Category Archives: NFL

Arena, NFL

Conner, Darion

Gameday 1992, #7

CARDS: Action Packed 1991, Gameday 1992, Skybox 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3 RECEIVED: 1/30 (27 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Darion Conner was a 3 time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Selection out of Jackson State.
  • In 1989 posted 12.5 sacks and 130 tackles.
  • Second round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1990, Conner was prized for his versatility.
  • Settled at ROLB, and in first 3 seasons went over 100 tackles each year.
  • In 1994, played one season for the Saints, and had a career high 10.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception for 56 yards.
  • 1995 saw him take his skill set to Carolina, where he added another 7.0 sacks to his resume as an original member of the Panthers.
  • After two largely fruitless seasons in Philadelphia (’96-’97), Darion was signed by the ‘original but new’ Cleveland Browns.
  • Didn’t play a down for the team, so he decided to take his skills to the Arena Football League in 1999 playing OL/DL.
  • Connor was an impactful player in Arena Football.
  • He’d play with the Tampa Bay Storm through 2005.
  • Connor’s football career ended abruptly after he committed DUI-manslaughter and vehiculuar homicide.
  • He was sentenced to 15 years in prison- of which, he has paid his debt to society and is now a free man.
Action Packed 1991, #4
Skybox 1992, #126

NOTES:

Darion signed all three of these cards for me masterfully with a silver sharpie. The Skybox card looks incredible.

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
51933.0515656.0056
NFL
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
4411.0500-.-0-.-
ARENA
Arena, NFL, NFLE

Thomas, Johnny (DT)

CARD: Frankfurt Galaxy Team Issue 2003
ACQUIRED: 2023, Private Acquisition

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Coming out of college at Nevada, Johnny ‘John’ Thomas possessed the ideal size to man the trenches (6’2″, 315).
  • Signed and allocated to the NFLE by the Miami Dolphins.
  • Played in 10 contests at DT for the Frankfurt Galaxy in 2003.
  • Spent 2004 and 2005 with the Chicago Rush, and the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League.
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
13.52.0100-.-0-.-
ARENA
AAF, NFL, XFL

Wing, Brad

Topps AAF 2019, #AU-BW
Topps AAF 2019, #122

CARDS: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
ACQURIED: Ebay 2019, IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Aussie Brad Wing played Australian Football growing up.
  • He went to college at LSU from 2012-’13 where he gained notoriety as a punter.
  • Punted 118 times for 5261 yards and a 44.8 yard average.
  • At the end of 2012, he was suspended for undisclosed rules- of which Brad admitted was continuous failed drug tests.
  • After going undrafted in 2013, he spent camp that year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • He’d make the squad of the Steelers the following year and see action punting in all 16 games in 2014.
  • Traded to the New York Giants in 2015 for a 7th round pick.
  • Punted for NY for the next 3 seasons and became a fan favorite.
  • Had a league high 95 punts in 2017, but also a league leading 2 blocks.
  • Signed with the Memphis Express of the AAF in 2018- for play in the 2019 season.
  • During the season he’d be cut for unknown reasons.
  • Over the next few years Brad struggled with mental health and sobriety.
  • In late 2022, the San Antonio Brahmas selected Wing to play in the XFL23.
  • He’d see action in all 10 games, and lead the league statistically across the board.
  • On the season, he had 2010 yards on 42 punts (47.2 yards per punt), and a 72 yard long punt- but was snubbed for All-XFL honors.
  • Brad signed with the Steelers in 2023, and punted in 2 contests for the team.
  • He returned to the Brahmas (now in the UFL) in 2024 where he’s a fan favorite.
  • On the season, he had 35 punts for 1598 yards, a 45.7 yard average, and 12 of those punts dropped inside the 20.
  • He entered UFL and San Antonio lore when in the 2024 opener he completed a fake punt for 40 yards to Alex Mollette who rumbled in for a TD right before the half against the DC Defenders.

NOTES:

Finally. I got Brad Wing of the Memphis Express (and Brahmas). Mark (MSB) got Brad a while ago through a family address, but I felt that I had other priorities so I waited on this one. When he got signed by the Brahmas I thought it was fortuitous, so I put his card aside. It took the entire season to nab him on his AAF base card, even though he was very friendly with fans.

When Brad was snubbed for the All XFL team in ’23 I ranted about it on Twitter. His family liked my post and agreed with me.

His father, Dave, played professionally in the NFLE for the Scottish Claymores.