Category Archives: NFL

NFL, ufl

Arrington, JJ

Card: SP Authentic 2006
Acquired: Target Authentic Memorabilia 2012

A surprise diamond in the rough from originally College of the Canyons and then later at Cal, JJ Arrington ran for at least 100 yards in every game for the Golden Bears in 2004 piling up 2,018 yards.  The yards were be the most since Marcus Allen, and this earned Arrington All-American Honors.  He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2005 draft and immediately penciled in as the team’s starter at tailback to replace retiring Emmitt Smith. It was rough for Arrington to adjust to the pro game. He ended up splitting time with Marcel Shipp and started only 5 games, but gained 370 yards on 112 carries and scored 3 TDs.  JJ got moved to kick returner the following season as the team’s infatuation with free agent runningbacks shifted to Edgerrin James. Arrington saw little time in the backfield. Still he had a banner season as a returner with 67 returns for 1520 yards, a 22.7 average and a 99 yard touchdown. As Arrington finally saw a breakthrough taking the #2 slot behind James in 2007, the team used him sparingly and primarily as a 3rd down back/ kick returner recording 29 receptions for 241 yards and a touchdown. He’d have his best season in 2008 as a kick returner, only returning 36 kicks for 923 yards- but was relegated again to 3rd string behind Tim Hightower. He’d make good for a 25.6 yard average and a 93 yard touchdown. Arrington again caught 29 balls for 255 yards and a TD, helping the Cardinals reach their first Superbowl. When the season concluded, JJ was cut by the Cardinals after undergoing microfracture surgery on his knee.

In 2009, the Denver Broncos took a chance on Arrington signing him to their backfield. He’d be an ideal fit for their system- but failed his physical due to the knee, and was cut. JJ signed with the Broncos again in 2010,  and looked good in camp, so good that Denver traded him to the Eagles, but he’d be released prior to the beginning of the season. JJ played for the  Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL in 2011 but after a lot of buzz on the signing, he was cut by the team. Currently he remains a free agent.

Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL

Cappelletti, John

Card: Topps 2002 College All-American
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

John Cappelletti played for the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1971-1973. Originally a defensive back, the coaches by his Sophomore season felt he was best suited to play runningback. From there John went on to have a storied career for Penn State, but at the same time his brother, Joey, was slowly losing his battle to Leukemia. As time was running out on Joey, John asked him if there was a wish he could grant for him. Joey asked John to score 4 touchdowns for him in the next game against West Virginia. John wasn’t sure he’d be able to do it, but in the end John granted his younger brother Joey his final wish. Cappelletti went on to win the Hesiman trophy in 1973, and had a remarkable cumulative 2,639 yards, 29 TDs, and a 5.1 YPC in  2 seasons by the time he graduated from Penn State that year. John also dedicated his Heisman to his brother Joey as well.

The Los Angeles Rams took him with the 11th overall pick of the 1974 draft where the Rams used him primarily as a short yardage back. He’d score a career high 6 TDs rushing in 1975, and 688 yards rushing in 1976. Cappelletti signed with the San Diego Chargers in 1980 where he finished his career in 1983.  In 1977 a made for TV movie called “Something for Joey” starring Marc Singer, was made based on John’s story. He currently lives in California.

G/Gs 105/52      Rush 824       Yds 2951       Avg   3.6        Td  24       Lg 46
Rec  135             Yds  1233             Avg  9.1           Td  4      Lg 37

Arena, NFL, WLAF

Wilkerson, Eric (2)

Cards: ProSet WLAF 1991 TD leader, ProSet WLAF 1991 Rushing leader, ProSet 1991 WLAF, Ultimate WLAF 1992, Ultimate WLAF 1992 LL, Wild Card WLAF 1992.
Acquired: TTM 2012, C/o Kent State Alumni Association*
Sent:  6/16    Received: 7/28  (34 days)
See Also: Eric Wilkerson
* Donation requested

The paid side of SportsCollectors.net has been really good to me, and I’ve been able to unearth some very nice gems recently out of there recently. Case in point: Eric Wilkerson. I had been looking for Eric for quite a while. After hearing he had been stabbed, I hadn’t been able to find anymore information on him, but combing the archives of SC I found a success for the elusive runningback by writing to him care of Kent State’s Alumni Association. Since I had reached a desperate level on him, and he is one of those players with a bunch of cards, I decided to give it a shot and throw in a donation, since I felt so guilty about sending so many cards. While reconciling my bank account statements, I noticed that he cashed the check out a few days earlier, and then crossed my fingers on the return.  I would not be disappointed as he signed all 6 cards, which represents the single highest haul from a player since probably – Stan Gelbaugh? With Eric’s autographs on his 3 ProSet WLAF 1991 cards, it officially puts me over the halfway mark on the set (76/150).  Among the cards is the really slick touchdown league leader card, that he split with Orlando Thunder receiver Byron Williams. Nearly all of these cards are just really great heroic images of Eric in action, with probably his regular base card from the Ultimate 1992 WLAF set being my favorite. He signed each one, and wrote 91/92 on either one indicating the year.

During his time at Kent State, Eric ran his way into the record books rushing for 3,380 yards from scrimmage, and crushing the Mid-American Conference’s combined yardage record with 5,974 all purpose yards. During his senior season he set a single season school record with 1,325 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Due to his diminutive size, and the small school he went to, Wilkerson went undrafted but signed with the Steelers in 1989, and the Lions in 1990.

The WLAF gave him a shot in 1991. He’d be the 8th runningback taken in the draft, by the New York New Jersey Knights, and lead the league in rushing in 1991 with 717 yards and 11 TDs.  While his 1992 season was not as successful, it was more about the Knights offense diversifying as much as anything else. Eric is unofficially the WLAF’s career leading rusher- since the league reorganized after the season and was not seen again until three years later in 1995.