Tag Archives: New York Jets

CFL, NFL

Posey, DeVier

to12str-deposeyCard: Topps Strata 2012 Clear Cut
Acquired: 2016, EBay

Posey had his breakout season at Ohio State in his Sophmore year, 2009, with 60 catches for 828 yards at 8 TDs. 2010 resulted in equally strong numbers with 54 catches for 848 yards and 7 TDs. After controversy surrounded payments being made to players on the Buckeyes, Posey found himself suspended.  An athletic talent who is a good route runner, Posey had a solid performance at the combine and clocked a 4.5 40.

There was some hype around this pick when the Texans selected DeVier Posey in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft.  At this point Houston was looking for a new compliment to future HoF receiver Andre Johnson, and was feeling really thin at the position after Kevin Walter left.  Posey could not crack the Texans starting lineup while with the team.  A combination of injuries and a changeover in coaches didn’t help either. He finished with 22 receptions for 272 yards in three years.  The Texans traded him during the 2015 draft to the New York Jets to select Jalen Strong. Posey was cut by the Jets and then signed with the Broncos in 2016.

After being released he was claimed by the CFL Toronto Argonauts but spent the season on IR. DeVier quickly developed a rapport with QB Ricky Ray in 2017 and was second in the league in receiving with 280 yards, before he missed 6 games due to injury.  He returned to the starting lineup in late August.

The market certainly marked Posey as a future star and had him sign a bevvy of cards, but this one just stuck out. A great looking card and autograph to boot. Topps for once completely raised the bar. A partially translucent design integrated into a patch autograph card? Take my money please!

NFL

Johnson, Keyshawn

mem johnson SIItem: Sports Illustrated, January 19, 1999
Acquired: Future Considerations, 2015

Lance came through with this one and gave me a copy of a Sports Illustrated autographed by none other than Keyshawn Johnson. I am neither a fan of EBay purchases or autographed magazines, but I won’t look this gift horse in the mouth. At the time he also gave me a certified Billy Sims autographed card as well. I always give extras whenever I can to friends in a pay it forward maneuver, so it’s always nice to get something back in return.

Keshawn Johnson came off the board #1 overall (first time since Irving Fryar, 1987) in the wide receiver deep 1996 draft. Selected by the New York Jets, Johnson recorded his first two 1,000+ yard seasons in 1998 and 1999, earning him ProBowl berths in both years. He’d be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000, and have the best season of his career in 2001, when he posted 106 receptions for 1266 yards, earning his 3rd and final Pro Bowl berth. Keshawn posted his last 1,000 yard season and won the Super Bowl in 2002.  He was traded to the Cowboys in 2004, narrowly missing the 1,000 yard mark at the end of the year.  Johnson played one final season in 2006 with the Panthers, retiring after the season.

Post playing days, Keshawn has been an in studio analyst and was the first celebrity voted out of Dancing With the Stars -17th Season.

G/Gs 167/162    Rec 814    Yds 10571      Avg 13.0      TD 64      LG 76

NFL

Grimes, Jonathan

Card: TNT Texans Custom
Acquired: 2016, Houston Texans Academy Liberty White Stampede Tour

One of my old collecting friends from ‘back in the day’ of the Fanmail website was a broadcaster for the Old Dominion Monarchs team. Grimes was head and shoulders above the competition coming out of William & Mary and dominated the competition.  My friend told me that Jonathan Grimes was THE man, and was a solid free agent signee by the Texans.

Grimes made the roster in 2012, and toiled away on the team’s practice squad.  Other teams coveted him, and he did not stay on the PS for long with the Jets signing him and putting him to limited work as a 3rd down back. The Jets cut him in October of that season.

As the Texans descended into chaos, during Gary Kubiak‘s final season with injuries hitting the Texans’ RB corps of Arian Foster and Ben Tate, Grimes found himself back with the team and was elevated to play on special teams.  He’d eventually finish his whirlwind tour on the roster of the Jaguars by the end of the season.

Cut in August of 2013 by Jacksonville, Grimes returned to the Texans for the 3rd time after Ben Tate was placed on IR.  He scored his first professional TD against the Titans.  He’d finish the season with 73 yards on 23 carries and 6 receptions for 76 yards. Since that time, HC Bill O’Brien has found a way to keep Grimes on the roster.

In 2014, Jonathan ran for 153 yards on 39 carries as he began to settle in as a 3rd down/ change of pace runningback for the franchise.  As injuries finally caught up to Arian Foster in 2015, Grimes saw his workload increase. He put in a career high 282 yards on 56 carries, and 26 receptions for 173 yards, scoring a TD rushing and receiving in the same game.

Despite not playing as much in 2016 due to the signing of new bell cow back Lamar Miller, Grimes proved to be an invaluable change of pace back, pulling out some key first downs in some critical games. He rushed 23 times for 105 yards and caught 13 balls for 94 yards.

I created this card of Jonathan, knowing that he and DB Quentin Demps were going to be at a local Academy signing autographs. Jonathan really liked the card and was touched by my kind efforts. Afterwards I talked to one of the PR honchos for the Texans that also liked my work and gave me his business card, but I was really intimidated to contact him back- something that is still on my list.