Tag Archives: Houston Texans

Arena, NFL, NFLE, ufl

Boyd, Shane

psetwlaf14 boyd tntufl11 boydMM

tnttal14 boydUP

tntafl14 boydCard: TNT AFL 2014, TNT AFL 2014 B, TNT UFL 2011 Memorable Moments, Pro Set WLAF 1991 Final Update
Acquired: IP, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers. IP, 7/6/14 Talons vs. Sharks.

Shane Boyd joined the San Antonio Talons a few games into the 2014 season. He fits the mold of the prototypical quarterback that head coach Lee Johnson likes- big and with a cannon for an arm. Shane boasts an impressive resume. Playing for the Cologne Centurions he set the career and single season marks for quarterback rushing yards in the NFLE with 339 in 2006. He put up decent stats initially for the Talons, but got into a quarterback controversy with Matt Bassuener as the season drug on.

Joining the UFL in 2009, Shane was the starting quarterback for the California Redwoods. He scored the first points in the short lived league’s existence.  Boyd finished the season with 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions to 814 yards to go along with a 60.5 compleation percentage. He was not retained the next season, as the Redwoods moved to Sacramento, -rebranded themselves the Mountain Lions, and then signed Daunte Culpepper to a contract.

Later, Boyd joined the AFL, in 2012 with the Milwaukee Mustangs, throwing for 557 yards and 6 TDs, and the Tampa Bay Storm in 2013. He’s also spent time on NFL rosters through the years including the: Titans (2005), Steelers (2006), Texans (2007-2008), the Alouettes, and Colts (both 2009). Boyd also was drafted by the Portland Thunder, but later saw action with the Bluegrass Warhorses (of the CIFL) in 2014.

I spotted him out near the edge of the arena after the Barnstormers game and quickly approached him before the throngs arrived. Although Boyd appreciated the card I rendered of him, he lamented the ‘nasty #19’ jersey that I had him in. He asked me for an updated card of him with the correct number on it. Later when I ran into him getting an autograph from Shannon Tevaga, he told me that the #19 card could be a promo or limited edition card. Boyd also had me tell Tevaga about Shane’s Jeopardy question relevance in football history, scoring the first TD in UFL history.

I went ahead and did those extra cards for Shane: a correction card with his 17 uniform on, a UFL memorable moments card, and a Pro Set WLAF hack card. I was finally able to get back around to him after the squad lost to the Jacksonville Sharks where I gave him the extra cards. He loved them, and gleefully signed and incribed them for me.

NFL

Swearinger, DJ “DJ Swagg”

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Cards: Crown Royale 2013, Topps 2013, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2013
Acquired: IP 7/17/2014, Academy Texans Stampede Tour

djswaggThe Texans opted not to send players to any Texans Draft Parties outside of Houston. Apparently they decided to draw their wagons this year after their pitiful 2013 performance and keep their guys at home. I wasn’t happy about this at all, as Academy was running promotions with the Titans in Tennessee as part of their draft day program. I know my rancor towards Academy on Twitter- especially being a Texas company touting the traitorous Titans, didn’t make it happen, but I’d love to say somebody paid attention or listened. In mid July the Texans made it down to Austin for their Stampede Tour. I was happy to see DJ Swearinger and Eric Brown were on the list. I quickly made an order to my card shop, as I was surprised not to have any Swagg cards in my collection, and biting my nails off through the wait, 4 of them showed up for me just in time for the event.

