting on the $1 million loan that was used to purchase Songandaprayer. He was also hired as a scout by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003 and has expressed aspirations to become a coach.
Heath Shuler (QB)
3rd selection in the 1994 NFL Draft
Heath Shuler drew crowds as soon as he was a sophomore in high school. He led his team to three straight state championships, and signed an athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee. He received national attention as the starting quarterback at Tennessee and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1993. Shuler was later selected by the Washington Redskins third overall in the 1994 NFL Draft.
Like many rookies, he struggled off the bat. In his first year with the ‘Skins he went 1-7 and threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Shuler was benched during his third year and replaced by Gus Frerotte, who ended up making it to the Pro Bowl. After their success with Frerotte in the backfield, the team dealt Shuler to New Orleans after the 1996 season. In his short stay with the Saints he threw 14 interceptions and only two touchdowns; his season ended early after a serious foot injury. After the 1997 season, he signed a deal with the Oakland Raiders where he re-injured his foot in training camp and decided to retire.
Heath Shuler is currently a businessman and a politician. He is a Democrat in the United States House of Representatives, representing North Carolina’s 11th congressional district. Shuler is also a former real estate professional and his company is one of the largest independent firms in eastern Tennessee.
As you can see, there is no such thing as a surefire prospect when it comes to sports. Some players are more suited to succeed in the professional spotlight. It seems that for every bust, there is a late pick no-name who blossoms unexpectedly. As the old proverb states, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” In the end, you never know what will happen in the wonderful world of sports.
Richie Sliwinski, 14, is a young card collector who enjoys playing, watching, and talking about sports, hanging out with friends, going on the computer . . . and of course, collecting cards! He has been featured in Beckett Sports Card Monthly, Sports Illustrated for Kids, and was a kid blogger for Upper Deck Kids.
Popularity: 30% [?]
Five Reasons to Get Excited for SP Authentic Football
Posted by: | CommentsEvery year I love SP Authentic Football for a number of reasons. If you’ve been following my posts here, you know much I love the product. In fact, it’s been a constant in my collection since I first started buying cards, and this year is no exception. Many people have me why I look forward to it so much, so here you go: my top five for 2009.
These five items are why I think this product is a fine addition to the SP Authentic line, and when all is said and done, aspects from all five will be resting on my shelf come the beginning of the 2010 card season.
5. Inclusion of Players like Jared Allen, Mario Williams and Ray Lewis
Not every person can make a name for themselves running in touchdowns or catching passes, which is why many of them never get much love in the hobby. For SP Authentic, and many other Upper Deck products this year, these players are finally getting their due. I have a few of them on my radar already, especially those of mullet sheathed pass rusher Jared Allen. Despite having very little to do with the high powered, high scoring, hobby MVP filled Vikings offense, Allen is a menace on defense and has built a HUGE fan base in Minnesota.
The problem was, before 2009, he had had a total of one autographed card. Now, in SP Authentic he has more than five, including a coveted SP Authentic By The Letter and duals and triples with Mario Williams, Albert Haynesworth and rookie Tyson Jackson. Williams and Haynesworth have built similar reputations in Houston and Washington, so it’s only natural that they get some face time as well. In addition to the aforementioned people, fan favorites like Ray Lewis, Lance Briggs and other monsters of the gridiron are getting attention, which I think is awesome.
4. A Great Looking Set All Around
It’s rare that a set features a complete win in every subset, but with 2009 SPA, things are looking top notch. Each card is completely new in its appearance, and the smoky feel to the cards definitely reflects the hotness they bring to the hobby each year. Even the old favorites like the rookie authentics and the By the Letter autos look fresh and new, which makes me want to go wild on ten cases and hope that I can get a few sets together. There are also a few new additions to SPA that look great, including the new dynasties autos. These are cards with sewn patches and autographs that focus on the Niners, Steelers and Cowboys: teams that ruled their decades with multiple Super Bowl wins.
3. NEW Super Patch Rookie Autos
Collectors love signed memorabilia cards, and now SPA has a brand new subset that could be one of the best looking cards of the year. For each of the rookies that were a part of the 2009 NFL Rookie Premiere, there is a card that features a signed swatch of player worn jersey instead of the normal swatch and autographed card. These cards are so cool looking, that I actually planned months in advance to be able to try to get a few of the ones I wanted. To have a rookie patch auto is one thing, but to have the rookie sign a super swatch is even more awesome.
