Category Archives: CFL

Arena, CFL, NFL

Beavers, Larry Jr.

tntafl14 beaversCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 8/16    Received: 9/13     (27 days)

Larry Beavers is an outstanding talent in the Arena Football League. He attended a small Division III school, Wesley College in Delaware. There Beavers set the NCAA record for career kick return touchdows with a whopping 10.  He also demonstrated a knack for the ball, finishing second in school history with 2,366 yards.

He went undrafted in 2009 but was signed by the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately Beavers was among the final cuts that preseason by the squad. The following year Larry was signed by the New Orleans Saints, but again was cut in the offseason. In 2011, he signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League, but quickly decided to take his talents to the CFL, landing on the roster of the Edmonton Eskimos.  Beavers returned to the Arena leagues the following year and was an offseason addition to the Pittsburgh Power.

It was in 2013 that Larry joined the New Orleans Voodoo, and that’s where he’s made an impressive impact. He’d earn second team All-Arena Team Honors in 2014 as a kick returner cracking the 1,000 yard barrier both as a receiver and as a kick returner. Larry was assigned to the expansion Las Vegas Outlaws for 2015, but ended up rubberbanding back to the Voodoo before the season was out, scoring 2 more TDs on kick returns.  The Voodoo (and the Outlaws) were taken over by the league before the conclusion of the season.

I had gotten a few customs I had made autographed by players in the league over Twitter. Impressed with Beaver’s play in the finale against San Antonio I created this custom of him and asked him if he’d like one, to which he gleefully signed this one for me in about 2 weeks.

CFL, NFL

Alexander, Ray

AW91 ralexanderCard: CFL All World 1991
Acquired:  2014,  Albany Acquisition

Talking about no respect. After making the roster of the Denver Broncos his rookie season, Alexander played in the CFL for the Calgary Stamps in 1985. In 1986 he had a pretty solid year, posting 1,590 yards, on 86 catches, to go along with 10 touchdowns. Feeling like he had a score to settle, Alexander returned to the NFL, where he was signed in 1988 by the Dallas Cowboys. He’d work his way into the starting lineup for the Cowboys in Tom Landry‘s final season. He’d proudly lead the team in receiving making 54 receptions for 788 yards and 6 TDs. With a change in management in 1989, and Jimmy Johnson brought in, Alexander was short on time to impress management. After an injury sidelined him for most of the season, Ray quickly returned to the CFL and the British Columbia Lions in 1990.  He’d post 4 1,000+ yard seasons in 5 years for the team, and then sign with the Ottawa Rough Riders in 1995. Although he was traded back to the Lions before the conclusion of the season, Ray did not see any time on the field, and retired shortly thereafter.

NFL  26/11       Rec  63       Yds 936        Avg 14.9       Td  7       Lg  50
CFL    Rec 511         Yds 8842         Avg  17.3       Td 40      Lg 59

CFL, NFL, University of Texas

McGarity, Wane

utud11 dneilCard: UT Upper Deck 2011
Acquired: 2015, Spoodog Box Break

Wane McGarity really came into his own in his Senior year with Texas when he recorded 58 catches for 1,087 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Longhorns. Originally a runningback, Wane suffered through knee injuries in both his Freshman and Junior years, while converting to wide receiver over his Sophomore season.

He’d be taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the 4th round of the 1999 draft.  Wane saw the majority of his time on Special Teams. His best season in the NFL came in 2000 when he had 30 punt returns for 353 yards and 2 touchdowns.  In addition Wane clocked 25 receptions for 250 yards. He split his 2001 season between the Cowboys and Saints.

He joined the CFL in 2003, playing for the Calgary Stampeders (2003-2004) primarily as a return man- earning All-Star honors. Later, in 2005 he saw limited action with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

NFL G/Gs 31/2    Rec 39     Yds 363     Avg 9.3     Td 1    Lg 25
Rush  6      Yds  49      Avg 8.2     Td 1     Lg 22
PR 58      Yds 590      Avg 10.2     Td2      Lg 64t

CFL    Rec  131    Yds 1,726    Avg  13.2   Td 11   Lg 51
Rush 12   Yds 48    Avg 4.0    Td 0   Lg 17
KR 52    Yds 1,194   Avg 23.0    Td 0   Lg 53
PR  105   Yds 1,089    Avg 10.4    Td 2   Lg 70t