Category Archives: ufl

NFL, ufl

Clarett, Maurice

bo03 clarettCards: TNT UFL 2011, Bowman 2005
Acquired: TTM 2013, C/o Home
Sent: 12/19    Received: 2/11/14    (58 days)*
* Donation of $10 per flat included.

Maurice Clarett played a key role in Ohio State’s drive to the 2002 National Championship as a true freshman. He’d earn All-Big 10 Honors and be named Freshman of the Year, running for 1237 yards and 16 touchdowns on 222 carries. His game winning touchdown in double overtime in the Fiesta Bowl over the Miami Hurricanes put Clarett on the map nationally, but little did anybody know the difficult road he’d travel from that point further.

Soon thereafter it was revealed that Clarett had been receiving improper benefits (- more than he later earned at 10 games in the UFL,)  leading to his suspension for lying to NCAA investigators and his eventual departure from Ohio State. Maurice decided to declare for the NFL draft. The problem was, the NFL had an agreement in place with the NCAA not to allow high school students who had not been out of school for less than 3 years into the league. Clarett won in court in 2004, and declared for the 2005 draft. Maurice did not fare well at the combine, and was very humbled by the experience. His former Alma Mater refused to allow him to attend their pro day. The Broncos though liked what they saw out of Maurice though. He seemed to be a good fit for their ZBS based on his skillset, and ability to burst through the hole, staying low to the ground, and adjusting his speed and his direction well. They took him surprisingly in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft. Unfortunately Clarett was not prepared for the rigors of the league and found himself cut, before even playing a down.

tnt11 clarettWith his football glory completely stripped of him, and financial troubles setting in, compounded by his legal battle with the league, life was in a downward spiral for the one time shooting star. Clarett hoped to jump start his career again by playing in the NFLE or an Arena affiliate, but instead was arrested after a robbery and high speed chase in 2006.  With his 4 month daughter present at the court room, Maurice took a plea deal, and had 3 years to think about his life behind bars. Maurice began blogging. That’s when I began to catch up with Maurice. Reading his blog, it was obvious that he was ready and chomping at the bit to turn his life around. In 2010 he earned an early release.

The UFL thought that Clarett was a great fit for the league, and he was signed by the Omaha Nighthawks a few days later. The Nighthawks were loaded with former NFL veterans on offense. Jeff Garcia led the way at QB, along with Ahman Green at RB, and Jeb Putzier at TE. Clarett was to be Green’s understudy and heir apparent to the former Packers star. He’d score his first professional touchdown in a Week 7 contest against Las Vegas. He’d not return to the league as financial pressures began to mount, until the UFL’s quiet demise in 2012.

Maurice has spent a lot of time doing speaking engagements, encouraging other future stars not to lose sight of their goals. He’s also become an outspoken celebrity on depression. In 2012, he was invited back home to Ohio State to a reunion of the 2002 National Championship team, wrote an autobiography tell all, and recently was in an ESPN 30 for 30 interview.

I had made this custom of Maurice some time ago, and always wanted to get it signed. Thanks to Deadhorse from the Sportscollectors.net message board, I was able to locate a possible address for him, and shot these two cards out with a donation to his foundation. I had thought that these were long gone, even though 60 days for me is not much to sweat about, so to have these show up on my 4th successful day in a row was a real charge.

UFL       Rush 37       Yds   154        Avg 4.2        Td  1       Lg  15    |
Rec  12      Yds 98      Avg 8.2       Td 0      Lg 17

NFL, ufl

White, Dewayne

poff04 DeWhite

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Card: Playoff Contenders 2004
Acquired: Box Breaker 2013, Target Autograph Memorabilia Pack

white FRA very inspiring story of overcoming long odds and tragedy, Dewayne White  overcame the loss of both his parents, two fires that destroyed family homes, and a serious knee injury during his senior year of high school. He went to school collegiality at Louisville, where he established himself as one of the nation’s most formidable pass rushers at defensive end, with an NCAA leading 27 sacks from 2000-2001.

He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with their 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft but did not see significant playing time that year. In 2004, White began to come into his own with 6 sacks and 23 tackles. In both 2005 and 2006, he recovered 3 fumbles in each season with increased playing time. 2007 was a change of scene for Dewayne, as he headed up to Detroit. In both 07 and 08 he had 6.5 sacks, but an injury plagued 09 season, in which he didn’t even register a sack, combined with an upcoming million dollar bonus, prompted the Lions to cut White early in 2010.

Dewayne was made the overall #1 pick of the Omaha Nighthawks in the 2010 UFL Draft. He finished the season with 5 tackles, a sack, and 2 pass defensed that season. I did a custom card of him, but since the league folded I never got a chance to get it signed.

CFL, College Football HoF, NFL, ufl

Theismann, Joe

aw91 theismannCard: All World 1991
Acquired: 2013, trade

How things would have been different on the NFL landscape if Joe Theismann had signed his 4th round offer from the Miami Dolphins in 1971 instead of with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. He certainly wouldn’t have wound up with the Redskins that he infamously guided back to NFL glory and a Super Bowl Championship. Most fans don’t recall Theismann even playing in the CFL, helping the Argos to a CFL Grey Cup game, and himself to All-Star Honors in ’71 and 73.

The Redskins shrewdly obtained his rights in 1974, and he quickly joined the team. Unable to crack the starting lineup, he quickly lined up as the Redskins’….. punt returner. Theismann took some time to assert himself as the team’s lead quarterback, as Billy Kilmer and Sonny Jorgenson both finished out their careers. George Allen was notorious with sticking with his seasoned vets, but eventually Joe found himself running the show. He’d lead the Redskins to a victory against the Dolphins ironically in Super Bowl XVII and a return appearance the next season against the Raiders. Joe would win the NFL Offensive MVP award after the 1983 season. The Redskins played in the NFC Central with the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, and Cardinals. During Theismann’s tenure in Washington, every team in the division took their turn going to the Super Bowl (with the exception of the Cardinals), which illustrates the dominance of the division in the league during this period. It appeared that the Redskins were on their way back to glory again under head coach Joe Gibbs, but Theismann’s career took a detour.

On a Monday Night Football contest in 1985, Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor blindside sacked Theismann, snapping both his tibia and fibia. (In the annuls of NFL history, it is considered one of the most gruesome hits ever sustained by a player.) Joe’s playing career was over, after 71 consecutive starts, but this didn’t take his focus off of football. Theismann has become a color commentator since then, spending time primarily on ESPN. Love him or hate him, Joe gives it his all whatever he does. He spends an immense amount of his time giving to charity, including the donations he gets from autographs, that he gives to St. Jude. Joe was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 for his playing time at the University of Notre Dame. While playing for the Golden Domers, he set various school records for passing in a season, and threw for an incredible 526 yards in one game in 1970.  He also still holds many of the Redskins passing records- some 25+ years later.

He bought a stake in the UFL Florida Tuskers in 2010, but the team and the league did not use his high profile personality to promote the team or the league. The Tuskers moved later that year to Virginia and became the Destroyers, and the league itself folded in 2012. You can visit his website at www.joetheismann.com .

CFL   Att 679    Comp 382    Yds 6093   Pct           Td  40    Int  47      Rat N/a
NFL 167/124    Att 3602     Comp 2044    Yds  25206    Pct 56.7%    Td 160    Int 138    Lg 84t
Rush 355    Yds  1815       Avg 5.1    Td  17     Lg 37