2. The Rookie Auto Patches Look Better Than Ever
I can’t even tell you how amazing I think the Rookie Auto Patches look this year, as the design has definitely taken the cards to a new level. Team color borders are making their debut for this set, and they visually add a lot to an already sought after card. People always say these cards are valuable because collectors can’t get enough of the hard signed autos and multi-colored patches, but I also think it’s because they always look so good. I did a retrospective a few months ago, and throughout the time I was writing, I was thinking about how there wasn’t one bad year. 2009 is no exception.
1. Hard Signed Signatures Abound!
Having a set with completely hard signed autographs is tough to find in this day and age. SPA takes the concept above and beyond with duals, triples and quad hard signed autos, something that is not found very often outside Exquisite collection. However, unlike Exquisite, SPA can be purchased at price that makes it affordable for every collector, which means they get a taste of the high end with every box. Not only that, but it adds a certain element to each card, knowing that your favorite players actually touched and signed the card you just pulled. Plus, who can deny how awesome on card sigs look when showing off your collection?
When it comes down to it, it can be difficult to live up to such a high standard each year; but over the last decade, SPA has never fallen short. It’s the reason why release day is always such an exciting time for me, and 2010 is no exception.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
Popularity: 25% [?]
Payton for Super Bowl MVP
Posted by: | CommentsPayton should have been the MVP of Super Bowl XLIV.
Now before you freak out, please read that sentence again. P-A-Y-T-O-N. I am talking about Sean Payton the coach of the Saints. I know there is no way the coach can receive the award for Most Valuable Player, but the guy was absolutely phenomenal in his play calling. Although I predicted the Colts would win in my last post, and I wish the other Peyton were receiving MVP honors, I know how to give credit where it is due.
Sean Payton took the Super Bowl to a whole new level. I hope coaches across the league were taking notes on how to trust your players, prepare, and leave everything on the field. (all the while doing it with major style). We are going to be hard pressed to have another game like Sunday. This was one of those games we will hear about year after year. It will forever be referenced, and in ten years we will all be watching the re-run on ESPN Classics for the umpteenth time.
My mother grew up in Indianapolis where my grandparents had season tickets from the time the Colts arrived in the middle of the night, until 2000. My grandma now lives in Utah, but is the most die-hard Colts fan I have met. As a matter of fact, my Grandma knows more about sports than most guys. I considered it a special treat to go to her house on Sunday and watch our team play on the biggest stage. You never know when your team will be playing at the end of the season, and how often do you get to spend it with Grandma? We had our treats and watched the game. We agonized together over the defeat.
I have talked to quite a few people over the last couple of days who are convinced the game changer was when the Saints picked off Peyton and ran it back for a 74 yard touchdown. Their point is valid, but the true game changer came when the Saints opened up the second half with an onside kick. At that moment Sean Payton was either a hero or an idiot. In this case he chiseled his own name in the NFL history books as absolutely brilliant; extremely gutsy, but brilliant. Before that moment, he decided to go for it on fourth and one but came up short. The Colts thought they could take the time off the clock and head to the locker room with a good lead. Instead, they couldn’t convert and gave up another three points. Not one game changing moment, but a number of them.
So how did Sean Payton pull off the win? How did he keep the best quarterback (sorry Drew Bress fans, but Manning is the best right now) from scoring? It’s like asking how you keep Michael Jordan from turning the driving lane into a freeway.
Saints fans will tell you it was Brees’ brilliant passes under pressure. Yeah. Okay. With the Colts playing so far off the receivers it would have been hard not to hit so many completions. Colts fans will tell you it was because of injuries, with the biggest being Dwight Freeney’s ankle. Good argument, but still not the answer.
The only way Sean Payton was able to win that game was by keeping Peyton Manning off the field. It is as simple as that. The gutsy calls were made to prevent Peyton from even seeing green. The only way Peyton can’t score is by not being allowed to throw a pass, drop three steps or hand the ball to his backfield. There was a stretch of 70+ minutes, real time, in which Peyton Manning did not get on the field. For a quarterback it is an eternity. Peyton was antsy. He wanted to be out there, but it seemed like every time he stood up he just had to sit down again. Not even getting a chance at three and out. How do you win against Peyton? Don’t give him a chance to play.
Of course, I am sad the Colts didn’t have another championship to celebrate on Sunday. I do feel like I watched one of the best Super Bowl games I have ever seen. I also find great comfort in knowing it was not the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, or the Steelers. My wish for next season is for both teams to have outstanding runs and meet again. If they can put on another show like they did this past weekend, I am going to pay ridiculous amounts of money and watch it in person.