Even though the weather was nasty, it worked to my advantage, as the players were late getting to a previous commitment. They were still on the radio at the other event, when I showed up at Academy only 30 minutes early. Being that Austin traffic was unforgiving I knew I was in for a long wait. Academy was smart about it. They issued numbers to everybody who came through the door so that we didn’t argue over spots in line. That was perfect. I ended up with #36. The players showed up over an hour late. That was fine, as it allowed me to get as many cards as I needed signed. I really caught Swearinger’s attention with the Crown Royale card he really pined over. When I got up to DJ again the second time, I asked him if he wanted any of the cards I had. He wanted the SP Gamecocks card, so I made a deal that if he’d sign the other two, it was his. He had no problem with that and the handlers did not make a fuss.

ud13st swearingerThe Texans had a rough 2013. With the departure of safety Glover Quin to Detroit, it left a gaping hole in the secondary. To address the issue, the team ran out and desperately signed still injured Super Bowl champion Ed  Reed to a contract, and then drafted DJ Swearinger in the second round of the 2013 draft to learn from the well versed Reed. Ed however rarely saw the field for the team and was cut midway through the season. In the meantime, DJ Swagg got a trial by fire in the secondary. He’d start 10 games for the Texans, recording 54 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 4 pass defensed, and his first career interception against the Arizona Cardinals (Carson Palmer).

DJ is an active personality on Twitter, who really loves to make the highlight play. A viscious hitter, he’s always the subject of fines and conversation between referees when he lays down a lick, even drawing the ire of Peyton Manning during a preseason game who earned an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting Swearinger. Swearinger also has a knack for the strip, forcing 2 fumbles within the 10 yard line during the 2014 season. A college teammate of #1 pick JaDeveon Clowney, Swearinger went to bat for him and is very excited about having him on the Houston Texans.

 

NFL

Foreman, Jay

ud02tx foremanCard: Upper Deck Houston Texans 2002 Inaugural Season
Acquired: 2014, Future Considerations

Jay Foreman was an intimidating presence at linebacker for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. A four year starter there, Jay finished with 233 tackles, ranking him 12th best in school history. Taken in the 5th round of the 1999 draft, Foreman was inactive for a good portion of his rookie season due to a logger jam at linebacker on the team. He’d play on special teams in the final 4 games of the season. It wasn’t really until 2001 that Foreman got his chance to shine for the Bills. The team converted to the 4-3 defense and kicked Sam Cowart inside, leaving 2 spots to be fought over at outside linebacker. The big loser was John Holecek, a stalwart defender who found himself surprisingly cut due to the Bills precarious salary cap situation. Foreman was supposed to battle it out with Kenyatta Wright and Jeremy Spoon for the backup job at MLB to Cowart, but by the beginning of the season, Foreman was starting at right linebacker for the Bills. He’d have a pretty respectable season with 72 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, – right in time for a new contract.

The Bills, still contractually herniated needed to figure out to do with Jay. Enter the Houston Texans. The rookie Texans became a dumping ground of sorts for bloated contracts to go to die, while alleviating much needed cap space for the teams who gave up players. With the expansion draft underway the Texans selected offensive back Charlie Rogers with the 11th pick. The Bills had pined for Rogers, put some calls into the Texans, and before everybody knew it, the trade was consummated. Foreman was a steal for the Texans, as he’d have his best season as a pro officially recording 137 tackles (197 by Texans’ coach estimates) at LILB. He’d post another good season for the team before injuries limited him to 11 games in 2004. After the ’04 season, the Texans coaching staff blew up the defense trying to go younger, and allowed both Foreman and Jamie Sharper to explore trade options after the team signed Morlon Greenwood. Unable to find a trade partner, both players were eventually cut. Foreman went on to play two more forgetable seasons for the New York Giants and San Fransisco 49ers before finally retiring.

I had heard that Jay was appearing at a Texans Ambassador appearance in East Texas, and with Lance going, I went ahead and exercised one of my future options. I sent him a few cards for both myself and him to get signed and crossed my fingers that everything would work out. Overall a pretty nice card, and I am glad to get Jay’s autograph on it. I would love to eventually complete this set out, but many members of the expansion Texans franchise roster has already slipped under the radar.

G/Gs  84/60     Tac  527    Sac 4.5      Fum 4     Int 0      Yds 0      Avg -.-      Td 0        Lg -.-