Category Archives: CFL

CFL, NFL

Brazley, Carl

All World CFL 1991, #85

CARD: All World CFL 1991
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 7/8/21 RECEIVED: 9/18/23 (802 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • After playing defensive back at Western Kentucky, Carl Brazley would go unselected in the 1980 NFL Draft.
  • He joined the CFL where he went on to have a banner career, playing 13 seasons in the league.
  • Brazley was a free agent signee by the Montreal Alouettes in 1980, seeing action in 4 contests.
  • He’d be claimed off of waivers partway through the ’81 season by the Ottawa Rough Riders.
  • Saw measured growth in 1982, recording 4 picks and a fumble recovery.
  • After a cup of coffee with the Bills in ’83, returned to the CFL, joining the Toronto Argonauts.
  • From 1983-’92 established himself as a lethal defender in the secondary.
  • Recorded 20 picks over 3 seasons (’84-’86).
  • Played briefly for the Chargers in ’87 as a replacement player before returning again to the CFL.
  • Also was used on special teams as a returnman.
  • Had a 108 yard return of a missed field goal in 1990.

ACCOLADES:

  • CFL All-Star (1982-’86)
  • 1983 Grey Cup MVP (Defense)

NOTES:

Had sorta given up on this one that was a shot in the dark, but was pleasantly surprised to see this one bounce back to me in a bit over 800 days.

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a2.094352212.2363
CFL
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
N/a0.00100.000
NFL
CFL, NFL, XFL

Maponga, Stansly

Topps XFL 2020, #AU-SM
Topps XFL 2020, #45

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Defensive Lineman Stansly Maponga played college ball at TCU from 2010-12.
  • In 2011 he posted 55 total tackles, 13.5 TFL, 9 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles.
  • He was a 5th round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2015.
  • After not making the final cuts, he was resigned to the practice squad by the Falcons.
  • The Giants signed him later in 2017 to their regular season roster, and then retained him on their practice squad after the year.
  • Maponga then spent the next year or two of and on the practice squad and in the futures contract game with the Cowboys (2017), and Broncos (2017-18).
  • In late 2019, he’d be the first defender selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL for 2020.
  • On the 5 game season, he’d post 15 tackles.
  • After a brief flirtation with the Ottawa Redblacks of the CFL (2021), he’d be selected by the Orlando Guardians of the XFL 2023.
  • On the season Stansly posted 22 total tackles, and 2.5 sacks starting 9 games for the Guardians.

NOTES:

Stansly was another player within earshot as he left the field to go back to the locker room after warm-ups. He got past me, but when I called out his name, he was probably impressed that I knew how to pronounce it properly in the first place- turned around and came back to me. He graciously signed this card for me. I was really impressed by the broadness of his shoulders. He had gigantic shoulder pads for his size. We also joked about the fact he played for the Dragons, sans ‘Sea’.

CFL, usfl, XFL

Rogers, Eli

Topps XFL 2020, #122

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Eli Rogers played WR for Louisville from 2011-14.
  • Consistent and dependable, Rogers never failed to catch less than 41 passes every year.
  • Over his 4 years with the school he posted 176 receptions for 2020 yards and 12 TDs.
  • He also moonlighted on punt returns, with 29 career returns for 248 yards.
  • He spent the entire 2015 campaign on IR with the Steelers after signing as an UDFA.
  • Earning the final (5th) WR spot with the Steelers that year, he ended up starting 8 games, recording 48 receptions for 594 yards and 3 TDs.
  • 24 of his receptions went for first downs.
  • With an increasingly crowded WR room and an ACL injury, Rogers saw his playtime decrease over the next two seasons.
  • After being cut in August of 2019, he’d find his way to the XFL 2020 as a selection of the DC Defenders.
  • He’d catch 19 passes for 164 yards.
  • After bouncing around between the Montreal Alouettes (2021), and the Bandits (2022), Eli was a first round pick of the Orlando Guardians in 2023.
  • Despite the franchise’s early on QB woes, Eli posted 20 catches for 173 yards and a TD.

NOTES:

Eli was one of the first players out onto the field for the Guardians, as he serves as a return man for the Guardians. I moved to this really sweet spot that puts me in earshot of the players. I called out his name and he saw me with my card and pen and flashed a smile. After warm-ups finished and the players started returning to the locker rooms, Eli came over and signed his XFL 2020 card for me. We joked about how I was an OG fan of the XFL in 2020 and how the Defenders were fun to watch, before he kindly signed this card for me.