Tag Archives: tampa bay buccaneers

Arena, CFL, NFL

Smith, Brett

Card: Sage 2014 (#178/250)
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Okay, let’s forget about the shirt that Brett is wearing. It’s a one of a kind on a card though as I’ve never seen a curse word sneak through. Sage’s entry is not a pretty one here, but rarely are their photos ever exciting. It’s a pretty basic entry and not very risky. Kudos though for showcasing what matters: the certified autograph.  I didn’t really like the cards out of this set, but for what it matters, you can still find hobby boxes of this set at an extremely reasonable price (2017), fattening up your collection by 7-10 autographs in each box.

Brett Smith played for Wyoming from 2010-2013. Despite setting numerous records for the Cowboys including career offensive yards (10,390), passing TDs (76), career TDs (97), and most total yards passing in a game (640), he was not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft. He’d sign as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Bucs and later join the CFL as a member of the Toronto Argonauts, and then the Arena Football League with the San Jose SabreCats.

In 2015 Brett rejoined the CFL, signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He’d win the 3rd string job, but end up starting a fair amount of the season, after injuries hit the quarterback position. Smith finished with a respectable 15 TDs to 9 interceptions on the season. After the season he spent time on the rosters of the Redblacks (2016) and Eskimos (2017).  Currently he is a free agent.

NFL, WLAF

Maye, Mark (QB)

Card: ProSet 1991 WLAF Insert
Acquired: 2018, Amazon
Failure: TTM 2017, C/o Home x2

An exceptional all around athlete in basketball, football, and baseball, Mark Maye came back from rotator cuff surgery to turn things around for the Tar Heels in 1986. In his first start he’d break a school record throwing for 311 yards. Over the next year and a half, Mark broke that school record 3 more times, including a school record 406 yards and 4 TDs in a 30-23 win over Georgia Tech.  Maye finished as the school’s second leading passer in history.

Going undrafted in 1988, Mark was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent the season as the 3rd string QB. Due to injury Mark spent his 1990 back at his Alma Mater helping out the Tar Heels’ coaching staff.  Mark opted to play in the WLAF in 1991. He’d be selected in the first round by his home state Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks.  It seemed like a perfect match, and Maye was the uncontested starter in camp.

After an underwhelming opener against the Sacramento Surge ended in a 9-3 loss, Mark was injured during a brutal hit in Week 2 against the Orlando Thunder. He’d be placed on season ending injured reserve and essentially his football career was over.  The Skyhawks didn’t really have a good offensive line or a back up QB plan. Joe Pizzo and Bobby McAllister battled it out the remainder of the season, but the franchise finished a woeful 0-10. After the season the franchise was dissolved and replaced by the Ohio Glory.

Mark lives in North Carolina. I’ve tried him twice now at least with no such luck. The first time I got a body bag from the USPS. The second has been in the mail for sometime. At this point I just threw up my hands and decided to take a shot. Seeing a WLAF autograph on an auction site is a rarity, so I just took it at face value that this one was authentic.

WLAF 2          ATT 33        CPD 15        YDS 158       PCT 45.5
TD  0        INT 2         RAT 47.1
RUSH 2        YDS 2       AVG 1.0       TD 0       LG 2

CFL, NFL

Jones, Chandler ‘Jet’

Card: Sage 2014
Acquired: 2015, Box Breaker

Jet Jones played at San Jose St. from 2010 to 2013,  A four year starter for the Spartans, he saw his receiving yards and touchdowns increase every year.  His best year came in 2013 when Jet caught 79 passes for 1356 yards and 15 TDs as QB David Fales favorite target.  His final college numbers included 248 receptions for 3087 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Jet was signed by the Browns after the 2013 draft. While he posted an eye popping 4.34 40, his size (5’8″, 185) really worked against him, and Jones had no special teams experience. After being waived, he’d sign with the Colts in 2014 and be on and off the practice squad throughout different points of the season. At the end of the year, he was signed by Tampa Bay and promoted to the active roster in 2015.

Jet joined the Montreal Alouettes in 2015 and spent the year on their practice squad, but was released before the 2016 regular season. In 2017, Jones had returned to his Alma Mater and is currently a defensive assistant at the school.