Tag Archives: chicago bears

NFL

Groy, Ryan ‘Yorg’

sa14 rgroyCard: Sage 2014
Acquired: 2015, Box Breaker

Ryan Groy clocked in at an impressive 6’5″, 320 but went undrafted out of Wisconsin. While playing for the Badgers, Ryan had a lot of experience playing on the line at all positions except right tackle. He also played 13 games as a fullback in 2010. Ryan signed a free agent contract with the Bears and was promoted to the team roster late in the season. He’d be traded to the New England Patriots in 2015, but was cut with an injury settlement.  He was later signed to the Bucs practice squad, and then to the Buffalo bills active roster.  Groy continues to blossom as a lineman in the NFL seeing action for the first time in 16 games, while starting 7 of those contests during 2016.

NFL

Joppru, Bennie

poff03-bejoppruCard: Playoff Contenders 2003
Acquired: 2016, EBay

Bennie Joppru comes from strong football bloodlines where his father and brothers all played football at the college and/or pro levels.  Bennie himself, played collegiality at Michigan, where over his four years playing for the Wolverines, contributed 85 receptions for 800 yards and 8 touchdowns.

The Houston Texans finished their inaugural season with a 4-12 record.  Eager to improve on the team’s record, Dom Capers jumped at the chance to coach in the Senior Bowl the following year.  Bennie made the longest play of the game- a 23 yard juggling catch from Kyle Boller.  Capers and Casserly must have liked what they saw out of Joppru, and with TE Billy Miller an RFA, the team could also have an insurance plan in case things didn’t work out.

Houston traded around with New England, before selecting Joppru in the second round of the 2003 draft- a full 20 picks before Dallas selected TE Jason Witten.  Bennie then destroyed his groin with a pelvic hernia during training camp. He’d be on IR the next two seasons.  In 2005, Joppru blew out his ACL during training camp and again was placed on season ending IR.  After the season, Capers was fired.

With new head coach Gary Kubiak in town, the team took another long look at Joppru. They liked what they saw and he got another shot, but the team was a much different beast now, especially at the tight end position led by rookie Owen Daniels, wily veteran Mark Bruener, and Jeb Putzier. The Texans attempted to convert Bennie to fullback, but cut him in October of 2006.

He’d be signed by the Chicago Bears practice squad, and then called up almost immediately to back up Jerramy Stevens and play special teams in Seattle. In 2007 he returned to the Seahawks, but thigh and hip injuries pretty much ended his season and career in the NFL.

Among the pantheon of picks made by the original regime in Houston- is Bennie’s considered a run of bad luck or a bust? Admittedly, I place him at the top of the list in a long line of bad reach busts by the Texans early in their checkered history.

G/GS  0/18         Rec 0        Yds 0       Avg -.-        Td 0        Lg -.-

NFL

Sharpton, Darryl

bo10 dsharptonCard:  Bowman Sterling 2010
Acquired: 2016, EBay

I never did get Darryl Sharpton at an event for the Texans after he cancelled on the Battle Stampede Tour back in 2012. Such a shame. He had some really nice base cards. In the meantime I went ahead and picked up this Bowman Sterling. It’s not bad looking, but the framing device takes up half the card. For all intents and purposes Sharpton could be an offensive lineman in that shot. His hands are also noticeably not present, which makes less of an impact statement.

At 5’11” 235, Sharpton was a bit undersized to be playing linebacker but had made up for it with a solid Senior season playing for the Miami Hurricanes. He racked up 106 tackles, and had an interception and fumble return for touchdowns in 2009, earning second team All-ACC Honors. Darryl was also praised for his ability to play all three positions in the 4-3, solid tackling, and for his great motor against the run.  The Texans felt that he fit something that they were looking for, and selected him in the 4th round of the 2010 draft. He started 6 games and recorded 13 tackles and a sack his rookie season.  The team looking to go in a different direction from Frank Bush, brought in Wade Philips to coach the defense in 2011. He converted the defense to a 3-4 alignment, drafted Brooks Reed, and moved Mario Williams to outside linebacker.  Sharpton had a hard time finding the field, but in 2013 had his best season for the team starting 8 games and recording 55 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.

The Texans opted not to resign Darryl, and he signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins in 2014.  Sharpton was placed on injured reserve before the end of training camp and was released.  He later started 2 games for the Bears and made 10 tackles.  Darryl signed with the Cardinals in 2015, but confident in their young LB corps, he was cut before they even hit training camp. As of 2016, Darryl is currently a free agent.