Tag Archives: Dallas Cowboys

AAF, NFL

Mama, Damien

Card: Sage 2017
Acquired: 2017, Box Breaker. 2019, San Antonio Commanders v San Diego Fleet

A classic road mauler, Damien Mama played guard at USC and clocked in at a whopping 6’3″, 342. A second team PAC 12 selection in 2016, he’d declare early for the 2017 NFL draft, but go unselected. He’d sign as a free agent with the Chiefs and eventually land on their practice squad. Later in 2017, the Giants signed him to their roster- but Damien was released in mid-2018. He’d join the Cowboys in training camp, but again be waived in final cuts.

I found out that Damien was playing in The Alliance of American Football for the San Diego Fleet, so I packed a card of him for the first game of the season. He was practicing with Marc Bercovici before the game and decided to come over and sign some autographs in the visitor’s end zone. A super nice guy, Damien’s sleeve tattoos are even more amazing up close.

Mama was shifted from guard to center for the Fleet for the opening day game against the Commanders. Despite his best efforts the Fleet were overwhelmed by San Antonio and surrendered 6 sacks.

Throughout the season Mama’s play improved and the team finished in 4th place giving up just 19 sacks in 8 games. The Fleet themselves as an offensive unit finished 3rd in the league in total yardage and second in passing yardage.

Currently with the dissolution of the league, Damien is a free agent but could find a home in the XFL 2020.

AAF, NFL

Green, Aaron TCU (2)

Cards: Sage 2016, Sage 2016 Next Level, Panini Contenders 2016, Leaf Draft 2016, Panini Classics 2016, Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: IP 2018, San Antonio Commanders AAF Season Ticket Holders Reveal Party. IP 2019, San Antonio Commanders vs. Salt Lake City Stallions, EBay, 2019.
See Also: Aaron Green

After being waived by the Rams, Aaron Green has seen stints on the rosters of the Dallas Cowboys (2017) and the Buffalo Bills (2018). He’d be released on an injury settlement in May of 2018, later signing with the San Antonio Commanders of the fledgling AAF. 

Green has a stack of really nice cards that I wanted to get signed, and I made good headway at the AAF Season Ticket Holders Party. Unfortunately my silver marker dried out, so I was forced to make do with the Brown signatures. Still I think they came out alright. When I asked him if he had gas in the tank to run for 7 yards per carry like he did at TCU, he cooly flashed a smile at me. 

Later during the introductions the franchise lauded praise upon him for being a San Antonio legend from the time that Aaron played for San Antonio Madison in High School.

Green was one of the few players from that stage who made it from the opening bell of the league to the final cut. He spelled Kenneth Farrow II at runningback and posted 25 carries for 98 yards, along with 7 catches for 53 yards in 6 contests. He had his best game in the opener against San Diego when he gashed the Fleet for 43 yards on 6 carries almost breaking one loose.

After the Salt Lake City game I recognized Green in the crowd talking to his family. When he saw his Topps base card, he was very impressed, and penned a total of 3 cards for me that evening. A few weeks after the AAF folded I started sniping out certified autographs on EBay on the cheap. I got lucky and pulled down one of Green in no time flat.

AAF, NFL

Kelly, Kameron

Cards: Topps AAF2019 Certified, Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Future Stars
Acquired: 2019, EBay. 2019, TTM C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers
Sent: 4/18 Received: 5/3 (15 days)

Kameron Kelly showed versatility playing at San Diego State over his college career, working in the defensive backfield at both safety and corner over his time there from 2014-2017. He had 164 total tackles, 8 tfl, 2 sacks, 15 pass deflections, and 9 interceptions for 122 yards.

He signed with the Cowboys in 2018, but was released before the season began. In October, Kameron was snatched up by the San Diego Fleet of the AAF. He was converted to WR by the Fleet, but then got transferred back to defensive back thanks to injuries. During Week 5 of the season, Kameron set an AAF record with 3 interceptions of Stallions QB Josh Woodrum. For his efforts Kelly earned Defensive Player of the Week Honors from the AAF. He finished the AAF 8 game season with 19 total tackles, and 4 interceptions for 22 yards and a TD.

After the AAF suspended operations, Kelly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kameron Kelly represents the first trifecta I’ve been able to achieve of an AAF player as I got his certified, base card, and Future Stars cards all signed. Now, I am completely baffled as to the difference in the autographs from the TTM versus the certified issues, but since he personalized it, I’m still pretty sure it’s him and Kelly has just changed his autograph. Maybe he signed it with his nickname? Who knows.

Kameron also probably got a good laugh out of the fact that he was born in Round Rock, Tx and I told him the traffic on I-35 is still terrible. Anyway I dashed this one out the door as soon as I heard he signed during the great AAF deluge after the Alliance collapsed in April of 2019.