Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Calloway, Chris

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Topps Metal 1996
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent:  9/2  Received: 10/7   (35 days*)
*Slight delay. Forwarded from old address.

Chris Calloway is another receiver from the Great Blue of Michigan, who played opposite of blue chip prospect Greg McMurtry, finishing with 8 touchdown receptions.  At 5’10”, 189 it was thought that the speedster may have been a bit small, but the Steelers pulled the trigger on him in the 4th round of the 1990 draft.  He’d make 10 receptions his rookie season and 15 in 1991, but would find himself on the street in 1992.

Calloway would find a home with the New York Giants who liked his speed, route running, and willingness to do the dirty work. Calloway would continue to build slowly off of his previous seasons with 335 yards receiving, endearing him to Giants fans. Chris in fact his first 6 seasons saw career highs in receptions and yards every season.  After a slight dip in 1996- Chris would peak with 848 yards receiving and 8 touchdowns in 1997. 1998 was a career high in catches for Calloway with 62.  Chris signed with Atlanta in 1999 and start 6 games, making 314 yards receiving. He’d then play one final season in New England starting 2 games in 2000 before retiring in 2001.  At the end of his career, Chris ranked 7th on the Giants receptions list with 334 catches. Among receivers Chris reminds me a lot of former Houston Oilers wideout Curtis Duncan. Since retirement, Calloway has not forgotten about football and avidly wants to get into coaching or scouting. He lives in the Altanta area and is also a member of SotL.

Well this is the first one I got back TTM after moving with my forwarding address on it. I’m assuming it went back to my old address in California from Chris’ place in Georgia then came back to me here in Texas in a round about sort of way. Still I am happy to add him to my collection. Chris’ Action Packed Rookies card from 1990 was another example of Hi-Pro Marketing doing their due diligence at the time as this would be one of the earliest of his rookie cards by 4 or 5 years. His Topps Finest gives you a good idea of what the card industry was doing during the late 90s as it was losing traction and attempting to feel out its market. Using a similar metal process to Playoff, Topps produced this shiny metal format for a while, before returning to a much more flat style. I was surprised that the card also took the ink as well as it did.  Here are Chris’ final statistics:

G/Gs  158/96    Rec  386      Yds 5497       Avg 14.2       Td 30       Lg 68

Arena, NFL, XFL

Arnold, Jahine

Autograph Memorabilia
Stampede Inaugural Magazine Austin Wranglers
Acquired: Gift 2004

My cousin got me a game program full of autographs back in 2004, that I found recently when digging through some boxes.

Jahine Arnold came to the Austin Wranglers in 2004 after a stint with the Los Angeles Avengers and Tampa Bay Storm in 2003.  Previously he spent 2 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers utilized primarily as a backup returner, but injuries limited his effectiveness and he was traded to Green Bay. He’d be drafted by the Birmingham Thunderbolts of the XFL in 2001 and was waived in camp, but was quickly signed by the Memphis Maniax.

After retiring from pro football Arnold spent some time as a web designer and in real estate, however in 2007 he was tragically diagnosed with the same progressive liver disease as Walter Payton.Currently fighting what is known as Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, Jahine has established a foundation and refuses to go down.  On top of that without insurance, Arnold has been battling with the Social Security Administration for the benefits he should be entitled to. He’s been involved in kids football camps in his spare time as well.

Arena, NFL

Jenkins, Deron

Autograph Memorabilia
Stampede Inaugural Magazine Austin Wranglers
Acquired: Gift 2004

My cousin got me a game program full of autographs back in 2004, that I found recently when digging through some boxes.

Deron Jenkins was a defensive back with vast NFL experience that joined the Austin Wranglers in 2004 after taking 2 years off from football. He’d be inserted right into the starting lineup and record 63.5 tackles and 2 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. The Wranglers in 2005 decided to overhaul their roster so Jenkins joined the Nashville Katz and had 85 tackles and 4 interceptions. After a short season in 2006 Jenkins would retire.

Originally a 2nd round choice of the Baltimore in 1996 out of Tennessee, Deron started 30 games recording 202 tackles and 2 interceptions for the Ravens over 4 seasons.  With great speed, a smooth backpedal and good man to man fundamentals, the knock on Jenkins was his run support skills and his size at 5’11”, 185.  Still regardless he was a long jump champion coming out of high school and he picked off a dozen passes in 3 years in college. He’d move over to the West Coast in 2000 and play for the Chargers, recording 55 tackles and a pick starting 14 games. As a free agent in 2001, Jenkins would play for the Titans starting 6 games and recording 41 tackles, before joining the Wranglers in 2004.