Category Archives: XFL

AAF, NFL, XFL

Wing, Brad

Topps AAF 2019, #AU-BW
Topps AAF 2019, #122

CARDS: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
ACQURIED: Ebay 2019, IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Aussie Brad Wing played Australian Football growing up.
  • He went to college at LSU from 2012-’13 where he gained notoriety as a punter.
  • Punted 118 times for 5261 yards and a 44.8 yard average.
  • At the end of 2012, he was suspended for undisclosed rules- of which Brad admitted was continuous failed drug tests.
  • After going undrafted in 2013, he spent camp that year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • He’d make the squad of the Steelers the following year and see action punting in all 16 games in 2014.
  • Traded to the New York Giants in 2015 for a 7th round pick.
  • Punted for NY for the next 3 seasons and became a fan favorite.
  • Had a league high 95 punts in 2017, but also a league leading 2 blocks.
  • Signed with the Memphis Express of the AAF in 2018- for play in the 2019 season.
  • During the season he’d be cut for unknown reasons.
  • Over the next few years Brad struggled with mental health and sobriety.
  • In late 2022, the San Antonio Brahmas selected Wing to play in the XFL23.
  • He’d see action in all 10 games, and lead the league statistically across the board.
  • On the season, he had 2010 yards on 42 punts (47.2 yards per punt), and a 72 yard long punt- but was snubbed for All-XFL honors.
  • Brad signed with the Steelers in 2023, and punted in 2 contests for the team.
  • He returned to the Brahmas (now in the UFL) in 2024 where he’s a fan favorite.
  • On the season, he had 35 punts for 1598 yards, a 45.7 yard average, and 12 of those punts dropped inside the 20.
  • He entered UFL and San Antonio lore when in the 2024 opener he completed a fake punt for 40 yards to Alex Mollette who rumbled in for a TD right before the half against the DC Defenders.

NOTES:

Finally. I got Brad Wing of the Memphis Express (and Brahmas). Mark (MSB) got Brad a while ago through a family address, but I felt that I had other priorities so I waited on this one. When he got signed by the Brahmas I thought it was fortuitous, so I put his card aside. It took the entire season to nab him on his AAF base card, even though he was very friendly with fans.

When Brad was snubbed for the All XFL team in ’23 I ranted about it on Twitter. His family liked my post and agreed with me.

His father, Dave, played professionally in the NFLE for the Scottish Claymores.

CFL, NFL, usfl, XFL

Lynch, Paxton

Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2016 Gameday, #16

CARDS: Sage 2016 Artistry, Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2016 Gameday
ACQUIRED: TTM 2017, C/o The Denver Broncos. IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas V. Houston Roughnecks
SENT: 8/1/2017 RECEIVED: 1/8/2024 (2351 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Paxton Lynch played QB at Memphis from 2012-2015.
  • Was the starting QB from 2013-2015.
  • Posted a Memphis record 2014 outing with 22 TD (259/413) for 3031 yards.
  • Also ran for 321 yards on 113 carries and 13 rushing TDs.
  • In 2015, shattered his previous mark going 296/443 for 3776 yards and 28 TDs to just 4 picks.
  • Set a school single game record with 447 yards passing against Tulsa in 2015.
  • Selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft (26th) by the Denver Broncos.
  • Was 2nd string QB to open season behind Trevor Siemian his rookie year, seeing action in a few games as an injury replacement.
  • In 2017, a good portion of his season was marred by injury, as he sat behind Brock Osweiler.
  • Inexplicably would be cut in the preseason during 2018.
  • Cut during final roster cuts by the Seahawks in 2019.
  • Spent 2019 on the practice squad and roster of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Cut during final roster cuts by the Steelers in 2020.
  • Was with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from mid-2021 to early 2022.
  • Signed with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL in 2022, but was ruled out due to a leg injury.
  • Joined the Orlando Guardians of the XFL in 2023, and was initially the starter- but would be benched in favor of Quinten Dormandy.
  • Cut- he’d be signed later on that same day by the San Antonio Brahmas, but didn’t see any action the rest of the season.
  • Left exposed by the Brahmas after the dispersal draft when the XFL and USFL merged.
SAGE Artistry 2016, #ART15

NOTES:

I sent out to Paxton way, way back in 2017 while he was still on the Broncos hoping to get his autograph on these two cards. In the meantime, he’s had a wild ride around professional leagues, eventually landing in the XFL with San Antonio. I had an extra of his Gameday card, and was able to get his autograph after the team lost an overtime thriller to the Roughnecks.

