Tag Archives: tampa bay buccaneers

CFL, NFL, ufl

Garcia, Jeff

poff00 jgarcia
Cards: Playoff Contenders 2000, TNT UFL 2011
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o The St. Louis Rams
Sent: 11/10/15   Received: 1/9/16   (60 days)
Failure: TTM 2012, C/o The Houston Texans. TTM 2014, C/o Home

What a long, windy road it has been for Jeff Garcia.  The righthanded quarterback played for San Jose State from 1991 to 1993.  In 30 career games for the Spartans, Jeff had 6545 yards on 887 attempts, and 48 TD throws. He joined the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL in 1994 backing up legendary Doug Flutie.  He’d get to show his stuff in 1995 after Doug got injured and performed admirably for the team. Jeff always demonstrated this uncanny ability to buy time with his feet. The Stampeders became so comfortable with Garcia at QB, they let Flutie leave and sign with the Argos. Jeff played for Calgary through the 1998 season winning the 86th Grey Cup and the MVP award. Afterwards Garcia decided to take another shot at the NFL- signing with the San Fransisco 49ers.

With the 49ers Jeff was in a similar situation backing up Hall of Famer Steve Young at quarterback. Again, just like in Calgary, Jeff was thrust into the lineup when Steve was injured in 1999. People sort of (and still do) muse about how badly CFL talent translates to the NFL, but Jeff was the exception. He’d go on to earn 3 Pro Bowl appearances in 5 seasons. After being released in 2004, Jeff began the journeyman phase of his career.  He then had stops in Cleveland (2004), Detroit (2005), and Philadelphia (2006) where he led them to a division title in relief of injured Donovan McNabb. In 2007 Garcia was signed by the Buccaneers earning his 4th career Pro Bowl appearance. While playing for the Bucs, he returned them to a level of respectability posting a 14-10 record for the team. He’d be cut by the Bucs and sign with the Raiders for 2009. Frustrated with his role in mentoring Jamarcus Russell, he asked for his release. Garcia was later signed as an insurance, back with the Eagles for roughly two weeks.

tntufl11 jgarciaUnable to find a team for 2010 but still wanting to play, Jeff took a shot with the United Football League. The league was banking on pulling in star power and an extended NFL lockout the following season to help boost their bottom line.  Jeff signed with the Omaha Nighthawks, leading the team to an exciting 27-26 opening day victory over the Hartford Colonials, and the following week a 20-17 win over the Sacramento Mountain Lions.  For his efforts Garcia earned UFL Player of the Week Honors for his comeback victories. The Nighthawks were a pleasant surprise for the league and sold out recently renovated Rentschler Stadium every week of the season.  He did not return to the UFL for 2011.

After an injury to starter Matt Schaub, and then later backup Matt Leinart, Jeff was signed by the Houston Texans along with Jake Delhomme to back up TJ Yates for the final 2 contests of the 2011 NFL season, but did not see any action. As late as 2013 Garcia claimed that he still has the heart and the desire to play.  I tried to get his autograph at that time through the Texans, but I was unable to land him. I then found another address for him in California, and shot out some customs, but again was unable to get his autograph there.

Jeff was signed to be on the advisory board of the ‘New USFL’ and has expressed an interest in working with quarterbacks refining their mechanics. Just like that Jeff was already back in the CFL as a QB coach for the Montreal Allouettes in 2014. In 2015 he joined the St. Louis Rams as an offensive assistant, where I finally got his autograph on these two cards. He is also a noted philanthropist of the sport as well. His brother Aaron is a noted quarterback and coach in Arena Football.

Jeff Garcia is one of these guys that I am really happy to get a response from. Sure a lot of it had to do with persistence, but he’s just so underrated. People just don’t get that there are some players out there that have the heart of a champion and live and love the sport. I think Jeff Garcia embodies it. Jeff will probably never get into the ‘Pro Football Hall of Fame’ which is an absolute crime, because cumulatively, if you add up his statistics from all the leagues he’s played in, Garcia is one of 10 players in football history with more  than 30 TDs in back to back seasons.  Garcia’s accomplishment takes on all the more significance when you realize he did this on the 49ers. It wasn’t Joe Montana, Steve Young, or John Brodie. It was Jeff Garcia. He also has a 99 yard TD to his name (to Andre Davis), and greater than 43000 career passing yards.

