Category Archives: ufl

Arena, NFL, ufl

Purify, Maurice

tntafl11 purifyCard: TNT AFL 2011 Promo
Acquired: IP 6/15/2014, San Antonio Talons vs. The Arizona Rattlers

Maurice earned Second Team All-Big 12 Hounrs as a senior after catching 57 passes for 814 yards and 9 touchdowns with the Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2007.  Going undrafted, Purify signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2008 where he’d see time on special teams, recording 5 tackles in 2009.  He joined the Georgia Force in 2010 and was named Rookie of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year. Maurice also earned Second-Team All-Arena honors after leading the Georgia Force with 130 receptions and 46 TDs, while finishing second on the team with 1,653 yards receiving.  In 2011, Maurice decided to play for the UFL, but an injury landed him on injured reserve for the majority of the league season, so Maurice returned to the Arena leagues, this time signing with the powerful Arizona Rattlers. He’d go on to catch 126 balls for 1,932 yards and 46 touchdowns that season and earn First-Team All-Arena Honors. He’d be a key component in the Rattlers ArenaBowl XXV victory, as he’d be named Offensive Player of the Game for his seven touchdown performance. Maurice resigned with Arizona for the 2013 season, but was injured for much of the year. Still he’d post up  51 receptions for 740 yards and nine touchdowns in nine games, and two touchdowns in the team’s return to ArenaBowl XXVI.  Maurice was the last of the ‘big 3’ that I was after from the Rattlers that evening. He went over to sign autographs before the game, so I had to dart across the stands with pen in hand to get him. Still I ended up with his autograph on this sweet looking card of him from his days with the Force.

 

NFL, ufl, University of Texas

Smith, Greg (TE)

hit11 gsmithCard: Sage Hit 2011
Acquired: 2/16/2013, Longhorn Neighborhood Foundation Bowling Tournament

An intriguing prospect, Greg Smith was a versatile tight end for the University of Texas, who had experience at all 5 offensive line positions including long snapper and as an extra blocking tight end in jumbo sets. Over his career at the school he participated in 51 contests, starting 15 of them, recording 17 receptions for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Greg went undrafted in 2011 by the NFL; However he was the 7th round (32nd) pick of the Hartford Colonials of the UFL. The Colonials were ‘contracted’ before they even took the field in 2011. Greg signed a free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers that season and he remained on their practice squad for 2011 and through August of 2012. Currently he is a free agent.

NFL, ufl

Sams, BJ

leaf05 samsCards: Leaf Rookies & Stars 2004 Ruby Red (047/199), Upper Deck 2004 (667/999)
Acquired: Future Considerations, 2014

BJ Sams played collegiately at McNeese State, where in 2003 he caught 63 balls for 889 yards and 7 touchdowns, while rushing for 299 yards on 38 attempts.

He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2004, where he’d do all his damage in the return game as a dangerous speedster. BJ led the NFL in punt returns (55), punt return yardage (575), and TDs (2) in 2004. On kick returns he’d have 59 returns for 1251 yards.  The Ravens saw fit to give him the designation of a runningback, and Sams would run 4 times for 19 yards and a TD.  In each of his subsequent seasons, his numbers dropped nearly across the board and during the 2007 season while playing against the Bengals, BJ tore his anterior cruciate ligament- ending his season. Due to the timing of the injury, his size, being used primarily as a return man, and his decreasing numbers in the return game, the Ravens saw BJ as expendable. He signed with the Chiefs in 2008 playing for the franchise for 3 games.

UD04SS SamsBJ moved on and signed with Dennis Green’s California Redwoods of the UFL in 2009 as a wide receiver.  The team utilized him in the return game, where he led the league with 350 kick return yards on 22 attempts. Despite the presence of cannon armed quarterback Shane Boyd, Sams was rarely utilized in the passing game. He’d not be retained by the team after the season effectively ending his playing days.

Lance really came to the rescue on this one. He told me that BJ had retired to the area and was coaching the local High School team, so I made a deal with Lance to send him a few cards to get signed for he and I.  I immediately fell in love with the Leaf Rookies and Stars 2004 Ruby Red Longevity card, so that was a given. What does ‘future considerations’ mean. I think much like the pros it means that if I stumble onto anything that he needs that I can get, I might be able to return the favor. While I am aware that I he’s already returning a favor I bestowed upon him, I am one who prefers to keep the party exchange going as long as I can with the least amount of strings attached.

G/Gs 46/1   KR 147         Yds  3341        Avg  22.7       Td 0          Lg  87
PR  128       Yds 1378       Avg  10.8       Td 2         Lg 78t
Rush 4         Yds  19      Avg 4.8         Td 1       Lg 8
Rec 1            Yds  2        Avg 2.0         Td 0      Lg 2