Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Heinicke, Taylor

sage15 Heinicke

Card: Sage 2015
Acquired: Box Breaker, 2015

Taylor Heinicke turned Colonial Athletic Association Old Dominion into a contender with his arm, and  a school record 11,483 career passing yards and 102 touchdown passes.  He was also an adept runner and handled punting duties from time to time. In 2013, Taylor threw for a record 730 passing yards, which stands as a Division I record. Despite this, Taylor’s draft analysis did not stand up well, with many scouts also knocking his size.  He went unselected in the 2015 NFL draft. Although he was courted by the Falcons, Taylor felt more like he had a chance going to Minnesota.   Taylor called it, “A dream come true,” to play in the NFL and for the Vikings.  Heinike had a great camp and preseason going 27 of 41 for 279 yards and two touchdowns  in the preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.  Comfortable with incumbent Teddy Bridgewater and Shaun Hill moving forward, Minnesota cut Christian Ponder.  While Taylor has not dressed for any games, he looks to challenge 14 year veteran Shaun Hill in the near future for the backup job.

NFL

Morency, Vernand

pp05_vmorencyCard: Press Pass 2005, SP 2005
Acquired: 2016, EBay

A multi-sport athlete, Vernand Morency equally excelled in baseball and football, spending 4 years in the minor leagues as an outfielder with the Colorado Rockies. Vernand joined the  Oklahoma State Cowboys in 2002.  After starter Tatum Bell went down near the end of 2003, Vernand stepped in and carried the team the rest of the season (135 carries for 918 yards and 8TDs) and throughout 2004 (258 carries for 1,474 yards and 12 TDs). Appearing in 30 games, Morency’s 2,661 yards ranked eighth on the school’s career-record list at the time of his departure.

He’d be selected in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Houston Texans and was expected to share the load with workhorse back Domanick Davis.  He finished his rookie season with 46 carries for 184 yards and 2 TDs, and 20 kick returns for 437 yards. In the meantime, the Texans would plummet to the bottom of the NFL standings and most of the staff would released. New coach Gary Kubiak was brought in, drafted Wali Lundy, and had to deal with Domanick Davis on injured reserve.  Morency in the meantime worked his way into the doghouse as his blocking was- well- lacking for the better word for it. He’d be traded after just one game into his second season to the Green Bay Packers straight up for RB Samkon Gado.

sp05-vmorencyMorency became incumbent runningback Ahman Green‘s backup. He’d put together a decent season rushing for 421 yards on 91 carries starting in 2 games, and return 31 kicks for 670 yards. He’d play one more season for the Packers in 2007.  Vernand was released in 2008 but did not pick up with another team.

Vernand landed on his feet quite quickly and went to Wharton Business School,  and has been involved in financial and philanthropic ventures around the country.   I figured there was no chance that I’d ever get his autograph so I went ahead and sniped two certified autographs off of EBay.  Beyond that he played for the Texans, and much discussion has been had over his autograph- considered by many to be the worst professional autograph ever.  I selected this autograph because it’s considered his full autograph. Later he’d sign cards with just a ‘V’ which looked like a check mark such as in the SP card above.

G/Gs 39/3       Rush  171       Yds 726       Avg 4.2        TD 4       Lg  39
Rec  57                Yds  404          Avg 7.1        TD 0             Lg  29
KR  51                  Yds 1107       Avg 21.7      TD 0            Lg  35

 

CFL, NFL

Zemaitis, Alan

do06 zemaitis

Card: Leaf Materials New Generation 2006
Acquired: BB 2014, Target Autographed Memorabilia

Alan Zemaitis played lights out football for the Nittany Lions, despite being in a life threatening car accident in 2003.  At 6’2″, 202 Zemaitis had the perfect size to play a cover 2 system and was a good match for the Buccaneers who selected  him in the 4th Round of the 2006 draft. Considered initially a first round prospect, Alan’s stock slipped after he struggled with poor measurables before the draft.  Tampa viewed him as an eventual replacement for either Brian Kelly or Ronde Barber.

During a rough rookie season, Zemaitis struggled, and then tore his labrum (shoulder muscle) during practice, landing him on injured reserve for the remainder of the year. He recovered for 2007, but was cut in September of that season.  Alan later played in the CFL for the Hamilton Tiger- Cats in 2008.

He’s gone into coaching since his playing days have ended, serving as a positional coach and defensive coordinator at the high school level.