Category Archives: CFL

Arena, CFL, NFL

Judie, Coryell

Card: Leaf Rookies 2012
Acquired: 2012, Box Breaker

Quietly Coryell Judie appeared on the scene at Texas A&M after playing JUCO at Fort Scott CC. A dangerous returner and cornerback, Judie finished his JUCO time with 7 picks, and 82 tackles. As FS’ primary return man he averaged 26.8 yards per kick return, and 15.1 on punt returns, earning JUCO All American Honors. He’d get a medical redshirt from A&M in 2009, and then show his colors in 2010 by intercepting 4 passes and recording 57 tackles. Judie also was 5th nationally in kick returns with 605 yards on 20 attempts and two touchdowns. This was good enough to help him notch second-team All-Big 12 honors at CB, honorable mention at KR, and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. He’d have off-season shoulder surgery. A hamstring injury in 2011 hampered his senior season, limiting him to just 22 tackles. Still he impressed scouts enough at his pro day, with a 4.38 40 and his performance in many other drills. The Broncos signed him as a free agent after the 2012 draft, but he’d be cut in July with the designation of a non-football injury. He’d briefly be on the roster of the Edmonton Eskimos in  2013, before joining the AFL Portland Thunder in 2014.

CFL, NFL

Hill, Kahlil

Card: SP Authentics 2002
Acquired:  Target Authentic Autograph Memorabilia

Kahlil Hill was a 2002 6th round draft choice of the Atlanta Falcons from the University of Iowa, where he displayed consistency, tallying at least a catch in all 35 contests he was active for. At the end of his career for the Hawkeyes, he recorded 152 receptions, 1892 yards, and 15 touchdowns and also received the Mosi Tatupu Special Teams Player of the Year Honors in 2001.  Hill provided quarterbacks a large, slender target, at 6-3, 195, but his 40 speed didn’t  showcase his game speed that well, so he slipped to the Falcons as the 16th best rated receiver. Unable to crack the Falcons squad in ’02 after playing in one game, he spent his time on the rosters of the Saints, Lions, and Bills through 2004.   Kahlil experienced some mild success when he went to the CFL to play for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2005 and 2006 as a punt returner and back up receiver. A brief off-season with the Jags later in 2006, returned him to the CFL this time as a member of the Roughriders in 2007, and finally the British Columbia Lions in 2008 before he retired.

CFL, College Football HoF, NFL, ufl

Theismann, Joe

aw91 theismannCard: All World 1991
Acquired: 2013, trade

How things would have been different on the NFL landscape if Joe Theismann had signed his 4th round offer from the Miami Dolphins in 1971 instead of with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He certainly wouldn’t have wound up with the Redskins that he infamously guided back to NFL glory and a Super Bowl Championship. Most fans don’t recall Theismann even playing in the CFL, helping the Argos to a CFL Grey Cup game, and himself to All-Star Honors in ’71 and 73.

The Redskins shrewdly obtained his rights in 1974, and he quickly joined the team. Unable to crack the starting lineup, he quickly lined up as the Redskins’….. punt returner. Theismann took some time to assert himself as the team’s lead quarterback, as Billy Kilmer and Sonny Jorgenson both finished out their careers. George Allen was notorious with sticking with his seasoned vets, but eventually Joe found himself running the show. He’d lead the Redskins to a victory against the Dolphins ironically in Super Bowl XVII and a return appearance the next season against the Raiders. Joe would win the NFL Offensive MVP award after the 1983 season. The Redskins played in the NFC Central with the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, and Cardinals. During Theismann’s tenure in Washington, every team in the division took their turn going to the Super Bowl (with the exception of the Cardinals), which illustrates the dominance of the division in the league during this period. It appeared that the Redskins were on their way back to glory again under head coach Joe Gibbs, but Theismann’s career took a detour.

On a Monday Night Football contest in 1985, Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor blindside sacked Theismann, snapping both his tibia and fibia. (In the annuls of NFL history, it is considered one of the most gruesome hits ever sustained by a player.) Joe’s playing career was over, after 71 consecutive starts, but this didn’t take his focus off of football. Theismann has become a color commentator since then, spending time primarily on ESPN. Love him or hate him, Joe gives it his all whatever he does. He spends an immense amount of his time giving to charity, including the donations he gets from autographs, that he gives to St. Jude. Joe was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 for his playing time at the University of Notre Dame. While playing for the Golden Domers, he set various school records for passing in a season, and threw for an incredible 526 yards in one game in 1970.  He also still holds many of the Redskins passing records- some 25+ years later.

He bought a stake in the UFL Florida Tuskers in 2010, but the team and the league did not use his high profile personality to promote the team or the league. The Tuskers moved later that year to Virginia and became the Destroyers, and the league itself folded in 2012. You can visit his website at www.joetheismann.com .

CFL   Att 679    Comp 382    Yds 6093   Pct           Td  40    Int  47      Rat N/a
NFL 167/124    Att 3602     Comp 2044    Yds  25206    Pct 56.7%    Td 160    Int 138    Lg 84t
Rush 355    Yds  1815       Avg 5.1    Td  17     Lg 37