Category Archives: Arena

Arena, NFL

Tomczak, Mike (2)


Cards: Skybox 92, Action Packed 1989, Score 1989
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Work
Sent:  12/4/16    Received: 2/11/17 (65 days)
See Also: Mike Tomczak

Mike’s dreams came true when he joined the Chicago Bears- a team he idolized as a kid. While Ditka put so much pressure on Mike that he considered quitting the sport he loved, Mike ended up carving out a 15 year career in the NFL playing at a variety of stops in the league after Chicago. Infamously during his stay in Green Bay he opted to hold out for a better contract- which caused the team to cut him, and brought about the Brett Favre era that much quicker. Mike had no problem spreading the love around, throwing to 35 different players in 88 touchdown strikes. While Mike only topped the 300 yard mark one time with the Bears, Packers, and Browns, he blossomed late in his career adding 3 more to his career with the Steelers. Mike is known for being the lead guitar player during the Bears infamous 1985 ‘Super Bowl Shuffle’ video. He also shares the same birthday with fellow quarterback Doug Flutie.

Tomczak had some great cards over his career. It took me some time to figure out which ones to send him. After some deliberation I decided on these three. I liked the design and photo for all three of these cards. Action Packed did a short run test promo in 1989 that covered a few NFC teams. It was pretty much identical to their 1990 run, minus the copyright. Score 1989 was blockbuster by any right with the vibrant colors and strong action photos standing out. Skybox was a late addition to the market, coming from the basketball arena, but its initial offering was simple, clean, and impressive.

Arena, CFL, NFL

Carden, Shane

sage15 carden
Card: Sage 2015
Acquired: 2015, Box Breaker

Shane Carden played for ECU and finished his 4 years at the school with 11,991 passing yards, 86 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. An opportunistic scrambler, Carden rushed for 10 TDs in his Junior year, and added MVP honors in 2013  with Conference USA, and 2014 with the American Athletic Conference.  Adding to his resume, Carden broke multiple records for passing yards and TDs. Scouts did not like Shane’s mechanics, but loved his intangibles, ability to quickly read the field, and football IQ. He’d go unselected in the 2015 draft, but sign a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears but not make the squad.

Later he went overseas and played for the Stuttgart Scorpions of the German Football League. Shane then spent half the year in 2016 with the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes. In February of 2017, Shane found a home with the expansion Baltimore Brigade of the Arena Football League. He earned AFL Rookie of the Year Honors after passing for 3,189 yards, 63 TDs, 16 INT, and 275 completions on 431 attempts.

Arena, IFL, NFL

Solomon, Clinton

Card: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 2/22    Received: 4/19    (56 days)

Clinton played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2002, 2004, and 2005. He piled up 1864 yards on 118 receptions and 14 TDs over his 3 years there. His best season came as a Junior when he logged 58 receptions for 905 yards and 6 TDs- earning him 2nd Team All-Big Ten Honors.

Going undrafted, Solomon signed with the St Louis Rams in 2006. Afterwards he was on the rosters of the Titans and Bears in 2007. He signed with the Arena Chicago Rush in 2008, and finally found his home with the Wichita Wild of the IFL in 2009, where he was named 1st team All-IFL after posting 22 TDs and 1,008 yards receiving.  He again earned All-IFL selections in 2010 and 2011. Clinton spent then next two seasons with the Sioux Falls Storm, and briefly played for the Kansas City Renegades.

In 2014 Clinton joined the Texas Revolution.  Soon thereafter he’d be signed by the snake bitten San Antonio Riders of the AFL. After the season the Talons were contracted, but he was assigned to the Las Vegas Outlaws. After the Outlaws were also contracted, Solomon returned to the Texas Revolution in 2016 reuniting with former Talon Brett Reece.  Clinton finished the season as the team leader with 63 receptions for 793 yards and 25 TDs.

A few years ago I had started tracking down members of the Talons who I had made cards of. I attempted to friend Clinton on Facebook, but he did not respond to me for over a year. I reached out to him when he did and he agreed to do a signing for me. Apparently he was more excited than I intially thought, because after he signed the card, he also inscribed the back of the envelope thanking me for the trading cards.