He was signing behind the player bench, and was amused by the level of fandom he was witnessing. A mother begged Paxton for a used, sweaty towel for her son, who wanted something to remember this by. His response was both shock and amazement, and he said, “Sure?” At that time he penned this Panini Contenders Gameday card.

About a week or two later, I saw him at the Purple Heart event with the team in Boerne. As players kept coming up and talking to me because of my San Diego Fleet jersey, I didn’t get around to everybody I wanted. I had hoped to square Paxton away on a card or two more.

Lo and behold though- nearly 6 1/2 years later- Paxton signed these two cards for me from his days with the Broncos. I immediately gave the duplicate Gameday card to another fan who didn’t get one back from him C/o the Brahmas, and added his Sage Artistry that I wanted to the collection.

This card clocks in as the second longest wait now, behind Matt Hasselbeck, and just in front of Santana Dotson.

As Paxton was not retained by the Brahmas during the UFL player draft in 2024, I’m going to make a soft bet that this was Paxton’s retirement song as the timing of these cards couldn’t have been more perfect.

I myself, admittedly, had hoped that the Houston Texans would draft Paxton Lynch. He had some amazing tape coming out of college. I do not know why Lynch wasn’t able to stick his landing in professional football though I’d guess it might have to do with him relying too much on his athleticism and not enough on learning the playbook.

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NFL
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USFL
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XFL
NFL, usfl, XFL

Ta’Amu, Jordan

TNT XFL 2023 Custom
Topps XFL 2020, Future Stars #14
Topps XFL 2020, #116

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 GREEN 43/99, Topps XFL 2020 Stars of the Future, Topps NOW 2020 2.16.20, Topps NOW 2020 2.9.20, TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2023 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders. IP, 2024 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders.
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The Kansas City Chiefs

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jordan Ta’Amu played college ball for Ole Miss from 2017-’18.
  • In 2 years he was 381/591 for 5,600 yards, 30 TDs and 12 picks.
  • Based on his limited resume at QB he went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
  • He was a camp arm for the Texans that year for roughly the month of August.
  • Afterwards he decided to try his hand in the XFL in 2020 and was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks.
  • He had an exceptional start to his season, showing poise with his arm and opportunistic legs, but before he could finish his season, the XFL ended due to COVID.
  • Signed with the Chiefs in April of ’20, and was a member of the practice squad through October.
  • Joined the Lions PS, but was resigned to the Chiefs in ’21 through a futures contract.
  • Jordan had cups of coffee with the Lions (again), Redskins, and Panthers, before landing with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 2022.
  • He finished as the league’s leader in passing yards (2,014) and TDs (14).
  • Ta’amu joined the XFL23 as a member of the DC Defenders.
  • He’d lead the team to the XFL Championship game, throwing for 1,894 yards and 14 TDs.
  • In August of 2023, he’d again be brought in briefly- this time by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • As a late addition, Jordan returned to the Defenders for the 2024 season.
  • He finished with 1,846 yards passing, and 15 TDs- both ranking second in the UFL.
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #11
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #7

ACCOLADES:

  • XFL Offensive Player of the Year 2023
  • All-XFL 2023

NOTES:

Before the game I had spotted the Ta’Amu family wearing matching jerseys. I keyed in on them figuring that they’d know where to go to be able to get close enough to get his autograph. After the game the Defenders were lingering after their victory so I wandered over to their side and picked up an autograph from Santos Ramirez. The gatekeepers of the Alamodome were getting more aggressive about telling me to leave but I ignored them as long as possible. Santos was shocked he had a card so I gambled he wouldn’t mind slipping over to get Jordan on his base card.

After I secured the autograph much to Santos’ credit, I went outside and found the team busses. His family was waiting outside there and told me that he wouldn’t have a problem signing the rest of my cards if I just hung out long enough. We talked about his career and they told me that he’d hoped to have played closer to Texas than Washington but he was happy to be playing. They all admired his limited print Topps XFL NOW 2020 cards- and when he came out he said hello to them and he signed the remaining cards including an additional one I gifted to my friend Mark- of Mark’s Signing Bonus. A big win for me as Ta’Amu doesn’t sign TTM.

In 2024, the Brahmas first game was against the Defenders at home. I printed out my custom XFL card and was able to get him to sign it before the game started. It was I think the only one I got signed that day, and although disappointed with the lack of a haul I got, I was happy with getting this one gem.

If I’m very lucky maybe I’ll pick up that final short run Topps NOW XFL 2023 (#22) card of him and get him to sign that too but it’s been on and off the market so many times, I’ve forgotten to purchase it.