So there it is. Sean Payton. Super Bowl MVP.
Just as a side note: in my opinion, the days of great Super Bowl commercials and halftime shows are dead. At least with The Who, we know there won’t be any wardrobe malfunctions. Well . . . we hope not.
Logan Millard works and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Aside from his full time job, he works for the Utah Jazz as a media relations coordinator on game nights, and also helps Fox Soccer Channel when they are in town.
Popularity: 24% [?]
Saints Win the Super Bowl With Gutsy Plays
Posted by: | CommentsThe 2009 NFL season has been a wild joyride, and I am happy that I got to be in the passenger seat these past five months. It ended in historic fashion on Sunday, with the Saints winning handily, thus cementing the comeback of a disaster laden city. Not only have the Saints won the franchise’s first title, they did it as underdogs against one of the NFL’s most dominant teams from the regular season. Drew Brees has entered an exclusive club of Super Bowl winning QBs, adding to his growing and lengthy resume as one of the best around today. Congrats Saints fans, you guys deserve it!
Before the game started, I couldn’t help but notice that most of the pre-game buzz was focusing on the positive side of the Saints’ epic run and the negative side of the Colts’ lagging injuries. As if that weren’t a sign enough, many of the commentators were picking the Saints to win in a close game, something that I was not expecting to see. As the pre-game started ramping up, I started to think that this was going to be a tighter game than I had once predicted. Although I wasn’t rooting for either team, I believed the Colts had the better team on the field, though I was expecting the Saints to make it interesting.
After the Colts went up ten points in the first quarter, I couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t going to be a very good game. The Saints-happy crowd wasn’t feeling it either, and after a graphic was put on the screen showing that no team had come back from more than ten points in a Super Bowl, it became essential for the Saints to get back on their horse. That’s when Brees picked it up, driving the Saints to field goal and a 1st down inside the 10. When Pierre Thomas was stopped inside the 1 on third down, Coach Sean Payton had the biggest decision of his life, and the first half wasn’t even done. They called the same play again on fourth down, and the Colts defense held for a miracle stop. At that point, I didn’t think New Orleans had it in them to come back. I was wrong.
Coming out in the beginning of the second half, Payton made one of the gutsiest calls in Super Bowl history, going for a trick on-side kick to get the Saints back in the game. The Saints recovered the ball in a massive rugby scrum, saving New Orleans from giving the ball back to Indianapolis with amazing field position. From there, Brees took the team down with quick passes and scored on a screen to Thomas that looked eerily like the one he scored on the Vikings with.
Although the Colts marched right back and scored on a Joseph Addai rumble for six, Brees wasn’t done yet. He knew that a touchdown to answer would be demoralizing to the Colts’ defense, and with a short pass to Shockey, all was within reach. The problem is, because of field goals, the Saints needed a two point conversion to set them up ahead by 7 points, and again, it came down to a wonderful coaching decision made by Sean Payton on a Lance Moore catch. Payton successfully challenged and won, giving the Saints a lead by seven, sending the team’s fans into a craze.
Here is where it gets even more interesting.
For the second game in a row, the Saints defense needed a stop to put them in a good position to win, and just like the previous game, Tracy Porter played like a god. Against the Vikings in the NFC Championship, Porter had intercepted a Brett Favre pass to prevent a game ending field goal try late in the fourth (this time, he took a wayward Manning pass all the way for six). It put the Saints further ahead, and I could almost hear Bourbon Street erupt from my family room in Los Angeles. Manning tried his best for some late game heroics, but it was too far to come back, and the Saints were champs.
Even though the commercials were sub par, and the half time show was surprisingly bland, the game did not disappoint one bit. Collectors have already started jumping on Tracy Porter’s 2008 rookies, as well as MVP Drew Brees’ many autographs. Luckily for all of Who Dat Nation, Brees will be featured prominently in the final three sets of 2009, with unprecedented inscription cards in both Ultimate Collection and Exquisite. Brees has solidified his reputation as a premiere elite quarterback, although Saints fans have been on board since 2006. Brees’ 2001 SPX rookies have been going nuts over the last few weeks, and I would expect that to continue from now on.
On that note, be sure to check out some of the great cards coming up in SP Authentic, Ultimate Collection, and Exquisite, even if you are not on the New Orleans party train. These sets will be filled with all sorts of amazing cards that highlight the run of the 2009 NFL season, including those of both the Champs and the Colts. This is also a great opportunity to start your collections if you haven’t already, because I have a feeling that there won’t be many teams who can beat ‘dem Saints next year either.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
Popularity: 24% [?]
