Category Archives: NFL

NFL

Jones, Jacoby ‘Jakespeare’ (1984-2024)

Card: Playoff 2008
Acquired: TTM 2009, Texans Blitz

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jacoby Jones was drafted by the Houston Texans out of tiny Lane College (Jackson, Tn) in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL draft.
  • A track and field beast in college, Jones was a dangerous threat every time he touched the ball.
  • He was immediately penciled in (replacing Jerome Mathis) as the punt and kick returner and wide receiver project.  
  • In 2008 he took two punts to the house for a TD- including a 73 yarder.
  • He’d score a career high 6 TD catches in 2009 on just 27 receptions.
  • In 2010, he had a career high 562 yards and 51 catches.
  • He’d be cut in mid 2012, after muffing a punt in the playoffs the previous season.
  • Jones signed with the Ravens in 2012, where he’d find new life as a popular member of the flock, and seemingly being a playmaker at the right place and at the right time.
  • That season he’d post his best year as a return man with 38 KR for 1167 yards and 2 TDs.
  • He is most fondly remembered for his Super Bowl heroics, where he caught a 56 yard TD and returned a kickoff 108 yards for a TD in Super Bowl XLVII.
  • Following the season, he made an appearance on Dancing With the Stars.
  • After 3 years with the Ravens, he was cut in 2015 and spent time split between the Chargers and Steelers that year.
  • Then in 2017 he played Arena Football with the Monterrey Steel of the NAL.
  • Later that year he retired as a Raven.
  • Jacoby went into coaching from there with his alma mater Lane College from 2018-’19 as a WR coach.
  • Then it was off to Calvert Hall (’20), Morgan State (’21), and Alabama State (2022-’23) as a positional coach in each of those stops.
  • He recently was very excited to return to the H-Town area to coach the Beaumont Renegades- an Arena Football team in Texas.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 2012
  • All-Pro 2012
  • Longest play in NFL history- 108 yards
  • Longest play in Super Bowl/ postseason history- 108 yards
  • First player to return two kick-offs over 105 yards in a single season

NOTES:

Many fun stories surround the young Jones, and fellow wide receiver David Anderson, who called himself Jones’ interpreter while they played together. Jones was fond of bringing in his mom’s cooking into the locker room- where he’d eat chicken legs whole, down to the marrow.

It’s really sad the way he was let go by the Texans. The team perhaps getting their closest to the Super Bowl at that time were playing a hotly contested game against Baltimore in the 2011 Divisional Round. He’d muff a punt that’d lead to the Ravens win.

I’m not sure if the team cut him for a fresh start. I know a lot of people were hard on him. I just wish things had ended better in H-Town.

RECYDSAVGTDLG
203273313.51480t
KRYDSAVGTDLG
183494017.05108t
PRYDSAVGTDLG
27626889.7479t

EPITAPH:

7/13/24- Jacoby Jones passed away peacefully in his sleep while at his home in New Orleans, La. It was unexpected and no cause of death was given. He was 40 years old.

CFL, NFL, WLAF, XFL

Kiselak, Mike

Card: Ultimate WLAF 1992, Athletes in Action Card
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Work
Sent: 2/14   Received: 4/16 (61 days)

After tryouts with the Giants, Chiefs, and Oilers in 1990, Mike Kiselak, was drafted by the San Antonio Riders in 1991 (4th round) and played both guard and center for the team starting all 10 games blocking for All World League runningback Ricky Blake. At 6’3″, 295, he was the ideal combination of size and power for the Mike Riley‘s run oriented offense. In 1992, Kiselak would return to the Riders for a second year with the team and block for the Riders once again potent rushing attack under Ivory Lee Brown. San Antonio would dominate opponents on the ground and finish with a 7-3 record, but the WLAF would reorganize after the 1992 season.

Mike would be signed by the Sacramento Gold Miners of the CFL and play with them through their transition back to San Antonio to become the Texans in 1995 where he would be a CFL All Star at Center for the team. After the CFL reorganized following the season, Mike was drafted by the Roughriders in the dispersal draft in 1996, but was traded almost immediately in exchange for John Terry, to the Toronto Argonauts. Kiselak would continue to leave his mark, winning multiple offensive lineman awards and being named the CFL’s Outstanding Lineman in 1996 and 1997.

Mike returned to the NFL in 1998 and play for the Dallas Cowboys, playing in 15 games and starting 7.  He’d retire briefly but return to start for the San Fransisco Demons of the XFL in 2001 before finally finishing his career.

Since retirement Kiselak has become a church minister, a motivational speaker and is on the board of Kids Matters International. I emailed Mike to ask his permission to send this Ultimate 1991 card and while I did wait about 60 days for a response, he he was more than happy to sign the card for me. He also added in one to boot, and inscribed it with the passage from Matt 6:33: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

NFL

Williams, Brent

Cards: Action Packed 1990, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 1991, 1992, Patriots Blitz

Defensive lineman Brent Williams was drafted in the 7th round of the 1986 draft by the New England Patriots out of the University of Toldeo. He’d be a nice budget buy for the Patsies, playing 8 seasons for them primarily in the team’s 3-4 alignment at defensive end and some spot time at nose. His rookie season would be a strong one, making 7 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries and 73 tackles.  He’d continue to make an impact for the team along the line, making a career high 8 sacks in both 1988 and 1989. Williams would play for the Patriots through 1993 as he’d see a heavy role as a back up in his final season. Brent would sign with the Seahawks in 1994, playing with them through the 1995 season making 38 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 fumbles.  In 1996 Williams would play with the Jets in a backup capacity suiting up for 5 games and retired at the conclusion of the season.

Since football Brent Williams has applied his degree in business administration going into the financial arena, working as a Financial Advisor with a good portion of his clients being former NFL players. He’s spent time working in Pop Warner football and girl’s basketball, and cheers the Patriots on to this day.

G/Gp  147/120       Tac  472       Sac 45.5      Fum  12     Int 0      Yds 0    Avg -.-    Td  0   Lg -.-