After a year at the University of Tennessee- Chattanooga, Eddie made his mark as a walk on at linebacker playing for the University of Alabama in 1981. In 2 years playing for The Crimson Tide, Eddie had 4 interceptions for 70 yards and a TD. Considered too small (5’10”) to play in the NFL, Eddie took his skills north to the CFL. He’d play for the Saskatchewan Roughriders from 1983-1991.
Although tackles were not tracked by the league until 1987, Eddie posted 437 tackles, including a career high 104 in 1991. He was both effective in coverage and also as a blitzer, posting 33 sacks and 16 interceptions for 328 yards and 10 fumble recoveries.
Eddie earned CFL-All West Honors in 1989- a season in which he won the CFL Grey Cup, playing for the Roughriders. He’d retire after 1991, and move back home to Phenix City, Alabama, initially serving as a volunteer coach. Currently he is the mayor of the city and signed his All-World card for me in a very short amount of time, and included the ‘Roll Tide’ inscription.
A versatile and consistent linebacker, AJ Tarpley played for the Stanford Cardinal from 2011-2014. Over his 4 years he totaled out 299 total tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 8 pass deflections and 2 fumble recoveries.
He was not selected in the 2015 NFL Draft, however AJ was snatched up by the Buffalo Bills. After bouncing off and back onto the roster as a practice squad member, he was elevated late in the season to the regular season roster. AJ turned out to be a stellar find by the franchise, and saw action in the final month of the season, starting 2 games, recording 8 tackles, a forced fumble, and 2 interceptions.
“I have no current residual effects that I am aware of, cognitively or physically. The decision I made to retire from football is about coming to terms with the totality of my concussion history and what is asked of me as a linebacker.”
-AJ Tarpley at his retirement in 2016
In early 2016, citing concussion concerns, AJ retired, stunning the football world. AJ had suffered 3-4 concussions the previous season, and doctors were advising him to be careful. He briefly entered the financial world working on wall street, but he kept hearing the siren’s call of football.
AJ decided to return to football in 2019, signing with the San Diego Fleet of the AAF. AJ started 6 games for the Fleet, posting 35 total tackles and an interception he returned 27 yards for a touchdown in San Diego’s route of the San Antonio Commanders 31-11, in Week 3. For his efforts in that game, AJ was named AAF Defensive Player of the Week and enshrined with his Topps AAF Now card (that routinely is overpriced at $50,00 on EBay). After the league folded Tarpley was mentioned by Coach Mike Martz as being the ‘most NFL ready’ of his players.
“He’s the centerpiece of our defense. I don’t know why he is not in the NFL.”
– Fleet Head Coach Mike Martz
It was hard not to like the Fleet in general. A team full of characters, I really took to Ja’Quan Gardner, Dontez Ford, and Berco on offense, but the defense- in particular- there was Ron Brooks and AJ Tarpley. I had identified Tarpley as the motor of the Fleet defense in the preseason and really liked his background. I am glad that he was able to resurrect his career (even at the expense of the Commanders).
When I pulled this card, I knew I had to have it signed. MSB (Mark’s Signing Bonus) came through and helped me out again on the address. I was hoping to get his Topps Now entry on the cheap, but I could not get the price down so after a slight delay I go this out the door to him.
AJ was selected by the DC Defenders of the new XFL 2020 intiative during the open phase portion of the league’s initial draft.
Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992 Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Work Sent: 8/8/17 Received: 5/31/19 (661 days) See Also: JR Holland
Overall it’s a great shot of Holland, but unfortunately, somebody was running into the foreground of the shot, so they couldn’t have a giant hand right next to JR. Ugh. Once you see it, it is all you look at.
I was able to cross reference all the information I had on John to track him down eventually through Facebook, and came to find out he runs a gym in California, where I sent my request to.
I waited 661 days for a 1 of 2- as JR signed just his Ultimate WLAF card, but not his Wild Card, but I will take what I can get, as it took some super sleuthing to track him down. John Holland was kind enough to sign this card and inscribe it with ‘Birmingham Bad Boys”.
G CFL
TAC
SAC
FUM
63
184
N/A
2
INT
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
19
244
13.0
2
66T
PR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
29
172
5.9
0
16
KR
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
5
90
18.0
0
30
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
