Tag Archives: buffalo bills

NFL

Manuel, EJ

udst13 ejmanuelCard: Upper Deck Star Rookies 2013
Acquired: 2015 Trade, Spoodog Box Break
Failure: TTM 2013, C/o the Buffalo Bills

I had seen a lot of responses from EJ Manuel during his rookie season so I decided to take a stab at him. I was really disappointed when I didn’t get a response.  I like EJ and I still think he has the tools to succeed at the pro level. There are a lot of haters out there who want to see players do nothing less than fail, whether because it is a draft grade they gave them, they hated the guy at the college level,  or just an impatient member of the pro fan base, people sometimes just have it out for professional players.  Anyway I wrote a very encouraging letter -and never heard back. With the sting of that failure still fresh in my mind, well over a year later, I was talking to Spoodog and he offered me this EJ Manuel and a Marquise Goodwin autograph in exchange for one that I had given him earlier in the day.

It wasn’t until 2011 that EJ Manuel finally took over as the starter for the Florida State Seminoles. He had been battling future pro Christian Ponder at quarterback since he arrived on campus his Freshman year. His senior year was his signature season at FSU, leading the school to a 12-2 record. He threw for 3,392 yards and 23 TDs while rushing for 310 yards and 4 TDs on the ground.

Manuel was taken by the Buffalo Bills in the 2013 NFL Draft with the 15th overall pick. He’d start 10 games over his rookie season for new head coach Doug Marrone, finishing with 1,982 yards passing, 11 TDs, and 186 yards rushing.  In 2014, EJ started 4 games, but during the 4th game against the Houston Texans, Manuel threw an errant pass that was intercepted at the line by defensive lineman JJ Watt and returned 77 yards for a TD. This would be the turning point of the game and the season for Manuel. He’d be benched in favor of Kyle Orton, who as Marrone put it, “Gave the Bills a chance to win now.” With the departure of Marrone after the season, the re-retirement of Kyle Orton, and the hiring of Rex Ryan, it appears that EJ has been given a defacto second chance to lead the Bills.

Arena, NFL, ufl

Palmer, Jordan

to07 jo palmerCard: Topps Certified 2007
Acquired: Target Autograph Memorabilia Pack, 2013

Jordan Palmer is the younger brother of Heisman Trophy Winner Carson Palmer. While also playing quarterback, Jordan has traveled a much different path than his decorated older brother. Jordan ended up attending the University of Texas – El Paso, playing quarterback for the UTEP Miners from 2003 through 2006 putting together a respectable quarterback resume.

The Washington Redskins drafted Jordan with their 6th round pick in 2007. Despite playing well in the preseason, Palmer was one of the final roster cuts that season. He’d hop over to the Arizona Rattlers of the AFL, but not see any playing time, signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008, backing up his brother Carson, who lobbied hard for him to come to the team. They became the first active duo of brother to play for the same NFL team and Jordan remained with the Bengals through mid 2010.

Jordan went to the Oakland Raiders that year, where he was ironically reunited with his brother Carson who joined the team in 2011.  Jordan played in the UFL for the Sacramento Mountain Lions later that year, and quickly found a home with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2012. In 2013, Palmer played for the Bears, and then both the Bills and Titans through 2014.

NFL, ufl

Rhodes, Dominic (2)

sco09 rhodesCards: Score 2009, TNT UFL 2011
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:  4/11        Received: 4/17   (6 days)
Failure: TTM 2013, C/o Home
See Also: Dominic Rhodes

Dominic had signed previously TTM for me, and asked for a copy of the UFL customs I had done. It took me a while to get around to printing them out and I sent to Rhodes back in June of last year. The problem was Dominic had moved and the UFL had gone on indefinite ‘hiatus’. I tried contacting him both through Twitter and his foundation, but had no luck. It finally took me getting a new Meiselman list to track down Dom’s latest address in North Texas. Since I was having to go a bit out of my way to find him, I enclosed an extra or two to get signed. He responded in about a week personalizing the cards and wishing that the cards found me well, and quoted Bible scripture to me:

Phil 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.

tntufl10 rhodesPretty cool, I just wish that the inscrpition was underneath his autograph. -Instead he wrote it on the card sleeve. While not the most pious or religious person, I do like it when players put scripture on their autograph. It tells me a bit about what they are thinking or what is going on in their lives.

Dominic returned to the UFL for the league’s swan song in 2012.
With the league imploading after 4 games, Dominic finished as the unquestioned career leading rusher of the UFL. He completed the season with 63 carries for 219 yards and a TD. Rhodes has been working out agressively and staying in shape, hoping for another shot with another team, but the odds of him getting the chance, at the age of 35 are now are slim.  It’s a shame because there is little wear and tear on the former Super Bowl Champion’s legs at all.

Unfortunately the UFL didn’t do a good job of tracking the numbers of their 2011 and 2012 seasons, however here are both Dominic’s NFL and UFL statistics I was able to cobble together:

NFL:  G/Gs 99/33   Rush 814     Yds 3286    Avg 4.0    Td 26    Lg 77   |
Rec 147    Yds 1027   Avg 7.0    Td  4   Lg  29
Kr 147     Yds 3374   Avg 23.0  Td 2    Lg  88t
UFL:  G/Gs 18/18    Rush 269     Yds 1180    Avg 4.4    Td  16 Lg  65t
Rec 12          Yds  115           Avg 9.6         Td  1      Lg 22
Kr 12            Yds  260         Avg 21.6        Td 0      Lg N/a