Tag Archives: Arizona Cardinals

NFL

Dillard, Jarett

Card: Sage 2009
Acquired: 2018 Box Breaker, Walmart Autographed Memorabilia

Jarett Dillard played for the Rice Owls back in 2005. He posted 3 1,000+ yard seasons back-to-back-to-back. In both 2006 and 2008 he had 21 and 20 touchdowns receiving- respectively.  Dillard owned many of the receiving records at the school upon his graduation. He finished his collegiate career with 4,138 yards on 292 catches and a whopping 60 touchdowns receiving- an NCAA record.

Jarett was selected in the 5th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars.  (At 5-10, 185, it was thought that Dillard could not stand the rigors of a full NFL season.) During  his rookie season he logged 6 catches for 106 yards, before suffering a season ending broken ankle. Dillard’s season was ended before he even played a down in 2010, when he injured his foot and was placed on IR. In 2011, he started 5 games and caught 29 passes for 292 yards and his only professional TD – an 11 yard pass from Blaine Gabbert in a 17-3 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

The following year in 2012, Jarett was released before training camp. He’d sign with the Lions but not make the final cut. Dillard signed with the Cardinals in 2013, but again failed to make the final roster.

Jarett retired and went into practicing law, specifically: Construction litigation, contract disputes, and alternative dispute resolution, to go along with Mechanic’s lien filings… both domestic and international.

So every once in a while I pick up a Walmart or Target Autographed memorabilia hangar box. It’s a cheap frill, that keeps the autograph beast at bay for a few days while I wait for a TTM to arrive. Typically they do not hold very much of value. I like the Walmart ones just a bit more because they typically have one autograph and one bonus patch along with 4 packs of cards. In this box I got not only this autographed Jarrett Dillard card, but also a patch card- autographed by Christine Michael. Not a bad find for 10 bucks.

G/Gs   21/5        Rec 35         Yds 398            Avg 11.4          Td 1         Lg 33

NFL

Swearinger, DJ (2)

Card: Panini Contenders 2013
Acquired: 2017, EBay
See Also: DJ Swearinger

To say that DJ Swagg’s career went off the rails with the Texans would be an understatement.  After the tumultuous 2013 season, the Texans coaching staff was cleared out. In the meantime DJ started 12 games and contributed 2 interceptions, 6 pass deflections,  3 forced fumbles, a sack, and 52 tackles in 2014.

He’d be a surprising cut in 2015, and the Texans attempted to stay mum on the situation, but as these things go, somebody leaked to the media that Swagg refused to play special teams because of his lofty draft status (2nd round). Swagg was claimed by the Bucs for the season. He’d contribute in 7 games, forcing a fumble, and recording 8 tackles, before joining the Cardinals for 4 games.  Arizona liked what they saw, and employed DJ in almost every safety capacity they could use him in during 2016.  In 12 starts, he’d post 56 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions.  DJ signed a 3 year contract with the Washington Redskins in 2017 where he is expected to be their starting strong safety. He started all 16 games and posted his best year as a pro, lodging 79 tackles, .5 sacks, 10 pass deflections, and 4 interceptions for 32 yards. So far in 2018 he has put together a banner year for the Redskins improved defensive alignment balling out against the Giants recording 2 picks.

The 2013 Panini Contenders set had pretty solid, if not ordinary, design to it.  It’s purely designed in strong rectangles that break down the canvas into workable columns. The vertical autograph field is also somewhat unique. DJ’s autograph however, looks tired and sloppy on this card. The 2013 NFL draft was a terrible, terrible draft for the Texans of their 9 picks, only 3 players remain from that pool on the team.

NFL

Niklas, Troy ‘Hercules’

Card: Leaf Draft 2014
Acquired: 2014, Box Breaker

Troy Niklas was the back up to wonder TE Tyler Eifert while at Notre Dame.  He played 3 years at the school from 2011 to 2013.  Niklas played his Freshman year at linebacker, but realizing his talent and having a need at tight end, coaches decided to move Troy to the offensive side of the ball. He came on strong during his Junior year in 2013 when he recorded 32 receptions for 498 yards and 5 touchdowns. Troy was selected in the 2nd round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.  Injuries however have derailed most of his career.  He had his first professional touchdown during week 6 of 2015 on a 13 yard reception. The Cards used him in sort of an H-Back role in 2017. In 11 starts he had 11 receptions for 132 yards and a TD. With the apparent emergence of Ricky Jones-Seals at tight end during the course of the season, Niklas was allowed to test the free agent waters in 2018 and signed with the Patriots. Currently he’s a free agent.

So this and another autographed card, I was digging through the collection and realized that I had never uploaded them (or I had uploaded them and something happened on the production side with my website and they were removed). Better late than never 4 years or so later! Guess it is time to do an inventory.