Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Sikahema, Vai

pset89 sikahemaCards: ProSet 1989, ProSet 1990, Action Packed 1990
Acquired:  Paid Signing, 2015

Vai Sikahema does not sign through the mail. Although his jobs in public service arenas and the media would lead one to believe so, he boasts a 0% success rate through many websites. Many of his cards, especially when the big football card explosion of the late 80’s appeared, were very slick action shots. I had him on a shortlist for quite sometime, but due to his inaccessibility, I went ahead and did a paid signing for Sikahema.

pset90 sikahemaVai Sikahema was part of the early 80s pipeline of Tonga football players. In fact he was the first Tongan drafted to the NFL, taken in the 10th round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986.   He played his college ball at BYU. There he was an electrifying kick returner, setting the college punt return record with 153 career returns.

Sikahema played at a time when the league afforded the additional luxury of roster spots for dedicated return men, thus he rarely saw the field beyond kick and punt returning.  In his first two years in the NFL, he was named to the Pro Bowl, and in 1987 was named All-Pro. He led the league in yards both seasons cracking the 500 yard barrier in both seasons, and in TDs in 1986 (2), and returns in 1987 (44). Over his 8 seasons in the NFL, Sikahema never failed to return less than 26 punts a season.

ap90 sikahemaAfter 5 seasons playing for the Cardinals, Sikahema signed with Green Bay via Plan B.  He played one season for the franchise before he joined the Philadelphia Eagles, enjoying a brief renaissance to his career. During the 1992 season,  Vai became a part of history when he blew past the New York Giants punt coverage crew. He’d score a TD and then infamously box the Giants’ padded goal post, and make highlight films everywhere for years to come.  Sikahema retired after the 1993 season deciding to shift gears in his life towards sports journalism.

At the time of his retirement, Vai was less than 150 yards from the NFL career punt return yardage record held by White Shoes Johnson, and held the career record for most punt returns in a career.  He is also immortalized in Tecmo Super Bowl where he makes a great jack of all trades back.

NFL G/Gs 118/1    Rush 59     Yds 217    Avg 3.7    Td 0     Lg 27
Rec  53     Yds 537     Avg  10.7      Td 1      Lg 37
Kr  235     Yds 4933      Avg 21.0    Td 0    Lg 52
Pr 292      Yds 3169    Avg 10.9      Td  4     Lg 87t

NFL

Baxter, Jarrod

bow02 jbaxter
Cards: Bowman 2002
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

When the expansion Texans were making their moves in 2002, it was plainly obvious to me that the Texans were going to draft Baxter (- the highest rated fullback that year) coming out of college from New Mexico at the top of round 5. Why? Because back then when the NFL conducted its annual draft, (that it continually tinkers with,) day 1 were rounds 1-4, and day 2 were rounds 5-7.  Baxter clocked in at an impressive 6′ 1″, 245, and in Chris Palmer’s offense, he liked a traditional strong fullback leading the way. He’d play in the Texans’ 19-10 opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys, and start an additional 9 games that season. Baxter was held back by the team to protect quarterback David Carr, with the team’s anemic offensive line situation. He’d score his first – and only professional touchdown in a 17-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans, on a 14 yard reception. 2003 was wiped due to injury, but Jarrod came back for 2004, suiting up for 8 contests. Baxter signed with the Arizona Cardinals in 2005 and again saw action in 8 contests, retiring after the season. Baxter has found his way into coaching since then and as of 2014, is a coach in the Houston area school district.

G/Gs 32/13     Rush 9      Yds 15       Avg  1.7      Td   0     Lg 6         |    Rec  7    Yds 40    Avg 5.7      Td   1       Lg  14t

NFL

Otten, Ryan

leaf13 otten

Card: Leaf Draft 2013
Acquired: 2013, Box Breaker

As a junior in 2011, Ryan Otten played 11 games and had 52 receptions for 739 yards and 5 touchdowns, earning an All-WAC selection.  He earned a followup All-WAC selection in 2012, when he had had 47 receptions for 742 yards and 4 touchdowns. Notably his 15.8 yards per catch led all Division I tight ends in 2012, and he joined Notre Dame’s Tyler Eifert as the only two tight ends who ranked in the top 100 nationally in both receptions and receiving yards per game in 2011.

Oddly Otten would not be selected in the 2013 NFL Draft due to average speed and lack of bulk. The Jaguars signed him as a priority free agent . Later that year he’d be on the practice squad of the Chargers. In 2014, Otten signed a futures contract with the Bengals, and then later joined the Vikings who he played for through 2015.