Tag Archives: San Diego Chargers

NFL, University of Texas

Whittaker, Fozzy (3)

sp12 fwhittakerpaut15_fwhittakerCards: SP 2012 #399/750, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012, TNT UT, Photo Memorabilia, Upper Deck Star Pics 2012, SP 2012 Authentics, Panini UT 2015
Acquired: IP 2016, Mighty Fine Burgers Battle of the Beast, Coop UT Celebration.
See Also: Fozzy Whittaker, Fozzy Whittaker (2)

Fozzy’s NFL career has required a lot of grit and a good agent. He’s clawed his way into the lineup tntcol fwhittakerwith Carolina where he serves primarily as a 3rd down scat back for the Panthers offense, after brief stops in Arizona, Cleveland, and San Diego. During the last 2 seasons, Fozzy has played in 25 games, starting 2.  He’s rushed 57 times for 253 yards and 2 TDs, while catching 17 passes for 124 yards and a TD. He’s also spent a bit of time on special teams returning 20 kicks for 471 yards.
During his relatively brief NFL career, Fozzy has demonstrated a knack for being a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. He has had a few highlights, such as transforming a 26 yard screen pass to a diving TD against the Saints, and a swing pass 39 yards across the middle for a TD against the Cardinals in the Wild card game of the 2014  playoffs.

A great fan favorite, Fozzy signs at
all events, and volunteers regularly for team events to meet fans. At the Mighty Fine Burgers
Battle of the Beast event, Whittaker was in rare form. As the maitre ‘d of the event he was in charge of motivating local high school players to eat as much as they could. Surrounded by a large and raucous crowd Fozzy was in his element, with a beaming smile, having a great time. Whittaker has no shortage amazingly of great photos, whether it is him jumping over a would be tackler, galloping across the grass, or getting a kiss from a baluga whale, I did honestly
ask for a lot.
I’m not really a photo memorabilia kind of guy, but with such a plethora of great shots of Fozzy, I compromised and decided to get some things signed on high quality 4×6 photo stock- which could eventually become a thing for me as I run out of stuff for guys who appear regularly. Still Fozzy kindly and patiently signed everything, while discussing how his career has progressed along.  We talked also briefly about how some of those photos need to make their way onto Carolina Panthers cards of him, and how I thought his efforts in their Super Bowl loss provided the team a much needed spark.

Fozzy was also a guest star on the Comedy Central show Key and Peele which routinely made fun of NFL players and their outrageous names. Instead of lampooning Whittaker, they just had him appear on the skit and say his name. When I asked him about this event, he told me that it wasn’t like they flew him out to LA for the taping- they just shot the video in front of a green screen. After getting one of the Comedy Central photos signed, I gave him the extra one on me, which he really liked and showed his wife.

The fun times didn’t end there as I had two more cards to get Fozzy on at the Coop event in May. He signed his Panini UT card and this really nice SP Authentics canvas card.

Whittaker continues to blossom as a pro. In 2016 he posted career highs across the board with 57 carries for 265 yards and 25 receptions for 226 yards. He also chipped in 12 kick returns for 275 yards- a 22.9 yard average.

NFL, University of Texas

Jammer, Quentin

pp02-qjammer ud02mvp-qjammer
Cards: Press Pass 2002 JE, Upper Deck MVP 2002
Acquired:  TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent:  8/28   Received:  9/12    (14 days)

Quentin Jammer is another member DBU at the University of Texas. A big physical corner, Jammer’s draft stock shot up dramatically during his senior season, prior to the 2002 NFL draft.  Quentin was a shut down corner, and finished with 56 career pass breakups (a school record) and 7 interceptions. A complete package, Quentin had great closing speed and really knew how to ‘jam’ receivers off the line of scrimmage. He also was a fine tackler- for a defensive back.

Drafted by the San Diego with the 6th overall pick, a holdout stymied Jammer’s assimilation of the Chargers’ defensive system. He’d get onto the field in 2003 as a starter and not look back, holding down the starting LCB spot for the next 10 seasons, starting a total of 161 games for SD. Over his time there he had 10 straight seasons of 10+ pass breakups. A physical defender, Jammer had a hard time transitioning to the NFL system which favored receivers and prevented Jammer’s style of play. He recorded his first career TD in 2012 against Denver, returning a pass 80 yards for a score. Later in the year, he recorded his first fumble recovery for a TD against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The next season he’d join the Broncos where he dabbled at safety. He’d retire after the season.

While interceptions and turnovers are sexy stats, I’ve always felt that pass breakups are criminally underrated. Jammer’s numbers were tracked extensively over his career and his is credited with an astonishing 141 PBUs. Jammer as of 2016 lives in California, and is still a big University of Texas fan.

G/GS 183/162       TAC 630        SAC 0.0        FUM   10
INT 21      YDS 210        AVG 10.0       TD 1        LG   80t

College Football HoF, NFL

Nelson, Darrin

pset89 nelson Tsco89 dnelsonCards: ProSet 1989 Update, Score 1990, ProSet 1989, Score 1989
Acquired: 2012, Canton Acquisition. 2016, TTM C/o Home
Sent:  5/19    Received: 6/1  (12 days)

Darrin Nelson is most well known for briefly holding up the Herschel Walker trade in 1989. The Cowboys were dealt Issiac Holt, Jessie Solomon, Alex Stewart, and David Howard, along with Nelson and a slew of draft choices. Unwilling to report to the Cowboys, Darrin was traded to the San Diego Chargers.  This set off a flurry of trades at the bell, that eventually resulted in then backup Detroit Lions RB Paul Palmer being shipped to Dallas.

sco90 dnelsonWhile Nelson was back home in California, I guess  you could say his heart was still in Minnesota.  He’d return to the Vikings in 1991 where he finished out his career.

pset89 dnelsonThe Vikings first round choice (#7 overall) in 1982, Nelson was a dynamic rusher and receiver- somewhat of a rarity during the heyday of the ground game.  During his time at Stanford from 1977-1981, he accomplished a feat that nobody had ever done before in rushing for over 1,000 yards and catching at least 50 passes.  He did it not only his Freshman year, but repeated it again his Sophomore year and again in his Senior year.

During his time in the NFL  Nelson distinguished himself as a jack of all trades, rushing, receiving, and returning.  In 1986, Darrin had 1,386 yards from scrimmage and 7 TDs, and lead the NFL with a 4.9 yards per carry average in 1987.  In 2014, Darrin was named to the College Football Hall of Fame.  As of 2016, Darrin works in the external relations department at UCLA. A solid signer through the mail, Darrin not only signed 3 cards for me, he read my letter and noted that I had enjoyed playing Tecmo Bowl as him back in the 80s.

 

 

 

G  152       Rush 1020       Yds  4442      Avg  4.4       TD 18      Lg 72T
Rec  286       Yds 2559       Avg  8.9     TD 5     Lg 68TKR 163         Yds 3659       Avg 22.4    TD 0    Lg 53
PR    42      Yds 357      Avg 8.5      TD 0      Lg 35