Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

AAF, NFL

Washington, Shaan ‘Big Hit’

Card: Topps Now 2019
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim. Future Considerations 2019. TTM 2019, C/o Home.
Sent: 5/28 Received: 12/30 ( 216 days)

Shaan Washington played linebacker for the Texas A&M Aggies from 2013-2016 seeing action as early as a true Freshman. His tackles increased every year with him finishing with 104 combined tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 6 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. Shaan’s 59 assisted tackles led the SEC.

He’d be signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, and spent time on and off the roster of the team through 2018, and saw no playing time.

In 2019, Shaan signed with the fledgling Alliance of American Football, and be territorially allocated to the San Antonio Commanders. and quickly established himself as a key starter in San Antonio’s aggressive defense.

Shaan’s big moment came on the AAF’s opening night against the San Diego Fleet. With the Fleet driving into SA territory, San Diego QB Mike Bercovici took the snap, but didn’t check down Washington, who came across Bercovici’s blindside and blasted him. The hit was so hard, not only did Mike fumble the ball, his helmet went flying across the field. The play made Shaan the poster boy for the AAF and became the master highlight for the brief history of the league. He finished the 8 game season with 20 total tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection.

Although Shaan was invited to the XFL Summer Showcase in St. Louis- inexplicably he’d not be selected in the XFL Draft.

NFL

George, Jeff (2)

Cards: Topps 1990, Score 1990, Fleer 1990, Gameday 1992, Skybox 1993-94 Colors
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 3/23 Received: 11/5 (227 days)
See Also: Jeff George

Ah Jeff George- One of the most reliable TTM respondents in the business. I had originally gotten him way back in 2011 on 3 cards- but over the years had stocked up on some absolutely beautifully designed canvases I wanted to see his autograph grace. Usually a very quick signer, I was surprised to wait some 220+ days for his autographs on these cards, however true to his ways, I just had to be patient and they showed up.

Probably my favorite among them is this Skybox 1993-94 card. I only discovered these cards right at the intersection of my dead cat bounce in collecting- and right as the industry really started going off the rails. At the time, something as over produced as this with the duotone background was still novel. Photoshop and current design standards we take for granted today were barely getting off the ground. I only got a few of these from packs at a Hollywood Video, but I’ve kicked the tires a few times about buying a box wholesale now.

Jeff’s 1992 Gameday card is solid. It’s obvious that I was at the bottom of his mailbag- as he dispensed with the formality of personalizing the cards, and his signature looks a bit rushed on these cards. The framing itself is a great example of when Gameday’s design decisions really paid off as this canvas is exciting and it looks as though he is launching off of it.

I did feel guilty asking for 5 but, I reasoned that I had held off sending back to him for 8 years or so- so that made me feel a bit better about breaking my own rule.

Of these three other college uniform cards, I didn’t have the Fleer one, and it was considered rare back in the day. I got a box of Fleer 90 a few months ago, and I had forgotten how simple and elegant these cards were- despite the floating helmet. I remember Josh laughing at the Score 90 card because George wasn’t even throwing in the shot. He was even less generous about the Topps 90 one, but myself I do appreciate it as you rarely see a well composed shot of a QB under center next to his hogs.

In 2019 Jeff was spotted taking his son Jayden- an accomplished pro-style quarterback on recruiting visits around the country. Although his response took a while, Jeff did take the time to read my letter and in response to my suggestion that he consider coaching in the XFL- he wrote on the letter, “Perhaps in the future.”

CFL, NFL, WLAF

Buddenberg, John

Cards: Ultimate World League 1992, Jogo 1994, Jogo 1995
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 8/29 Received: 10/8 (40 days)

A three year starter at the University of Akron at tackle, John Buddenberg clocked in at 6’5″, 279. He’d be selected in the 10th round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and then later spent time on the rosters of the Minnesota Vikings (1989) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1990). During his time in the NFL, Buddenberg was shifted inside to play guard.

In 1991 John was selected by the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football. A stalwart member of the Surge’s offensive line front, he played in all 20 regular season games for the franchise over the lifetime of the World League (1991-1992), earning first-team All-World League in ’92. For both years he’d return to the NFL and was on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons.

After the World League reorganized following the 1992 season- the Sacramento Surge jumped to the CFL and became the Goldminers. John joined the franchise and played both guard and tackle for Sacramento in 1994, and (for the franchise when it moved to San Antonio and became) the Texans in 1995.

John currently lives in Ohio. He responded with a nice note and two extra autographed cards (the Jogo ones) thanking me for being a fan of the World League.