NFL

Hill, Anthony (2)

poff09_anthillCard:  Playoff Contenders 2009
Acquired: 2016, EBay
See Also: Anthony Hill

The Texans when all else failed, just drafted a Tight End. Enter Anthony Hill. I’m not sure the selection made much sense in 2009. With a jam packed roster of Owen Daniels and Joel Dreessen heading up the position, the Texans not only drafted Hill in the 4th, but TE James Casey in the same draft. I believe the thinking here was that Hill would provide superior blocking to help the Texans (at the time) anemic goalline offense. The Texans ended up carrying all of these tight ends into the season.

Hill never really blossomed into the player the Texans would hope he’d become. He’d contract swine flu during his rookie season, tear his ACL and make one catch during his career in Houston. He’d sign with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 and was assigned to their practice squad. Later that year Anthony signed with the Colts as an injury replacement, retiring in 2012.

G/Gs  12/2         Rec  3           Yds  10       Avg  6.3        Td 0         Lg 9

NFL

Artis-Payne, Cameron

sage15_artispaynesage15 cartis-payne art
Card: SAGE 2015, SAGE 2015 Artistry (99/100)
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

After grinding it out in JC for two years, Cameron Artis-Payne transferred to Auburn- a school steeped in tradition of quality ground games.  He rushed for 610 yards on 91 carries and a strong 6.7 yards per carry in 2013. Artis-Payne proved it was no fluke in 2014 when he led the SEC with 1,608 yards on 303 carries and 13 TDs.

He was selected in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. Artis-Payne battled fellow rookie Brandon Wegher in the runningback rotation behind Johnathan Stewart and Fozzy Whittaker.  Cameron saw action in 116 snaps, carrying the ball 45 times for 183 yards- primarily in relief of Stewart. His first TD came against the Tampa Bay in a 38-10 thrashing of the Bucs.

 

Arena, NFL

Swann, Eric

aprks91 eswannCards: Action Packed Rookies 1991, GameDay 1992
Acquired: 2016, Paid Signing

Eric Swann does not sign through the mail. When I saw this affordable signing, it was a no brainer to go ahead and send out two of my favorite cards.

Swann took a unique route to the pro level. Academically ineligible he was unable to begin college at NC State. Instead he enrolled in JC at Wake Technical, but left soon thereafter to join the semi professional football Bay State Titans in 1990.  During his single season with the Titans, Swann rocked the league with 72 total tackles, 11 sacks, 4 blocked field goals, and 4 forced fumbles playing at both defensive end and tackle.

The Arizona Cardinals fell in love with Swann’s unusual combination of size (6’3″, 311), strength (bench press of 400+ lbs), and speed (4.98 40). They’d select Eric with the 6th pick of the first round during the 1991 draft. He’d be the first non-college player chosen in the first round since Emil Sitko was selected by the Rams in 1946.

gday92 eswannSwann’s rookie season was slowed by injuries. Shortly after taking the field in minicamp, he blew out his knee and had to have arthroscopic surgery.  He’d see action in 12 games though, starting 3, and record 4 sacks to go along with 22 tackles.  Swann over the next few years solidified his role on the Cardinal defense, recording a career high 70 tackles in 1992, and 7 sacks in 1994.  Eric also recorded a safety in 3 straight seasons from 1992 to 1994.

1995 marked the first time in some 30 years that a defensive lineman from the Cardinals was named to the Pro Bowl, as Eric recorded the first of his two nominations, with 45 tackles, a career high 8.5 sacks and 1 forced fumble. A 1996 followup yielded another 3 fumble recoveries, 5 sacks, and 60 tackles.  Although Swann had an equally dominant 1997 campaign with 7.5 sacks and 52 tackles, he did not see any further Pro Bowls. Eric played for the Cardinals through the 1999 season, joining the Panthers for a final season in 2000.  At the time of his departure from the deserts of Arizona, Swann was the most decorated and feared lineman to play for the Cardinals.

Swann briefly popped up on the football radar again in 2007 playing for the Hudson Valley Saints, and later the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League in 2008.  He was also inducted into the Semi-Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

G/Gs 126/87        Tac 386          Sac 46.5         Fum 6
Int 2          Yds  42         Avg 21.0          Td  1         Lg 42t

Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.