Tag Archives: score 2009

NFL

Pitts, Chester (2)


Acquired: In Person, 6/10/11, 610 Houston Fan Fest III
See Also: Chester Pitts

Chester Pitts is considered the first ironman of the Houston Texans and has garnered the nickname “Mr. Texan” from fans. Outside of former kicker Kris Brown, Pitts had logged the most games played in a row on the team roster with 114 games started. He saw the beginnings of the franchise, as one of the team’s second round draft choice in 2002 after David Carr and Jabar Gaffney.  He’d play through the team’s tenure under Dom Capers and Charlie Casserly, and into the current Kubiak era- a total of seven solid seasons, before 2 games into his 8th he suffered a catastrophic injury and spent the rest of 2009 on IR. As it was a contract year, the team allowed him to bolt via free agency to the Seattle Seahawks for 2010.  Chester started 5 games for the Seahawks, and made the playoffs for the first time in his career.

I slid over to Chester’s line at Fan Fest, after striking out on Danieal Manning, whose line was closing. I waited maybe two minutes before I was up front and talked to him a little bit. When I asked him if he was still with Seattle he told me that he was pretty much retired now. Pitts was looking noticeably slimmer and later admitted he had lost about 30 pounds off of his playing weight. He’s now working as a financial advisor and is an advocate for better fiscal responsibility by former NFL players.

I had a card for Chester, but he had already signed it. No other manufacturer other than Score ever made one of Chester in his tenure as a Texan. Probably a slight on him because he played on such horrible lines. Still he was a solid blocker for his time with the team and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves for his time with the Texans organization.

NFL

Casey, James (2)


Cards: Score 2009, Donruss Rookies and Stars 2009 (410/999)
Acquired: In person 4/26/2012, 1300 the Zone Texans Draft Party
See also: James Casey

These two cards of James are great examples of good design. They make an otherwise unexciting, in warm-ups and without pads photo shot of James look almost appealing. It certainly was enough for me to want to get them autographed. I met James at the Texans Draft Party in 2011 along with Danieal Manning.  When James autographed them he remarked that I must be a professional because I knew to put talcum powder on the card to dull the sheen on the card. I then told him that I was a big fan, and through Dave, had gotten a lot of autographs from the team in the past on cards I still had. Casey then took an otherwise awkward looking photo with me, and stuck to the book with his interaction. Casey’s autograph in my humble opinion needs some work. It’s a signature, and he needs to juice this one up.

James was moved around on the Texans offense. As a logger jam emerged at Tight End with Owen Daniels, Joel Dreessen, and newcomer Garrett Graham, the Texans liked what they had with Casey’s exceptional hands and straight on blocking. When Vontae Leach left for Baltimore to block for Ray Rice in 2011, the team made the decision to shift Casey to fullback. Casey provided immediate mismatches for teams that looked absolutely baffled when he shifted out of the backfield and out to the flat. He’d rip defenses with 18 receptions for 260 yards a 14.4 yard average including his first professional touchdown this last season in 2011, but he’d also rip his pectoral muscle against the Saints sidelining him for a good portion of the season.
In 2012, the team seems content utilizing him as an H-Back, as he creates many mismatches with his deceptive speed combined with his linebacker size. We didn’t see him much during the preseason, and the Texans with a full docket of weapons and a true fullback blocking up front, are keeping hush hush about how they will sneak Casey into the lineup later in the season for 2012.

NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Manning, Peyton ‘The Sheriff’

Card: Score 2009
Acquired: 2011, C/o The Peyback Foundation
Sent: 11/9    Recieved:  11/19 (10 days)

As of late, I have been writing a few current players for their autographs and while my dislike of the Colts has almost reached epic proportions on occasion, I still respect them immensely for the success they have had on the field- sans 2011. Case in point and de facto franchise MVP, I present to you: Peyton Manning.

Born into good bloodlines (his father Archie was a QB for the Saints and his younger brother Eli plays for the Giants,) Peyton Manning was a poised and professional grade quarterback coming out of college from the University of Tennessee in 1998. At the time of his graduation, Peyton held virtually all Volunteer passing records, and set an SEC mark for wins with 39.

A debate shortly raged over if the Colts would pick Manning or Ryan Leaf with the #1 in the draft, but in the end Manning was Indanapolis’ guy, replacing departed Jim Harbaugh at quarterback. His rookie season saw a multitude of records, including most touchdown passes and attempts for a rookie, however it would be punctuated by a 3-13 record and his league leading 28 interceptions. Manning responded with a brilliant Sophomore campaign, leading the Colts back into the playoffs and also posting his first 4,000 yard season of his career, – a milestone considering he’d repeat the feat for 5 straight seasons after 1999. In 2003, Peyton earned his first MVP honor, leading the NFL in attempts, completion percentage and yards. Manning threw for a then record 49 touchdown passes, in 2004 earning his second straight MVP title and a 121.1 passer rating.

It’d be finally in 2006, that Peyton garnered the elusive Super Bowl title he was after, as the Colts easily dispatched the Bears in 29-17 in SuperBowl XLI. Peyton earned the MVP honors with 28 of 35 passing for 247 yards and a touchdown. He’d pick up again where he left off with his 7th 4000 yard season, continuing his assault on the record books with 4000 yards in each of the next 4 seasons, winning MVP honors a 3rd time for his 2008 performance and a 4th time in 2009 where the team returned to the Super Bowl but lost to the New Orleans Saints.

Unfortunately Peyton’s 2011 came to a thudding end before it even began, at 208 regular season starts (second only to Brett Favre), as it was revealed that Peyton was suffering from various debilitating neck and back injuries, which have put his career on hold. Manning holds virtually all the Colts passing records, and many NFL records.  An 11 time Pro Bowler, 5 time AP, 2005 Pro Bowl MVP, and member of the NFL 2000 All- Team team, Peyton becomes a shining jewel in my collection and his historical legacy, virtual shoe-in status for the HoF, and impact can not be overlooked in the annuls of NFL history. Although Manning’s team is considered a bitter rival, no opponent should have their career ended by injury, and thus I wish him a speedy recovery so that the Colts and the Texans may do battle again.

I had heard that Peyton was a difficult autograph to attain TTM prior to 2010, however Manning has been graciously signing this year for fans through his Peyback Foundation. I was astounded to get his autograph in the mail- free of charge and in roughly 10 days.  I am a big fan of Score 2009 and really like the design that they put into these cards. Although they lost some of that magic again by their 2011 set, 2009 stands as an inspirational and cutting edge look that really highlights how far the company has come in 20 years.