Category Archives: NFL

Branch, Alan

UD08p BranchCard: Upper Deck 2007 (43/99)
Acquired: 2014, Target Autographed Memorabilia

A dominating run defender in college for the Wolverines, that clocked in at a space eating 6’6″, 325, -Alan Branch was a second round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.  Coveted for his positional flexibility, Branch could play defensive tackle, nose, or defensive end (in a 3-4 alignment). In 35 games for Michigan, Alan had 56 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, a pick and 3 forced fumbles.

Branch had trouble cracking the Cardinals starting lineup, and did not see very much starting time until his final season with the team in 2010. During that year, Alan started 3 games and posted 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 27 tackles. In 2011, Alan signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and moved into the starting rotation for the squad.  His stop with the team yielded his best 2 seasons of his career, as he posted 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 37 tackles, for Seattle as a defensive tackle. He’d sign a contract with the Bills and kick out to defensive end, collecting 21 tackles in 13 starts. He re-upped with the team for 2014 but was arrested for DUI. As many teams in the NFL have taken a very hard line approach to any transgressions, the Bills immediately cut Branch. Alan found a home with the New England Patriots later that year and looks to assume a greater role in the defense in 2015 with the departure of Vince Wolfork.

Davis, André (2)

ud04 adavisad10 adavisCards: Adrenalyn 2010, Upper Deck Foundations 2003
Acquired: 2013, C/o Home
Sent:  8/15/13    Received:  2/17/15   (555 days)
See Also: André Davis

The new longest wait champion briefly was this response from André Davis at 555 days. Since then amazingly I got another player’s autograph through the mail that was over twice that long. The success percentage for waits over a year is pretty low, so I had easily given up on this one. I think that I sent it to an address in New York, but the response was postmarked from South Carolina.

I really liked these two cards of Davis. The Upper Deck Foundations card has a really nice design, but I really enjoy the Adrenalyn set. – It’s too bad that the set is a virtual card game that doesn’t really place any focus on the card backs.  Still it is a winner because it features Davis in a Texans’ uniform, where he enjoyed some of his finest play outside of Cleveland.

Gerhart, Garth

Card: Sage Hit Low 2012
Acquired: 2012, Box Breaker

One of the younger brothers of Minnesota Vikings runningback and Stanford graduate Tony Gerhart, in 2011, Garth garnered Second Team All-PAC 10 honors for his blocking at center for Brock Osweiler and the Arizona Sun Devils. A 4 year letterman that played in 39 games with 35 career starts, Garth played all the interior positions of the line for the squad, and also appeared in the 2012 East-West Shrine Game, and the 2012 Senior Bowl.

At 6-2, 302, Garth was invited to the combine, ran a 5.29 40, and bench pressed 225 lbs 25 times. A big-motor guy, who puts in good effort, and finishes blocks strong, Gerhart is considered a leader among his peers.  Garth was viewed as a late round prospect, but ended up going unselected in the 2012 draft. The Cleveland Browns signed him to a free agent contract shortly after the draft concluded. Since that time Garth has bounced around the league splitting time with the Packers and Panthers. He was promoted from the practice squad and signed to the active roster of the Packers before the beginning of the 2014 season and played in 2 contests.