CFL     ATT 2024     COMP  1249    YDS  16442    PCT 61.7
TD 111    INT 52       RAT  94.9
RUSH  384   YDS 2358    AVG 6.1    TD 24    LG  46
NFL 131     ATT 3676   COMP 2264    YDS  25537   PCT 61.6
TD 161     INT 83    RAT  87.5
RUSH 468     YDS   2140   AVG  TD 26   LG  33
UFL 8/8     ATT 255     COMP 132      YDS  1321     PCT  51.8
TD 9    INT  11     RAT  88.3
RUSH  24   YDS  68    AVG 2.8   TD 0   LG  14

 

NFL

Galloway, Joey

SP08_Gallowaypoff07_jgalloway
Cards: Playoff Absolute 2007, SP 2008
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Work*
Sent:  1/15   Received: 3/7   (52 days)
* Postmarked from Columbus, OH

After a stellar career with the Buckeyes, Joey Galloway was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round (8th overall) of the 1995 draft. The Seahawks needed his speed to stretch the field and to be the heir apparent to Brian Blades.  Gifted with blazing speed and great hands, Joey contributed over 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his first 4 seasons receiving, returning, and rushing the ball for the Seahawks. In 3 of those seasons he recorded 1,000 yards receiving, and narrowly missed by 13 yards on a 4th.  Signed to a hefty contract, and then later injured, Joey was traded to the Cowboys for two number one picks in 2000.

Dallas was desperate to get one last shot at the Super Bowl, and with Michael Irvin‘s career unceremoniously ending, Jerry Jones wanted to get Aikman and Smith one more title. It didn’t work out the way that they hoped. Galloway was injured after his first start, and the Cowboys collapsed to a 5-11 record. As age caught up to the Cowboys skill players, the offense became stagnant.  In his final season with the team in 2003, Galloway led the NFL with 19.8 yards per reception.

Joey joined the Buccaneers in 2004. He’d enjoy a renaissance not seen since his days in Seattle. In 2005, Galloway had a career high 1,287 yards receiving. He’d follow his 2005 season up with 2 more back to back 1,000 yard seasons. After an injury riddled 2008, Galloway entered a brief journeyman phase to his career, playing for the Patriots in 2009 and retiring after playing briefly with the Redskins in 2010.

Joey in 2016, is involved in sports color commentary for ESPN.   Galloway is not the fastest signer through the mail, but none the less he boasts a very high TTM success rate.

G/Gs 198       REC 701     YDS 10950     AVG 15.6    TD 77   LG 81T
KR 4         YDS  68         AVG 17.0      TD 0    LG 22
PR 141    YDS 1349    AVG 9.6        TD 5    LG 89T

NFL

Hawkins, Courtney ‘Hawk’

aprks92 chawkins
Card: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent:   7/23/15  Received:  11/2/15   (102 days)

Courtney Hawkins played collegiately for the Spartans at Michigan State.  A dangerous kick and punt returner, Hawk got his chance to shine as a receiver in his Sophomore year when he made 60 receptions for 1080 yards and 6 touchdowns.  At the time of his graduation Hawkins had 138 receptions for 2210 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Courtney played 9 seasons in the NFL. Originally a second round choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hawk’s best season came in 1993 when he caught 62 balls for 933 yards and 5 touchdowns.  He was also used seldomly on punt return duties.  Hawkins joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997 and had a renaissance in 1998, with 66 receptions for 751 yards and a TD. During that season,  Hawk broke a Steelers team record with 14 receptions (for 147 yards) against the Tennessee Oilers.  He retired after the 1999 campaign.

Currently he is a highly regarded head coach and athletic director for the Beecher School District in Michigan.  Beggars can’t be choosers, and while I really wanted to get my Star Pics 1992 card signed as well, I guess he decided to keep that one in exchange for his autograph on his Action Packed Rookies entry.

G/GS  131/81     REC  366    YDS  4573     AVG  12.5   TD 18      LG  67
PR 68    YDS 553      AVG  8.1      TD 0       LG 47
KR 9       YDS 118      AVG  13.1    TD 0      LG 18