An Exquisite Football Retrospective
Posted by: | CommentsI have always referred to Exquisite Collection as “the granddaddy of them all,” when it comes to super-premium products. It is often imitated, never duplicated despite many tries. Exquisite Collection is one of the only products in its price bracket to feature completely hard-signed signatures for all of its autograph cards, and this coming year’s set looks to be no exception.
Because Exquisite Collection has become such a favorite among collectors, I wanted to take a look back at its run from 2005-2009 and put together a retrospective. You don’t know where you are going until you know where you have been, right?
2005 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Aaron Rodgers, Ronnie Brown
This set is widely remembered for being the first of its kind in football. The rookie cards are rare and tough to come by, and with so many rookie cards featuring elite players, it is a very valuable beginning to the Exquisite Football brand. The staples of Exquisite, the rookie auto-patch cards, are here featured with dual swatches for the only time in the brand’s history. In tother subsets of the product, signed memorabilia was a focus and are some of the most sought after modern cards in history. My personal favorite was the signed helmet-and-shoulder-pad cards, a concept that has yet to be repeated anywhere in the hobby.
2006 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Maurice Jones-Drew
2006 had the help of one of the biggest hype clouds of any draft class I have ever experienced. Each player drafted in the first round was destined to be hall of fame bound, and the prices of the Exquisite cards upon release reflected that completely. The rookie auto-patches started using humongous patch swatches while still maintaining a great design and look, while the rest of the set became more indicative of the cards we are accustomed to now. For the first time, Exquisite collectors hunted for “gold boxes,” where each card in the 7-card pack was a 1-of-1. There was also the introduction of single-, dual-, and quad-NFL logo cards, which are still heralded today as some of the best ever produced. Though some of the rookies may not have filled the shoes they were supposed to have, the values on this set remain very high regardless.
2007 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Adrian Peterson, Calvin Johnson, Brady Quinn, Patrick Willis
When March of 2008 rolled around and Exquisite hit shelves, people clamored for their shot at a big hit in a draft class that had been one of the best in years. Adrian Peterson had put up monster numbers in his first season, and his Exquisite cards were expected to be some of the most expensive non-1-of-1 cards in a long time. All of the favorite features of the 2006 cards were back, including the dual- and quad-logo cards that were the chases of the previous set. My favorite cards in this set were probably the newly designed, rare-materials cards, which featured up to three NFL logo patches coupled with a hard-signed autograph. These cards were part of the gold boxes that again made their appearance, and many collectors broke double-digits worth of cases to pull one. Even today, the Adrian Peterson Rookie auto patch sells for over $1,200, and I don’t see the price coming down any time soon.
2008 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Chris Johnson
If I had one word to describe 2008 Exquisite, it would be “regal.” An ornate design graced the cards of a great draft class, which featured some of the biggest and craziest patches of all time. This time, it wasn’t just 7 cards per box, as a new “gold pack” was created to bring extra value to each box. This new pack was filled with all kinds of amazing cards, including hard-signed autographs on each card. There were also new concepts from favorite sets like rare materials, which turned into a subset that many collectors tried to complete. Instead of just one card per player, these cards now were numbered to 50 and 10, creating a feeding frenzy for the people who were going for the set. There were still single- and dual-logo cards for people to chase, and many of them are still out there. The biggest addition to Exquisite was Tiger Woods, who had his first Exquisite card inserted into the packs. These cards were expected to top $10K in value, and some garnered even more.
2009 Exquisite Collection
Key Rookies: Mark Sanchez, Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno, Matt Stafford
Over the last few weeks, we have gotten our first taste of what 2009 Exquisite is going to be all about. All the favorite cards are back including the dual- and quad-logos, as well as some new ones that should be utterly ridiculous. Now, there is a possibility of pulling hinged cards out of this year’s product, some with multiple autos from multiple players. Signed swatches are making their return, as well as the gold packs that people loved so much in the last set. A new focus of this set is the inscription cards which are looking to make a big splash. Instead of a plain auto, many of the cards will feature any number of inscriptions from both rookies and veteran stars. With Mark Sanchez and Percy Harvin making it all the way to the conference championship games this season, it may be one of the most valuable draft classes ever. Look for Exquisite Collection soon!
I’m beyond excited for one of my favorite products of the year, and I can definitely say that it looks more packed with content than ever. The design looks great this time around, and we haven’t even seen the full extent.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!)
Popularity: 32% [?]
