Card: SP 2012
Acquired: In person 2/24/2014, Rudy’s Ribfest 4
See Also: Fozzy Whittaker
I had gotten Fozzy at Fan Fest in Houston the previous year in 2013. He is really good with fans and at this event he was no different. After a bit of time on the practice squads of both the Cardinals and Chargers, he signed with the Browns where he remained the rest of the year.
A change in winds for the Browns led to questions about the roster from top to bottom. With Pat Shurmur sacked after 2012, and then Chudzinski in 2013, the Browns were looking in a new direction with former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. In the meantime Fozzy recorded his first 2 NFL touchdowns as a change of pace receiver out of the backfield, including a career long 35 yard scamper.
When I asked Fozzy about what was going to happen to the team or the offensive set, he told me that he was just as in the dark as I was- but he was super excited for the future. Unfortunately he’d be one of the final cuts in 2014, but quickly found a home with the Carolina Panthers where as of midway through 2014 he remains.
Card: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: In Person, 5/3/2014 Talons vs. Barnstormers.
I was really happy with how this card design turned out. I used a posterization effect to go along with the expanded cut out. It looks great for this card and balances out the busyness of the background. DJ was one of the many players that I contacted through Twitter with their card design before attending the Talons game about a month later. Some fans were so excited about them that they asked me how they could get a copy of the card and were stunned I had done them myself. It’s a real high compliment to have fans of your work, but it doesn’t pay the bills.
Through the 2014 season, DJ played his entire career for the Talons. He joined the franchise in 2012 and has seen an increasing presence on the team at receiver. Graduating from Arkansas-Monticello Stephens had 689 yards and 9 touchdowns on 68 receptions in 2011. A dangerous kick returner, Stephens had 4 scores in 30 kicks in 2013, to go along with 55 catches for 738 yards and 13 TDs.
2014 was DJ’s coming of age in the AFL. He set team records with 11 receptions in the team’s opener against the LA KISS. The team liked the combo of DJ and PJ so much they went ahead and traded Jomo back to Jacksonville. Stephens earned the J. Lewis Small Player of the Week award from the league after setting franchise records with 229 yards in the Talons loss to the Iowa Barnstormers and led the league in all-purpose yardage (1,007) after week 5. Stephens season came to a frustrating end as injury held him out of the final 5 contests.
Card: Fleer Ultra 1993
Acquired: Canton Acquisition, 2012
A so well-regarded center coming out of college in 1980, the Buffalo Bills drafted Jim Ritcher in the first round out of NC State. It almost didn’t come to pass, but coach Lou Holtz at the time had the ‘veer’ offense, which required an extremely mobile center. Ritcher was signed by the college to play defense, and had to make the adjustment (- never having played even on the offensive line during high school,) but by the end of his senior season in 1979, he’d win the Outland Trophy for being college’s best lineman.
The Bills liked him at guard so he moved there and Jim became a fixture for the team blocking up front for great backs like Joe Cribbs and Thurman Thomas. It took a while for the Bills to get to a point where they’d contend again, and after some some really lean years Ritcher was the last Bill standing from the original 1980 team when the team reached its first of 4 Superbowl appearances in 1990. By this time the offensive line consisted of Wolford, Hull, Davis, and Ballard- an impressive group. In 1991 and 1992 he’d be honored with Pro Bowl nominations and played for the franchise through 1993. Ritcher moved to Atlanta and finished his career there after the 1995 season.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
Card: SP 2012
