Category Archives: AAF

AAF, CFL, NFL, Pro Football HoF, usfl

Polian, Bill

Cards: Topps AAF 2019 Custom, Panini 2016 HOF
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 11/2 Received: 11/12 (10 days)

Bill Polian has a long and storied career as a football executive that spans across 4 leagues: The NFL, CFL, USFL, and the AAF.

After graduating from NYU in 1964, Polian began his careeer as a scout for the Chiefs in 1978. He also spent time with the Blue Bombers and Alouettes in the CFL as well working his way up to Personnel Director. A one year stint in the USFL Chicago Blitz in 1984, led Polian back to the NFL. He’d then begin a long and storied career with the Buffalo Bills later that year as the Pro Personnel Director. He’d help transform the Bills into an NFL powerhouse laying the foundation for the franchise to appear in 3 consecutive Super Bowls. He was released by the team after they lost their 3rd Super Bowl in 92.

A 3 year hiatus saw Polian return to the NFL with a vengeance as GM of the expansion Carolina Panthers. He was able to assemble enough talent that the franchise posted a expansion record 7 wins in 1995, and an even more impressive 12 wins in 1996. After a down year in 97, Bill joined the Indianapolis Colts as General Manager.

His first move was a no brainer: Selecting Peyton Manning with the first overall pick of the 1998 NFL Draft. Later he’d hire Tony Dungy to coach the franchise, and the rest is history. After the reorganization of the divisions in 2002, the Colts would dominate the South- winning 7 divisional titles under his watch. Indianapolis appeared in two Superbowls winning XLI. He’d not be retained after the 2011 season.

In the meantime he began to roll in the accolades, being inducted into the Buffalo Wall of Fame in 2012, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015, and the Colts Ring of Honor in 2017.

Bill felt the siren’s lure and resurfaced again in 2018, where he signed up to be Head of Football of the upstart Alliance of American Football, co founding it alongside Charlie Ebersol. The league was able to pull off 8 weeks of football before it collapsed due to financial strain. Bill Polian was greatly disappointed in the failure of the AAF and in chief financial cow Tom Dundon who pulled the plug.

I wrote to Bill after creating a dead on custom of the Topps AAF certified card. Thanks to COVID I had to find a new custom printer. The card quality was outstanding, but I didn’t prep the high gloss card, so the autograph didn’t stick properly to the card. He also signed this Panini HOF card for me as well.

AAF, NFL

Stribling, Channing

Card: Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: 2019, Box Breaker

Channing Stribling played defensive back collegially at Michigan from 2013-2016. He amassed 69 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 15 pass deflections, and 6 picks for 91 yards and a TD. After going unselected in the 2017 NFL draft, Channing was on and off the practice squads of Cleveland and Indianapolis that year. In 2018, he was in camp with the 49ers- later returning to the Colts, and then to the Chargers.

After being cut in October of 2018, Stribling decided to give the Alliance of American Football a shot. He was assigned to the Memphis Express and started in the team’s young secondary, posting 19 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 pass deflections, and an interception for 31 yards.

Although the numbers didn’t show it, Stribling was key in helping shut down the Iron’s passing attack, as the Express upset the Iron in OT 31-25.
AAF, NFL, XFL

Gwacham, Obum

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: IP 2020, Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Vipers Joint Practice

As the Tampa Vipers sauntered off the field from the joint practice, I caught Reggie Northup and got his autograph. He was kind enough to flag down Obum Gwacham for me. Then Reggie ribbed Obum saying to him, “I didn’t even know you had a card or played for the Hotshots!”, As they both laughed heartily. Obum played 2020 for the Tampa Vipers. After battling through injuries early on, he posted 7 tackles and a sack.

Originally a 6th round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, Obum saw stints with New Orleans (2015-2016), the Cardinals and Jets (2017), and Colts (2019). He played in 2019 for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football, posting 16 total tackles and 2 sacks in 8 games.