Tag Archives: pittsburgh power

Arena, CFL, NFL

Beavers, Larry Jr.

tntafl14 beaversCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent: 8/16    Received: 9/13     (27 days)

Larry Beavers is an outstanding talent in the Arena Football League. He attended a small Division III school, Wesley College in Delaware. There Beavers set the NCAA record for career kick return touchdows with a whopping 10.  He also demonstrated a knack for the ball, finishing second in school history with 2,366 yards.

He went undrafted in 2009 but was signed by the Carolina Panthers. Unfortunately Beavers was among the final cuts that preseason by the squad. The following year Larry was signed by the New Orleans Saints, but again was cut in the offseason. In 2011, he signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League, but quickly decided to take his talents to the CFL, landing on the roster of the Edmonton Eskimos.  Beavers returned to the Arena leagues the following year and was an offseason addition to the Pittsburgh Power.

It was in 2013 that Larry joined the New Orleans Voodoo, and that’s where he’s made an impressive impact. He’d earn second team All-Arena Team Honors in 2014 as a kick returner cracking the 1,000 yard barrier both as a receiver and as a kick returner. Larry was assigned to the expansion Las Vegas Outlaws for 2015, but ended up rubberbanding back to the Voodoo before the season was out, scoring 2 more TDs on kick returns.  The Voodoo (and the Outlaws) were taken over by the league before the conclusion of the season.

I had gotten a few customs I had made autographed by players in the league over Twitter. Impressed with Beaver’s play in the finale against San Antonio I created this custom of him and asked him if he’d like one, to which he gleefully signed this one for me in about 2 weeks.

Arena, CFL

Pierce, Doug

tntafl14 pierceCard: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: 2014, IP San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo

Doug Pierce is a lanky and large prospect out of Friends College. He’s joined the AFL to make his football dreams come true. Playing for the Falcons in college Doug recorded 91 catches for 1,693 yards and 20 touchdowns in two years.

After college, Doug had tryouts with both the Titans and Vikings, later joining the Sabrecats prior to the 2012 AFL season, but finally landed on Canadian Football League’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers, where he spent two seasons. In 2013, he played for the Wichita Wild, and later to the Pittsburgh Power, before joining the San Antonio Talons for 2014.

Getting some valuable playtime in during the Iowa Barnstormers game, he caught two touchdown passes, including a rainbow bomb from Shane Boyd.  He finished the season with 36 receptions for 462 yards and 8 touchdowns, including a 42 yarder.

Arena

Berry, PJ ‘Superman’ (2)

tntafl14 berryCard:  TNT AFL Talons 2014
Acquired: IP 5/17/14, San Antonio Talons vs. New Orleans Voodoo
See Also: PJ Berry

PJ Berry is a model for the AFL as far as I’ve observed. He’s exciting to watch, posts big numbers, and above all else is extremely fan friendly. At games, I always see him talking to other fans, letting young kids hold his helmet, and he always gives a shout out to everybody in the stands to make them feel special and unique. That is the type of player that the league should tout. I lament at the fact it appears that PJ has never had his jersey printed for general fan consumption and hope that the AFL can capitalize off of this.

After a slow start, the team traded Jomo Wilson back to the Jacksonville Sharks. This cleared the way for Berry to start opposite DJ Stephens at receiver. In the meantime PJ tore it up on returns. With lightening speed and fluid hips, Berry’s greatest assets are his vision and ability to turn on a dime.

I made it down to the field after the Voodoo game and gave PJ his new card, which he really liked a lot. I’m glad I replaced the previous photo I had of Berry. This is a solid shot of him. I got a couple of requests for PJ’s card I went ahead and fulfilled for other fans. It always makes me feel good that other fans might just appreciate my work.  PJ had a decent season in 2014, but probably not up to his monster statistic levels. He finished with 61 receptions for 809 yards and 10 TDs, to go along with 36 kick returns for 689 yards, and 2 touchdowns, powering the Talons to one of the top ranked return units in the league.