Jermichael Finley came on fast for the Texas Longhorns, when he posted 31 receptions for 372 yards and 3 TDs (2006), and then 45 receptions for 575 yards and 2 TDs (2007). Finley was one of the few Longhorns who declared early to leave the school while Mack Brown was coach. In fact, he’d forego his Junior and Senior seasons and enter the 2008 NFL Draft.
The Packers selected Finley in the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL Draft. After a quiet rookie season, Jermichael blew up in 2009, posting 55 receptions for 676 yards and 5 TDs. In 2011, he posted a career high 767 yards and 8 TDs on another 55 catches, and followed that up with a career high 61 in 2012.
Jermichael suffered a terrible injury during the 2013 season- bruising his spinal cord. He was rendered paralyzed by the injury and did not regain his ability to move until the next day. His season was ended after 6 games, and as his contract was up with Green Bay- so was his time with the Pack.
Although Finley decided to make a comeback the following season and received interest from numerous teams- Jermichael opted to officially retire in 2015.
Cards: Upper Deck Legends 1997, Top Notch Signature Select Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home Sent: 9/15/18 Received: 1/13/20 (487 days) See Also: Bill Bradley ‘Super Bill’
Bill Bradley signed my custom card of him, and also sent back the extra with more inscriptions upon it. A solid return, he wrote me a nice note with a full page of additional inscriptions and thanked me for being a fan and putting this website together with my shrines to the multiple leagues.
I hadn’t seen Bill since he appeared in Austin for the Upper Deck set signing back in 2011. In the meantime, while he was coaching at Lamar (2012-2014) I found this Upper Deck Legends card I really wanted to get him on, but I opted not to try him through the mail yet.
Time passed, and in 2018- after much deliberation, the Alliance of American Football established their last franchise in San Antonio. I quickly speculated that the team was going to nab Mike Riley as their head coach. While at the Season Ticket Holders Team Announcement Party, Mike let me in on a little secret since he knew I was a San Antonio Riders fan- he was courting Bill to come back and work for him on the Commanders defense as a defensive secondary coach!
Bill’s secondary in the AAF was an exciting unit to watch and led the league in turnovers. His coaching legacy now also includes the AAF Defensive Player of the Year Derron Smith, and a bevvy of players who were signed to NFL, Arena, and XFL rosters.
Card: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011 Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home Sent: 4/10 Received: 4/29 (19 days)
Charlie Talbert was a 2 way star for the Texas Longhorns from 1961 -1963, winning the National Championship in his final year at the school. He played both Defensive End and oddly- Wide Receiver, finishing with 14 catches for 188 yards and a TD leading the team. (Keep in mind this is during an era where the forward pass was rarely used.) As a defensive end he had an interception, and scored a TD on defense. His brothers Don (1959-1961) and Diron (1963-1966) also played for the school.
After graduating from UT, joined the Navy for three years. He then moved to Houston and got involved with real estate, and hotel development in Austin and Houston.
Charlie signed his UT card for me and wrote me a nice note sending greetings from him and his brothers.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
