Card: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: In Person, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers.
I was really happy with how this card design turned out. I used a posterization effect to go along with the expanded cut out. It looks great for this card and balances out the busyness of the background. DJ was one of the many players that I contacted through Twitter with their card design before attending the Talons game about a month later. Some fans were so excited about them that they asked me how they could get a copy of the card and were stunned I had done them myself. It’s a real high compliment to have fans of your work, but it doesn’t pay the bills.
Through the 2014 season, DJ played his entire career for the Talons. He joined the franchise in 2012 and has seen an increasing presence on the team at receiver. Graduating from Arkansas-Monticello Stephens had 689 yards and 9 touchdowns on 68 receptions in 2011. A dangerous kick returner, Stephens had 4 scores in 30 kicks in 2013, to go along with 55 catches for 738 yards and 13 TDs.
2014 was DJ’s coming of age in the AFL. He set team records with 11 receptions in the team’s opener against the LA KISS. The team liked the combo of DJ and PJ so much they went ahead and traded Jomo back to Jacksonville. Stephens earned the J. Lewis Small Player of the Week award from the league after setting franchise records with 229 yards in the Talons loss to the Iowa Barnstormers and led the league in all-purpose yardage (1,007) after week 5. Stephens season came to a frustrating end as injury held him out of the final 5 contests.
Card: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: In Person, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers.
As a rookie in 2010 for the Iowa Barnstormers, Micah recorded 41.5 tackles and 4 sacks. He’d sign with the Spokane Shock the following year, and tally 40 tackles and 2.5 sacks. King joined the San Antonio Talons in 2013 and collected 15 tackles and 2 sacks. Valued for his versatility, Micah has the skill set to play defensive end, linebacker, or fullback for the Talons. After the team’s contest versus the Barnstormers, King had his leg in a boot. Before I even approached him, a woman came up and started pestering me for any cards I had of him. -It turned out it was his mother, and she was so happy that he had a card. I explained that cards to me are a great way for a player to communicate to fans, to say that they have really made it to the professional level. They were very happy and thankful for the gift. Micah really liked the pose I had of him and said it was the best action shot yet. He asked me what side he should sign it on, and I told him to put it all over the front.
Card: TNT AFL 2011 Promo
Acquired: IP 6/15/2014, San Antonio Talons vs. The Arizona Rattlers
Maurice earned Second Team All-Big 12 Hounrs as a senior after catching 57 passes for 814 yards and 9 touchdowns with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2007. Going undrafted, Purify signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008 where he’d see time on special teams, recording 5 tackles in 2009. He joined the Georgia Force in 2010 and was named Rookie of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year. Maurice also earned Second-Team All-Arena honors after leading the Georgia Force with 130 receptions and 46 TDs, while finishing second on the team with 1,653 yards receiving. In 2011, Maurice decided to play for the UFL, but an injury landed him on injured reserve for the majority of the league season, so Maurice returned to the Arena leagues, this time signing with the powerful Arizona Rattlers. He’d go on to catch 126 balls for 1,932 yards and 46 touchdowns that season and earn First-Team All-Arena Honors. He’d be a key component in the Rattlers ArenaBowl XXV victory, as he’d be named Offensive Player of the Game for his seven touchdown performance. Maurice resigned with Arizona for the 2013 season, but was injured for much of the year. Still he’d post up 51 receptions for 740 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games, and two touchdowns in the team’s return to ArenaBowl XXVI. Maurice was the last of the ‘big 3’ that I was after from the Rattlers that evening. He went over to sign autographs before the game, so I had to dart across the stands with pen in hand to get him. Still I ended up with his autograph on this sweet looking card of him from his days with the Force.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
Card: TNT AFL 2014
