Tag Archives: new orleans saints

NFL

Thomas, Michael (WR/2016)

sage16 mthomas wr16
Card: Sage 2016 (#44./250)
Acquired: 2016, Hobby Box Breaker

Michael Thomas is ranked among the top 5 prospects at wide receiver in the 2016 NFL draft. Aided by perhaps his pedigree as a member of Ohio State, Thomas has shot up boards with incredible boom/ bust potential. He’s got the big 3 things scouts look for in spades (weight, speed, and height) but scouts were unimpressed by his football load while playing for the Buckeyes. They just felt he was underutilized, wasn’t demanded to use too much of the route tree, and didn’t showcase his abilities- which he’s just scratching the surface of.  Still it looks like Thomas will go as early as round 2 or late as round 3 in the 2016 NFL draft. He shot up final draft boards, and the Saints drafted him with their second round pick. Thomas is expected to replace recently departed Marques Colston at WR.

NFL, University of Texas

Feller, Happy

utud11 feller
Cards: UT UD 2011, UT UD 2011 NC
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Work
Sent:  10/19  Received: 10/23    (4 days)

With a name like Happy Feller, you might as well be predispositioned to be positive about things.  He joined the Longhorns Hall of Honor in 2014, after being a part of two national championship teams for the University of Texas. While there he set Southwest Conference records for both touchbacks and point after attempts. His 55 yard field goal against UCLA  in his senior year was a school record at the time as well.

utud11 feller 6970Feller went on to play in the NFL for 3 seasons.  A 4th round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, he’d beat out Mark Moseley in training camp to secure the kicking job.

The Eagles were perennial losers at the time. Head coach Jerry Williams was fired and replaced by interim coach Ed Khayat. Khayat brought New Orleans placekicker Tom Dempsey in and put him on the taxi squad. With an accomplished kicker like Dempsey breathing down his neck, Feller began to question his ability. His game ultimately suffered.  Happy played in 1972 and 1973 for the New Orleans Saints, but a quadriceps injury slowed him down.

After football,  Happy founded TeleDynamics, which specializes in wholesale electronics. He signed these 2 cards for me in a very short 4 days. On the letter he wrote next to my salutation, “My pleasure!” It’s always great when you can tell that a player really is just as happy and excited to sign for you as you are.

G  21       XPA 28        XPM 27        FGA  16        FGM   50       PCT  37.2%

CFL, NFL

Clements, Tom

AW91 clementsCard: CFL All-World 1991
Acquired: Canton Acquisition 2012

Tom Clements has garnered quite the reputation over the last few years working as a quarterback whisperer for the Green Bay Packers tutoring the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, while also getting the best out of other names such as Kelly Holcomb, Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox, Elvis Grbac, and  Jake Delhomme at his other stops.

Being a former HoF QB in the CFL, has given Clements an edge over his coaching competitors. Some say it is his calm and easy going demeanor during gameday, or the a way of always getting a little bit more out of his quarterbacks. Regardless, Clements is praised in circles around the NFL as an up and coming coach.

Tom Clements was inducted into  the Canadian Football League’s Hall of Fame in 1994, after a prolific career playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders (1975-78) where he was named the CFL’s Rookie of the Year in 1975. In 1976, Tom earned his first Grey Cup Championship earning the Outstanding Offensive Player award. He joined Saskatchewan and later Hamilton in 1979, before a brief foray into the NFL in 1980 with the Chiefs. Returning to the Tiger Cats in 1981, he’d play there through the 1982 season and then join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He’d earn his second Grey Cup Championship and Outstanding Offensive Player of the game award in 1984, and league MVP honors in 1987 retiring after the conclusion of the season.

He’s also had a stop at his Alma Mater Notre Dame, before making the leap to the NFL as a position coach and offensive coordinator for the Saints (1997-1999), Chiefs (2000), Steelers (2001-2003), and Bills (2004-2005), before joining the Packers in 2006. The Packers are well aware of Clements reputation as he has steadily risen in the organization’s coaching hierarchy. Although embattled after the 2015 campaign, Clements serves as the Packers Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach going into the 2016 season.

CFL
ATT  4657      COMP 2807       YDS 39041      PCT 60.3%
TD 252        INT 214           RAT N/a
RUSH 374       YDS  1660       AVG 4.4       TD 13        LG  42

NFL
G   2     ATT 12       COMP 7        YDS 77       PCT 58.3%
TD  0      INT 0       RAT  77.4
RUSH 2         YDS   0        AVG 0.0        TD 0       LG -.-