Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

Heinicke, Taylor (2)

Panini Prestige 2015, #288

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020, Sage 2015, Panini Prestige 2015
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o The Washington Commanders
SENT: 8/22/22 RECEIVED: 4/1/23 (222 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The Washington Football Club

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

No clue as to why I didn’t get the cards I sent out in 2020 back from Taylor. He was signing at a really good click and I guess that’s the luck of the draw right? I reloaded and waited until a better time- which appeared in 2022. He became sort of a folk hero for the Commanders over the last few years, but the team opted not to resign him after the ’22 season, so he packed his bags and headed out for Atlanta. I figured these cards were lost as well but eventually they made their way back to me.

Taylor has seen stops with the Texans, Panthers and Washington since his time as a rookie in Minnesota. In 2020 he joined the XFL and was widely expected to be a star in the young league, but got beat to the punch by Jordan Ta’Amu. Despite not seeing almost any playing time in the XFL 20, Taylor is considered one of the more ‘famous’ success stories of that league.

Maponga, Stansly

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’.

Jefferson, Shawn

CARD: Action Packed Rookies 1991
ACQUIRED: 2023, Consignment
FAILURE: TTM 2015, C/o Tennessee Titans

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Shawn Jefferson played college ball at UCF from 1988-1990.
  • He caught 67 passes for 1087 yards and 11 TDs over his college career.
  • Boasting a 4.45 40, Shawn was a 9th round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1991.
  • He was traded almost immediately to the San Diego Chargers along with a #1 pick in exchange for DE Lee Williams.
  • He played the next 5 seasons with the Chargers, and had two back to back 40+ catch, 620+ yard seasons.
  • Shawn joined the Patriots in 1996, and immediately bested those numbers.
  • In 1997, he had a career high 841 yards.
  • In 1998, Shawn posted a league leading 22.7 yards per reception (34 catches).
  • He’d sign with the Atlanta Falcons in 2000, and post a career high 60 receptions (822 yards).
  • Played with the Detroit Lions in 2003.
  • Finished career with 13 years under his belt, 470 receptions, and over 7k yards- Pretty good for a 9th round pick.
  • Went into coaching, working his way up with the Lions to the wide receivers coach position (2006-2012).
  • Served in same capacity with the Tennessee Titans from 2013-15, the Miami Dolphins (2016-18), New York Jets (2019-20), Cardinals (2021-22), and currently the Panthers (2023).
  • At all his more recent stops, (Jets, Cardinals, Panthers) Shawn has also been an associate/assistant head coach in addition to his wide receivers coaching duties.

NOTES:

I’d swear, I’ve tried Shawn at least 3 times, but the tape doesn’t lie. I just flushed cards on him once, back in 2015. I went ahead and did a consignment to knock him out at last.

The Action Packed Rookies 1991 card of him was one of my favorites. When the Oilers drafted him, I thought he had outstanding potential, so needless to say when Bobby Beathard shrewdly peeled him off the Oilers along with a first round pick in exchange for DE Lee Williams, I was still a bit disappointed, as I thought Jefferson was having a pretty good preseason.

Shawn talked a lot of smoke during his early days with the Chargers. -And when he mocked the Oilers, before their meeting in 1992, he became bulletin board material in Houston’s locker room. The Oilers would pummel the Chargers 27-0.

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