Category Archives: CFL

CFL, IFL, NFL, XFL

Ealy, Kony (2)

CARDS: Leaf Draft 2014, Topps Chrome 2014, Sage 2014
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Kony Ealy
  • Kony joined the Cowboys during the 2018 preseason, but was cut.
  • He’d then sign with the Raiders, but again would be cut before the end of the year.
  • The next year Kony was selected by and signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL20.
  • With the season cancelled due to COVID after 5 games, Kony finished with 9 tackles, 2 TFL, and half a sack.
  • He spent a season then in the CFL with the Argos from 2021 to the end of camp in 2022.
  • With that it was off for a month with the Vegas Knight Hawks of the IFL.
  • And then finally another 3 months with the Edmonton Elks before the end of the 2022 season.

NOTES:

Well I had reloaded on Kony after meeting him in person at the Houston Roughnecks team meet and greet for season ticket holders and I was hopeful the league would pick back up in 2021 but unfortunately COVID finished off the XFL20. So I held onto this post and eventually forgot about it.

A few things about Kony. I think if he had found a spot on a team primarily as a situational starter or designated pass rusher, he might’ve stuck around longer at his different stops. It takes a genius of a DC to unlock potential and Kony had plenty of that- as evidenced in his Super Bowl 50 performance when he logged 3 sacks, forced a fumble and made an interception.

I really also relate to the big guy as he has struggled with depression after the loss of his father and sister, and while he was with the Roughnecks, he opened up about it and his battle with it.

Arena, CFL, NFL

Marinovich, Todd ‘Robo QB’ (2)

CARDS: Classic ’91, Upper Deck College Legends 2011
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 5/8/23 RECEIVED: 8/19/24 (469 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

While the address I sent to was a PO Box in California, the cards came back postmarked from Hawaii. I think a first for me after all these years. Todd was right there at the cusp of it all with the cards in 1991. Wasn’t really a big fan of this design of Classic. In fact I laughed at it because of the camo, but strangely its grown on me over the years. Both of these cards have superior photography to support the design.

CFL, ufl, usfl

Smith, J’mar

CARD: Upper Deck USFL 2023, Upper Deck UFL 2024 Dual Signatures
ACQUIRED: IP, 2024 Birmingham Stallions v the San Antonio Brahmas.
2025, Epack

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • J’mar Smith played QB at Louisiana Tech from 2016-’19.
  • He completed 759 of 1280 passes for 9,523 yards and 51 TDs over his college career.
  • In 2019 he’d be named Conference USA’s Offensive Player of the Year.
  • Undrafted, he spent camp with the Patriots in 2020, and had a tryout with the Packers.
  • Signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in ’21 but was released.
  • Joined the USFL in 2022 and led the team to a win the USFL Championship Game in 2022.
  • On the season he completed 131 passes for 1573 yards and 10 TDs, while rushing for 191 on 37 carries scoring 2 TDs.
  • Placed on IR for the 2023 season.
  • Returned to Birmingham for the 2024 campaign, but saw little action.
  • Signed a letter alongside other quarterbacks and refused to report to the opening of camp until concessions were made by the league.
  • Cut by Birmingham but returned a few scant weeks later.

ACCOLADES:

  • USFL Player of the Week 2023 (Week 1)
  • Birmingham Stallions Best Hair Award

NOTES:

J’Mar was wandering off the field after their loss to the Brahmas during the 2024 season. He and Marlon Williams ambled up and signed their cards for me. It was a good double hit.

I had been having a lot of success with the Upper Deck UFL set. I pulled this dual autograph from a group of 8 packs I opened. I was pretty satisfied with this hit- although I am unsure if J’mar and Amari have ever been on the field at the same time.