Tag Archives: san antonio commanders

AAF, NFL

Richardson, Cyril

Cards: Score 2014, Bowman 2014, Topps 2014 Mini
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim

Big man Cyril Richardson played guard at Baylor from 2010 to 2013. He was considered one of the more physical players in the 2014 NFL Draft and was selected in the 5th round by the Buffalo Bills. ( – The Texans even in 2014 were desperate for offensive line talent and I had hoped the team would select Richardson to develop .) He played in 12 games as a rookie for the team and spent the following season in 2015 on their practice squad. Cyril was released in 2016 and then joined the Bears practice squad to finish out the year. He’d be released during final cuts in 2017.

Cyril was signed by the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football in 2018 and started at guard for the team for the 2019 season.

After Mekale McKay and Derron Smith both competed for the best designed card, I told them I was saving the best for last and gave Cyril his mini card. Cyril grabbed it and flashed it proudly at the others as they all gave a hearty laugh.

He currently is a member of the Seattle Dragons of the XFL.

AAF, CFL, NFL

Williams, Marquise

Card: Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: 2019, EBay

Marquise Williams played for the North Carolina Tarheels where he set numerous passing school records for the school as a dual threat QB from 2012-2015. He’d pass for 7,965 yards and 61 TD (25 INT) and rush for 2,458 yards and 35 TDs over his time at the school. After the 2016 NFL Draft, he’d spend time in camp with the Green Bay Packers.

The following year, he’d beat out Vince Young to make the roster of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Marquise spent the next year there and was later cut in 2018.

Williams was allocated to the Atlanta Legends for the 2019 AAF season. Ultimately however, he’d be selected in the second round of the Pick or Protect Draft by the San Antonio Commanders. I was crazy about Marquise. Since Mike Riley was the coach, Williams reminded me a lot of former Riders QB Mike Johnson. Throughout the season, Marquise was used in a variety of ways. Initially he saw time on the field during 2 point conversions and short yardage plays, but this was quickly abandoned by the Commanders- probably in favor of keeping starter Logan Woodside in rhythm.

Later in the season Marquise was able to get in some heavy playtime against the Salt Lake City Stallions during Week 7 and the Arizona Hotshots in Week 8. Notably against the Stallions, he’d spark the Commanders to a win in front of the largest crowd in AAF history. Williams had solid passing statistics during his brief time in the league. Marquise went 25/34 (73.5%) for 203 yards, and a 36 yard TD to Trey Williams. He’d also rush 21 times for 120 yards.

Marquise was spotted at the XFL Summer Showcase after the AAF folded, and was later selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL in the 10th round of the league’s draft.

AAF, NFL

Green, Aaron TCU (2)

Cards: Sage 2016, Sage 2016 Next Level, Panini Contenders 2016, Leaf Draft 2016, Panini Classics 2016, Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: IP 2018, San Antonio Commanders AAF Season Ticket Holders Reveal Party. IP 2019, San Antonio Commanders vs. Salt Lake City Stallions, EBay, 2019.
See Also: Aaron Green

After being waived by the Rams, Aaron Green has seen stints on the rosters of the Dallas Cowboys (2017) and the Buffalo Bills (2018). He’d be released on an injury settlement in May of 2018, later signing with the San Antonio Commanders of the fledgling AAF. 

Green has a stack of really nice cards that I wanted to get signed, and I made good headway at the AAF Season Ticket Holders Party. Unfortunately my silver marker dried out, so I was forced to make do with the Brown signatures. Still I think they came out alright. When I asked him if he had gas in the tank to run for 7 yards per carry like he did at TCU, he cooly flashed a smile at me. 

Later during the introductions the franchise lauded praise upon him for being a San Antonio legend from the time that Aaron played for San Antonio Madison in High School.

Green was one of the few players from that stage who made it from the opening bell of the league to the final cut. He spelled Kenneth Farrow II at runningback and posted 25 carries for 98 yards, along with 7 catches for 53 yards in 6 contests. He had his best game in the opener against San Diego when he gashed the Fleet for 43 yards on 6 carries almost breaking one loose.

After the Salt Lake City game I recognized Green in the crowd talking to his family. When he saw his Topps base card, he was very impressed, and penned a total of 3 cards for me that evening. A few weeks after the AAF folded I started sniping out certified autographs on EBay on the cheap. I got lucky and pulled down one of Green in no time flat.