Tag Archives: new york guardians

Heeney, Ben

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ben Heeney played LB at Kansas from 2011-2014.
  • Became a starter in 2012 and immediately made an impact, posting 112 tackles, 11.5 TFL, a sack, 2 pass deflections and a forced fumble.
  • As a junior, added 3 picks, 87 total tackles, 11.5 TFL, and a sack to his growing resume.
  • In 2014, Heeney had a career high 127 total tackles, 13 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, an interception and 2 forced fumbles.
  • Ben was selected in the 5th round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Oakland Raiders.
  • He’d start 3 games posting 38 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, a pass deflection and a forced fumble.
  • Injuries played a part though in his time in Oakland and he’d be waived in 2017.
  • After being claimed and released by the Saints, Heeney played for the Houston Texans that season, posting 2 more tackles.
  • In 2020, Heeney was selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL.
  • He’d post 30 total tackles, and 3 tackles for loss, before the league suspended operations due to COVID.

NOTES:

A great snipe for me here as I picked up this certified 4/5 black parallel autograph of Ben for just a buck fifty.

Mueller, Ryan

Topps XFL 2020, #4

CARD: XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, XFL Championship Game

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ryan Mueller played college ball at LB for the Kansas State Wildcats.
  • He played in 39 games, posting 116 total tackles, 16.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
  • Undrafted in 2015, Mueller spent the offseason with the Chargers (’15) and Eagles (’16).
  • 2017 saw Ryan on and off the roster of the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
  • After missing out on the AAF, Ryan was selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL in late 2019 as a Phase 5 selection.
  • Recorded a pick 6 in a home victory over the Dallas Renegades.
  • Returned to the XFL in 2022, selected by the Arlington Renegades.
  • He be cut, but later resigned by the Renegades, who then traded Mueller to the Vegas Vipers for QB Luis Perez.
  • The Vipers then soon thereafter cut Mueller, who ended up resigning with the Renegades.

NOTES:

I was waiting outside near the team busses. They didn’t have them set up the same way they had previously and had them scattered about the parking lot after the Championship. I got really lucky and overheard someone refer to a player who came over as Ryan. I keyed in on him immediately and he had no problem signing my card.

He loved the XFL 2020 card, and told me that he lamented the XFL 2020s collapse due to COVID. He said that the Guardians had unfinished business and had just started to surge.

I then said that he had the best character arc of all though. He was traded to the Vipers for Perez. The Vipers cut him soon afterwards and he resigned with the Renegades. And now he’s an XFL Champion!

He then joked at me that he’s like 1/2 the XFL Championship MVP for it.

Williams, Marquise (3)

CARDS: Panini Prism 2016 Blue, Topps XFL 2020, Custom Card
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 10/27 RECEIVED: 3/13 (138 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I can not remember if I got help from Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus) on this one- but if I must give credit where it is due. Over the years we’ve collaborated so much and he’s been very helpful and encouraging all along the way.

I had been searching for Marquise to get him specifically on these cards. The Panini Prism card was one that I had hoped to get signed when he played for the AAF, but later I just went ahead and bought a base certified autograph of. – And of course the XFL 2020 one was something I wanted to get shortly after the set came out. Marquise signed the back of my card for him and returned it, which was nice of him, but it was intended for him- in case he ever wanted to visit the shrine.