Tag Archives: donruss rookies and stars 2010

NFL

Jackson, Kareem ‘K-Jax’

dor&s10 kjacksonCard: Donruss Rookies & Stars 2010
Acquired: In Person 12/15/2015, Whataburger Community Player of the Year

I have been looking to get Kareem Jackson for a very long time, but I knew he wasn’t a good through the mail signer. It didn’t really seem that he signed very often at that until this year, so I was very excited to see K-Jax at this gem of an event with 3 other players.

Of all the Texans I have been hard on over the years, Kareem has probably shouldered most of the hostility. A first round choice by the Houston Texans in 2010, he was immediately tabbed into the starting lineup and became a frequent victim of Peyton Manning and other quarterbacks around the league- replacing much maligned Duanta Robinson.  It took Wade Phillips entering as defensive coordinator in 2011 to jump start a change in Jackson’s play style. One of the things that Phillips wanted to change was Kareem’s backpedal style and fundamentals. This really helped out Jackson immensely.  The Texans also gave him support in the names of Johnathan Joseph and Danieal Manning and put an emphasis on putting pressure on the quarterback.  Jackson started at least 13 games in each season since being drafted until injury sidelined him extensively in 2015. Still he returned by the season finale against the Jags, a defensive masterpiece, in which K-Jax intercepted Blake Bortles for a 27 yard TD. He started 12 games in 2016, contributing 1 interception- another critical pick of Blake Bortles that he returned 42 yard for his second career TD.

At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Kareem had 13 career interceptions, 2 TDs and 60 pass break ups. With the Texans doing a little tinkering in the secondary for 2017, rumor is that Jackson may see more time at safety this year.

NFL

Walter, Kevin (2)

sco10 kwalter ud09 kwalter pac09 kwalter dor&s10 kwalter long

Cards: Score 2010, Upper Deck 2009, Pacific 2009, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009
Acquired:  TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:     Received:
Failure:  2012, C/o The Houston Texans
See Also: Kevin Walter

The previous one I had signed before, bubbled because of the finish on the card.  After my initial luck back in 2009/2010, I tried to go back to the well again to get Walter on some more cards. He’d be cut after the 2012 season, thus ending any chance on getting his autograph on anything else.

He posted two respectable seasons in 2011 (39 receptions for 474 yards and 3 TDs) and 2012 (41 receptions for 518 yards and 2 TDs) for the Texans.  The receiver needy Tennessee Titans signed Kevin that following season, but he didn’t take a snap due to injury. Kevin would retire after the 2013 season.  He was later named to the Houston Texans’ 10th Anniversary team.

I contacted Kevin at his home address in Texas where he signed these cards for me with his amazing signature. (The postmark on the return was from New York.) He also responded by wishing me and my family well, as well.

G/GS  152/93     REC 356     YDS 4379    AVG 12.3     TD 25   LG 61T

NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Manning, Eli

dor&s09 emanningCards: Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2010.
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 5/27   Received:  6/18      (24 days)

Less than a week after wrapping up the crown jewel of in person autographs for 2015, lo and behold, the arrival of Eli Manning TTM. I had seen a lot of recent successes for the enigmatic signer and decided to take a stab.  Eli Manning actually first garnered my attention when he was at Ole Miss. I was working on Tecmo Fiesta Bowl for a front end- that the programmer later dropped off the face of the Earth on, and input Manning’s out of sight abilities. (He was basically Dan Marino from Tecmo Bowl playing with a bunch of scrubs.) I knew he was going to be a good player in the pros. It also helped that he’s the son of former quarterback Archie Manning, and the younger brother of Peyton Manning.

Originally the #1 overall choice of the San Diego Chargers in 2004, Manning refused to play for the team due to organizational differences. It was rumored that the elder Archie did not want his son to play for a perennial loser or for defensive mided coach Marty Schottenheimer– but in reality, the Chargers had orchestrated a trade with the Giants well before the draft, if New York could wrangle in QB Philip Rivers and toss in a few picks to quickly rebuild the moribund Charger franchise. While the Mannings took a lot of flak from fans and the press for their percieved behavior,  it was fait accompli between the Giants and Chargers.  As Manning got off to a rocky start his rookie season, with 6 TDs to 9 picks, and 48.9 completion percentage, San Diego appeared to have made the better deal and Giants fans were murmuring, but once Manning established himself as the starter, he became one of the league’s ironmen under center starting 167 straight games, through the 2014 season. In 9 of his next 10 seasons, he attempted more than 500 passes.

dor&s10 emanningManning came of age in 2007, leading the Giants to a Super Bowl win (XLII) over the previously undefeated New England Patriots, 17-14. He’d be named MVP after going 19/34 for 255 yards, with 2 TDs and a pick.  The season ending victory was a bittersweet culmination of sorts for the Giants and Manning. He had been maligned in the media,  by fans, management, and even by former teammate Tiki Barber.  In 2011, the Giants repeated again as Super Bowl Champions over the Patriots, this time 21-17. Eli took home his second MVP trophy after going 30/40 for 296 yards and a TD. Although his numbers took a precipitous slide in 2013 as he led the league for the 3rd time in his career in interceptions, Eli’s numbers recovered nicely to form in 2014.

Manning holds many Giants’, NFL, and postseason records. He is considered one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league (NFL record 15 4th quarter TDs and 8 game winning drives in a season in 2011).