Tag Archives: Topps AAF NOW 2019

AAF, NFL, The Spring League, XFL

Silvers, Brandon

Topps AAF NOW 2019, #41

CARDS: Topps AAF Now 2019, Topps AAF 2019, Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: In Person 2023, Houston Roughnecks v. San Antonio Brahmas
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o New York Jets. TTM 2020, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Brandon Silvers played QB at Troy from 2014-2017.
  • Threw for 10,677 yards, 71 TDs, 29 picks, and 64.4% completions, with a 135.8 passer rating.
  • Finished second in school history in TDs and yards.
  • Had a tryout with the Saints following the 2018 NFL Draft but was not signed.
  • Was selected in the 3rd round by the Memphis Express during the AAF Quarterback Protect or Pick Draft in 2019.
  • Silvers faced an uphill battle behind Troy Cook, Christian Hackenberg, and Zach Mettenberger.
  • Cook was quickly out of the picture, with Hack taking over as starter and Silvers sliding in behind him.
  • Supplanted due to ineffectiveness, Silvers took over as starter but was quickly injured.
  • Mettenberg competently guided the Apollos until he was injured against the Stallions.
  • Silvers returned to the lineup with a vengeance in Week 6.
  • The Express in the meantime signed former NFL QB Johnny Manziel, who was chomping at the bit to take the reins from Brandon.
  • Silvers refused to relinquish his starting role, leading the team to an exciting win in OT over the Birmingham Iron in Week 7.
  • He’d then give the Apollos all they could handle in a 34-31 loss, before the league collapsed after their week 8 matchup.
  • Silvers briefly was on the radar of the Jets, seeing some off season time with them later that year.
  • In 2020, Brandon joined the XFL, playing for the Seattle Dragons under head coach Jim Zorn.
  • He’d throw for 539 yards and 6 TDs on 102 attempts.
  • 2021 saw him play for the Conquers of The Spring League, and then went unselected in the 2022 USFL Supplemental Player Draft.
  • Silvers returned to the XFL for 2023, as a member of the Houston Roughnecks.
  • He threw for 13 TDs and 1551 yards on 156 completions (262 passes) leading the Roughnecks to the playoffs.
  • The Roughnecks XFL roster was dispersed into the UFL draft pool for 2024.
  • Eventually Silvers made his way to St Louis where he backs up AJ McCarron.

ACCOLADES:

  • NCAA QB Freshman Record (70.5% completion rate- min. 250 passes)
Topps XFL 2020, #17
Topps AAF 2019, #11

NOTES:

I have been trying to get Brandon for sometime since he had 3 cards that I wanted signed. When the Roughnecks were around in 2020 I was a big fan, but when they returned in ’23, I switched over to the Brahmas because they were closer. I was hoping that the Brahmas would grab Silvers as their quarterback but he ended up in H-Town with Wade Phillips instead.

By the time the Roughnecks came to SA, I had figured out the best spot to get autographs from which was right next to the visitors end zone where the players were coming in and going out.

After the Roughnecks defeated the Brahmas in OT, he came over and kindly signed these 3 cards for me. Like many players he really loved those times in the AAF.

AAF, NFL

Gilbert, Garrett (2)

Panini Select 2014, #122 Topps AAF NOW 2019, #2

CARDS: Panini Select 2016, Topps AAF Now 2019
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home
SENT: 7/28 RECEIVED: 8/29 (32 DAYS)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Garrett Gilbert

  • After spending both 2019 and 2020 briefly with the Browns, was signed by the Dallas Cowboys off Cleveland’s practice squad.

  • Was starter in Week 9 against the Steelers, after injury bug hit the Cowboys QB rotation.

  • Threw for 243 yards, a TD and an INT in first meaningful NFL game.

  • Signed by New England Patriots and placed on team’s practice squad for 2021, finishing the season on the roster of the Redskins.

