Tag Archives: topps aaf 2019

AAF, NFL

Coyle, Kevin

Cards: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home. EBay 2019
Sent: 7/3 Received: 7/11 (8 days)

Kevin Coyle has a long coaching resume, and is a well respected and decorated players coach . His coaching story begins in 1978 with the Bearcats of Cincinnati. He’d then embark on a series of stops through the 1980s beginning with the US Merchant Marines (1981), and Holy Cross (1982-1990). Carving out his reputation as a defensive coordinator, he’d then jump up to the challenge with Syracuse (1991-1993), Maryland (1994-1996) and Fresno State (1997-2000).

In 2001, Kevin ascended to the NFL ranks and became cornerbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, eventually being promoted to defensive backs coach in 2003- a position he held through 2011. From 2012 to 2015, Coyle was the Dolphins defensive coordinator, before returning back to the Bengals for 2016 and 2017 as their defensive backs coach again. He spent 2018 working for LSU as a defensive analyst and then decided to be the defensive coordinator of the Atlanta Legends from the fledgling Alliance of American Football.

Early in 2019, he’d be named the head coach of the Legends when Brad Childress resigned. Coyle had to make some tough decisions, so the last problem he needed to deal with multiple coaching changes throughout the season. Despite the bad luck that seemed to chase the Legends, the team finished 2-5 and had the #1 rated defense in the league.

So I opened up the mailbox and inside was a package for me from Coach Coyle himself. When I unsealed the oversized envelope, I found a nice handwritten letter on LSU stationery, my card (signed) and two hats- a purple one signed by him, and the second, a white game worn hat. Coach Coyle’s letter was touching and personal. We talked about my father, and Coach’s passion for the players in the AAF. He too was mightily disappointed in how it all ended. Coach wished me well, thanked me for the extra card that he hadn’t seen yet, and let me know that he had landed on his feet back at LSU as a ‘game analyst’. This response ranks up there as one of my favorite TTM of all-time.

That evening when I was on cloud nine about Coach’s response to me, I found a certified autograph of his from the AAF set for just 5.99. I was elated to add it to the collection- as coaching cards from the set typically ask anywhere from 15-50 dollars. Afterwards the company that I fleeced this card from jacked up their remaining inventory of other player cards to a minimum of 9.99.

AAF, NFL

Ford, Dontez

Cards: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified, Topps AAF 2019 Player Card, Topps AAF 2019 NOW, Topps AAF 2019 Future Stars
Acquired: 2019, EBay. 2019, TTM C/o Home
Sent: 7/15 Received: 7/23 (8 Days)

Dontez Ford started his college football career at Syracuse where he was initially classified as a free safety. After a year there, he transferred to Pitt in 2014. Injuries limited his experience at wide receiver, but in 2015 he had a solid year playing in all 12 games posting 26 receptions for 505 yards and 2 TDs. Over his college career he recorded 46 receptions for 843 yards and 5 TDs.

Dontez did not get drafted in 2016, but later signed a futures contract on January 1st, 2018 with the Detroit Lions. After being cut in September he joined the AAF San Diego Fleet. He immediately asserted himself in the offense during the Fleet’s preseason contest against Orlando when Dontez caught 11 of 11 targets for 114 yards and a TD.

Dontez provided to be the big play weapon that the offense needed to stretch defenses at the X position. Paired alongside Nelson Spruce, Dontez and Nelson both ranked inside the top 10 in receiving. – The only pair in the league to do so. Ford set league marks in his final game (WK 6- BIR) – catching 3 passes for 182 yards, and being immortalized in his own Topps NOW AAF card. His destruction of the Iron would have only been more complete if he hadn’t injured his ankle during the 3rd quarter of the game.

“Dontez is that guy, like Torry Holt, that guy at the X position that we could choreograph plays just for him. That normal play can turn into a huge play and he demonstrated that. He made so many really big plays for us tonight. It was just unfortunate that he couldn’t stay in. But that’s who he is. He’s going to have a heck of a career in the NFL. He’s top notch, no question.”

– Mike Martz
San Diego Fleet Head Coach

Unfortunately the ankle injury sidelined Dontez the remainder of the AAF season- and without him in the lineup, the Fleet lost to Birmingham and sunk their last 2 games. Dontez caught 15 of 28 targets for 435 yards and a TD in 6 games.

Ford’s numbers are very interesting to study. In his week 5 contest against Salt Lake City– he did all his damage catching long bomb passes. In his complete evisceration of the Birmingham defense, Dontez zigged and zagged 122 of 182 yards after the catch- on 3 catches.

His rehab stretched into the ‘off season’, and he was not present for the XFL combines, however I would think based off of his production he will make a welcome addition to any of the new teams or back to the NFL.

I had bought Dontez’s Topps Certified card off of Ebay for 4 bucks and then a few days later Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus) contacted me and told me that Dontez signed a card for him and threw in an extra! I went onto EBay immediately and got Ford’s Topps Now AAF card for super cheap and then sent his base card, Future Stars, and the Topps Now card out. Ford responded lightening fast to my request and threw in at first what I thought was another Certified autograph card.

However, if you look closely at the left card (Player issue) versus the right card (Topps Certified), there are some subtle differences. First, the left one on the front does not have the gradient fade that the right card has above the team logo. Second, the left card just above the marquee, has the words ‘PLAYER ISSUE’ on it. The right one says ‘TOPPS CERTIFIED AUTOGRAPH’. Finally on the back of the cards the word Autograph and the autograph witnessing blurb on the back is not present on the Player issue card.

It should be assumed then that the players were handed these cards after signing their own for whatever purposes that they wanted- and that they are initially unsigned. I’m glad that I recognized the differences between the two, as I suspect once the market bottoms out and then the certified stock disappears over the years, that more of the Player Issue cards will slip into the secondary market. At this time I am unsure as to which cards- if either- will hold any value.

AAF, NFL

Kelly, Kameron

Cards: Topps AAF2019 Certified, Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Future Stars
Acquired: 2019, EBay. 2019, TTM C/o The Pittsburgh Steelers
Sent: 4/18 Received: 5/3 (15 days)

Kameron Kelly showed versatility playing at San Diego State over his college career, working in the defensive backfield at both safety and corner over his time there from 2014-2017. He had 164 total tackles, 8 tfl, 2 sacks, 15 pass deflections, and 9 interceptions for 122 yards.

He signed with the Cowboys in 2018, but was released before the season began. In October, Kameron was snatched up by the San Diego Fleet of the AAF. He was converted to WR by the Fleet, but then got transferred back to defensive back thanks to injuries. During Week 5 of the season, Kameron set an AAF record with 3 interceptions of Stallions QB Josh Woodrum. For his efforts Kelly earned Defensive Player of the Week Honors from the AAF. He finished the AAF 8 game season with 19 total tackles, and 4 interceptions for 22 yards and a TD.

After the AAF suspended operations, Kelly signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Kameron Kelly represents the first trifecta I’ve been able to achieve of an AAF player as I got his certified, base card, and Future Stars cards all signed. Now, I am completely baffled as to the difference in the autographs from the TTM versus the certified issues, but since he personalized it, I’m still pretty sure it’s him and Kelly has just changed his autograph. Maybe he signed it with his nickname? Who knows.

Kameron also probably got a good laugh out of the fact that he was born in Round Rock, Tx and I told him the traffic on I-35 is still terrible. Anyway I dashed this one out the door as soon as I heard he signed during the great AAF deluge after the Alliance collapsed in April of 2019.