Tag Archives: score 2009

NFL

Pitts, Chester (3)

Card: Score 2009 Inscriptions, Photo Memorabilia
Acquired:In Person, 10/26/14 GMC Monday Night Football Tour
See Also: Chester Pitts, Chester Pitts (2)

Chester Pitts for being such a mainstay and popular player on the original Texans had very few cards made of him. He was an added bonus to the GMC NFL event that was being held in Katy that day, and since they had stuff that he could sign, I had no problem picking up a freebee. Afterwards he was willing to pose for a photo with me. It was not a well advertised or Pitts and mesupported event as there were not that many fans there at all.  I went ahead and got his autograph on the additional Score 2009 Signatures card- which as a card baffled me because I would have thought that if it said ‘signatures’ on it- it should already have a certified autograph on it, but I digress.

After retiring from football Chester has remained busy as an ambassador, and frequent Texans commentator. He also was on 23rd The Amazing Race with former teammate and friend Ephraim Salaam.  While they did not fare well and were eliminated early on, they provided fans of the show plenty of laughs.  He’s also become a financial advisor,  has his own charitable foundation and in 2016, he was named an ‘Honor Warrior’ by his Alma Mater.

NFL

Okoye, Amobi (2)

sco09 aokoye

Cards: Topps 2008 Magic. Score Inscriptions 2009
Acquired: 2016, EBay
See Also: Okoye, Amobi

Amobi Okoye had a rough run there after his first month in the NFL.  I am really not sure what the Texans expected out of Okoye -other than he take the league by storm.  It was a tall order for a kid, considering Okoye was the youngest player in the NFL to ever be drafted in the first round. In the end, he signed a 5 year contract with the team, but only finished out 4. With so much promise, especially after that first month, it is still surprising that Okoye is considered a bust. His best season was his rookie season when he recorded 5.5. sacks.  Amobi had a brief resurgence in 2010 with a career high 44 tackles and 3 sacks, but after that season, Amobi was cut.

He’d sign with the Chicago Bears and record 27 tackles and 4 sacks in 2011. He’d be cut in 2012 by the Bucs, but later returned for the last month of the year off the bench for the Bears again. Amobi was stricken with a rare medical condition that forced him to be induced into a 3 month coma to prevent seizures in 2013.  He spent the next 17 months battling anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, experienced a 145-day memory gap, and lost around 80  pounds.  Amazingly he returned to the practice field in late 2014, signing with the Dallas Cowboys, but was released in 2015. Later in 2016 Amobi signed with the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders, but did not see action with the squad. In 2017 he penned a Players’ Tribune piece and expressed that at 30, he still feels that he can play and contribute to a squad. I for one hope he is given that chance.

NFL

Laurinaitis, James


Cards: Upper Deck Star Rookies 2009, Score 2009, Adrenalyn 2010
Acquired:  TTM 2016, C/o The New Orleans Saints
Sent:  5/23  Received: 6/8   (15 days)

A three-time AP All-American, James Laurinaitis was the most recognized and decorated player in the 2009 draft. He was easily viewed by many as the safest selection, and boasted 366 career tackles and 9 picks while playing linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes. With a rare combination of size and athleticism, Laurinaitis earned the 2006 Bronko Nagurski Award and then the Lott Trophy in 2008 as the nation’s best defensive player. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams near the top of the second round at pick 35.

He quickly asserted himself as the leader in the middle of the Rams defense and was named to many All-Rookie teams after putting up a line of 120 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions in 2009.  During that rookie campaign James notched a single game career high 16 tackles against the Cardinals. As a consistent force in the middle Laurinaitis put up 100+ combined tackles for seven straight seasons. His best season came in perhaps 2011 or 2012 when James had 142 combined tackles.

In 2016, he joined the New Orleans Saints as a Free Agent. During that off season he signed these 3 cards for me.  He switched to inside linebacker, and had 17 tackles through 3 games, but injured his quad. In November he was released by the Saints and had some tryouts with the Chiefs and Lions, but later opted to retire in early 2017.

G/GS 117/116       TAC   663         SAC  16.5          FUM   9
INT 10        YDS 74      AVG  7.4      TD  0       LG   21