  • In March of 22, signed with the Las Vegas Raiders

NOTES:

I had still wanted to get Garrett on one more card of his- this Topps AAF Now card of his. In a take no risk get no reward situation, I took a shot at an address I found in Ohio (while he was still on the Browns). He signed these two cards for me in a bit under 30 days. Recently I also picked up his AAF Apollos jersey. Maybe if he does another event around here I’ll consider getting it and my custom art signed by him.

AAF, CFL, NFL, XFL

Williams, Trey

Cards: Panini Contenders 2015, Crown Royale 2015, Panini Prestige 2015, Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 NOW, Topps XFL 2020, Topps XFL 2020 Certified
Acquired: COMC, 2020. EBay, 2020. TTM C/o Home 2020
Sent: 11/12 Received: 11/21 (9 days)

Trey Williams hails from Texas A&M- a school full of rich history in producing runningbacks. While playing for the Aggies, he ran 204 time for 1343 yards and 18 TDs in 3 years (2012-2014). What was most impressive was his gaudy 6.6 yards per carry. He also caught 38 passes for 330 yards and a TD as well. Although he had a solid combine, Williams ultimately was not selected in the 2015 draft.

He’d sign with his hometown Houston Texans after the draft, then quickly join the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, the Patriots, the Dolphins, and finally the Colts- all before 2015 came to a close. After being cut by the Colts in mid-2016, Trey kept hustling. He signed with the Steelers early in 2017, then briefly joined the Argos in the CFL. In November of 2017, Williams signed with the Dallas Cowboys again where he’d be waived in final cuts during 2018.

I can’t imagine how frustrating it would be to have highlight film that made preseason sportscenter.. such as scoring a TD on his first ever preseason carry from 20+ yards out, or returning a punt for a 64 yard TD with the Steelers- but somehow miss out on making the squad.

Trey opted to head to the new frontier of the Alliance of American Football in 2019. He’d be assigned to the San Antonio Commanders. After missing the first two weeks of the season for personal reasons, Trey played in the next 6 finishing with 40 carries for 205 yards and a TD. He’d also catch 9 passes for 71 yards and a TD as well.

An exciting sparkplug, Williams provided a change of pace to lead back Kenneth Farrow II in the Commanders backfield. An outside the tackles kind of guy, Williams is very good at dodging people in space. This makes him quite effective at screen passes and out in the flat. He quickly became my favorite player just behind Greg Ward Jr.

His finest moment in the AAF came in Week 7 against the formidable Salt Lake City Stallions. The Stallions had a very stubborn defense. After trading field position for most of the game and keeping it close, QB Marquise Williams dropped a screen pass out to Trey. He bobbed and weaved through the SLC defense 36 yards and then dove into the endzone for a TD. It was really incredible to watch!

After the AAF folded, Trey joined the XFL 2020, where he was the first player selected in the open portion of the draft by the Seattle Dragons. He’d be reunited with his coach from the Commanders, Mike Riley, and a bevvy of former teammates including Kenneth Farrow. He ran 34 times for 122 yards and a TD for the Dragons, and catch 8 passes for 44 yards and a TD- before the league folded after week 5.

I first missed out on an in person signing in Houston during 2019. I would’ve driven there just to get his autograph on a bunch of cards and meet him, but I had been to in person events frequently that year, and I did not wish to antagonize my wife. I also had the Topps AAF Now card I was worried about risking, so these just sat, and then I added a few more to the stack including the XFL card.

After a while I just decided to buy a few certified cards of Trey, thinking I’d call it a day, but a few months later my partner in crime, Mark, acted on an address I had long suspected of being Trey’s- and hit pay dirt. It took me a bit to get back to Trey. I miss the Commanders and the AAF a lot, but frankly, we all know it wouldn’t have made it probably through 2020 – because of the pandemic. (See the XFL 2020.) Still after being stuck in the mud the last few months on AAF/XFL send outs, I went back to it taking the risk that Trey would ink these cards. I would have preferred a different color than silver- but I can’t look this gift horse in the mouth.