Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Brown, Donald

CARD: Panini Rookies & Stars 2009 Dress for Success
ACQUIRED: 2025, Ebay

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Donald Brown played RB at Connecticut, where after two decent campaigns, burst onto the scene his Junior year with a conference leading 367 carries and 2083 yards.
  • He declared after 2008, and was selected at the back end of Round 1 by the Indianapolis Colts during the 2009 NFL Draft.
  • Donald had his best season in 2011, when he rushed 134 times for 645 yards and 5 TDs- including an 80 yard scamper.
  • After the 2013 season, he’d sign with the San Diego Chargers.
  • Brown recorded a career high 28 receptions in 2014.
  • After failing to make the Patriots roster in 2016, Donald retired.
  • He saw action in 88 contests- starting 25.

NOTES:

I really like this subset of Rookies & Stars a lot and have been picking up one or two here and there from it. I was able to this card on the cheap. He’s got a few others that I really like, that at some point if he starts TTM up I’ll send out to him.

NFL

Orakpo, Brian (4)

CARDS: Topps Magic 2009, Topps 2014, Score 2019, Panini Donruss 2018, Score 2014, Bowman 2009, Panini 2019, UT Upper Deck 2011 HACK
ACQUIRED: IP, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Brian’s been really good to fans over the years appearing around Austin for signings. I got a really late notice of this one, and had to choose between this signing and two to three others- proof positive that maybe, just maybe 5 years after COVID we’re getting back to normal with signings. After getting the blessing from my wife to go, I arrived a little early and then waited downstairs at the HEB. He then passed me by on the escalator so I went into hot pursuit mode and followed him to the event.

He was in a great mood. I gave him one of my Upper Deck UT 2011 HACK cards, and he loved it! I demonstrated that it was a ‘real card’- glossy and not with some flimsy thickness by banging it slightly on his arm. It was a last second idea to get these cards signed in bronze, but it turned out to be a stroke of genius as these autographs came out spectacular!

I had to dig to find the UT HACK card I did. I wasn’t too happy with how it turned out as the marquee was darker than I expected. Nonetheless with the autograph it vaults into my top three customs with an autograph.

We then talked for a few minutes about the card market, since he knows I’m a collector. (I got the impression he was thinking about investing in it either through participating in breaks or co-hosting one.) I am firmly of the belief based on the sets I collect and watch through eBay that the market is tapering off and I shared that with him. Also the fact there are just too many people making it too hard just to collect the sets they want, and how it used to be you’d go to the store, and buy a 20-30 dollar blaster and get 2 autographs. Now you’re lucky to get a parallel… Anyway it was such an illuminating conversation that I decided to take a photo with Rak!

NFL

Veris, Garin

CARDS: Pro Set 1989, Score 1989
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 1/14 RECEIVED: 1/27 (13 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Garin Veris was a physical specimen at Stanford, playing both offense (TE) and defense (LB, DE) for the Cardinal from 1981-’84.
  • Led the team in tackles for loss and sacks all four years at Stanford.
  • Finished college career with 25 total sacks and 45 tackles for loss.
  • Second round pick of the New England Patriots in 1985.
  • Had a rookie club record 10 sacks that year.
  • Followed his debut with 11 sacks in 1986.
  • Injuries began to take their toll by 1988, as Veris was limited to just 7 starts posting 37 tackles and 2 sacks.
  • Missed the entire 1989 season due to a knee injury.
  • Bounced back with 3 sacks in 1990 and 4 in 1991.
  • Played a final season in 1992 with the San Fransisco 49ers, as knee injuries ended his career.
  • As of 2025 is the activities director at Haverhill High School in Columbus, OH.

ACCOLADES:

  • Stanford University Athletics Hall of Fame
  • Patriots All-1980s Team

NOTES:

Garin only briefly showed up on the NFL and trading card radar, but he made it stick with these two cards.