Tag Archives: Dallas Cowboys

NFL

Thomas, Jahad

Card: Panini Contenders 2017
Acquired: 2017, Box Breaker

Jahad Thomas played for the Temple Owls in college from 2013-2016. He began to see playing time during his Sophomore year, and then had an impressive showing in his Junior (276 carries, 1,262 yards, and 17 TDs) and Senior (207 carries, 953 yards, and 13 TDs) campaigns. He also displayed nice touch out of the backfield, catching 69 passes for 998 yards and 8 TDs over his time in Philadelphia.  Considered undersized by scouts, Thomas went unselected in the 2017 NFL Draft.

He signed with the Dallas Cowboys but was cut before the preseason. He later signed with the Jets and was placed on their practice squad.

CFL, NFL

Ismail, Raghib ‘Rocket’ (2)

Cards: Fleer 1996, All World Promo 1991, Classic 1991, Atomic 2001
Acquired: TTM, 2018
Sent: 1/2       Received: 1/8   (6 days)
See Also: Rocket Ismail

Shortly after attending one of the Dallas Cowboys Rally Days where I met Rocket and got his autograph on a handful of cards, he started signing TTM again. I thought initially, “Oh well,” but knew I needed to double back to him to get a few more cards signed. So rolling over to 2018, what better way to kick it off by getting Rocket again as my first autograph of the year?

These cards really offer a cross section of his career starting at Notre Dame on this Classic 1991 promo card. Hand it to Classic trying to be edgy out of the gate, but the name line feels right aligned because the weight is tied to WR. I also wasn’t too big a fan of the brushed granite look, but it beats the cheetah pattern they later used. Overall, it’s a great photo of Rocket and there were quite a few of them to choose from.

From there we move on to the terrible All World CFL series, which tries to emulate the ProSet 1989 design by just angling the lines. There’s also the terrible color choices as the red and blue just feel like they clash a bit too much. It does not help that the Argonaut helmet just sort of -sits there arbitrarily on the canvas. As a promo however it sells what it is: The first set to have Ismail in his professional debut threads.

After his time in the CFL, Rocket jumped back to the NFL courtesy of the Los Angeles Raiders. It seemed to make sense. I mean the only other place with as bright stars and marketing would be Dallas, right? I liked this card. Fleer 1995 was all.. over.. the.. place.. design wise from team to team. It embodied everything I liked and hated in the 1990s sets as the companies started really embracing Photoshop. This one for example has a very unnecessary grain. I like the fearlessness of the design on the front, but it is a bit too much.

After his time with the Raiders, a stop in Dallas was next. It took me a while to come around to the sets of the early 2000s as I didn’t collect any while I was on my football hiatus. Among them I liked the die cut Atomic. I have a soft spot for gimmicky cards, and these certainly look better once you see one.

NFL

Gregory, Randy

Card: Sage 2015 Artistry  (28/100)
Acquired: 2017, Box Breaker

There is no denying the talent that Randy possesses. At Nebraska, after just two years he quickly climbed up the school’s charts to 9th place with 17.5 sacks.  He’s got a lanky frame at 6’5″ and at 235 he’s got a ways to go to grow into it. The Cowboys took a shot on Gregory with the 60th pick of the draft. Obviously he slipped down and off some draft boards due to his off the field issues. During his rookie year in 2015, Randy suited up for 12 games in between suspensions, posting just 7 tackles.  In 2016, Cowboys fans got excited when Gregory recorded 8 tackles and a sack in the first two games. – Then he got suspended during the suspension ending his 2016.

It’s not that Randy Gregory can’t catch a break. It’s that he keeps blowing every chance he gets. In April of 2017, the talented Randy Gregory failed his 7th NFL drug test since 2015 and has since blown off league officials. Time will tell how long the Dallas Cowboys or the NFL will be patient with him or how soon Gregory will go down as a high risk draft bust, but on 5/16/2018 Randy reapplied for reinstatement to the NFL.