Tag Archives: Atlanta Falcons

NFL, University of Texas, wfl

Talbert, Don

phomem dontalbertutud11 dontalbert

Card: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011, Photograph Memorabilia
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 12/28/15   Received:   1/11/16  (14 days)

The Talberts (Charlie, Don, and Diron) were a family line that infused the University of Texas during the 50s and 60s with raw talent. Don Talbert, the eldest of the clan, 6’5″, 210, was a two way star playing both offensive line and defensive line for the Longhorns from 1959 to 1961. He was a co-team captain and earned All SWC and All-American Honors after the 1961 season.

Don was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in 1961, where he played both sides of the line.  (He was also selected in the 34th round of the AFL draft by the Houston Oilers, but declined their offer.) After serving 2 years in Vietnam, he returned to the Cowboys in 1965. Don was selected by the expansion Atlanta Falcons in 1966 where he grew into starter material until he was traded to the Saints in 1969.  After two seasons blocking up front for New Orleans, Don was traded again- this time back to Dallas.  Talbert played for the Cowboys through 1973 and won a Super Bowl ring (VI).

Don joined the upstart WFL in 1974 as a member of the original Houston Texans. (The franchise did not last the year and moved to Shreveport where it was renamed the Steamer.) He’d retire after the season concluded.

Don signed this UT card of his in a very short time. He also mailed me this signed photo memorabilia as well. For a while there after football Don was owner and president of Talbert Investments- specializing in real estate out of Houston.

G/Gs 103/33

NFL

Jarrett, Grady

Card: Sage 2015
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Grady Jarrett played for the Clemson Tigers from 2011-2014. The Tigers have really poised themselves as a pipeline for future defensive line NFL talent over the last 5-10 years. Grady was no exception. Over his college career playing at defensive tackle, Grady finished with 144 total tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.

Considered undersized, the Atlanta Falcons selected Grady in the 5th round of the 2015 NFL draft. He was considered a ‘value pick’. Grady started 2 games his rookie season and posted a sack, 13 tackles, and 11 assists playing primarily nose tackle. In 2016, he was shifted to defensive tackle. In 14 starts Grady put up 21 tackles, 27 assists, and 3 sacks.

It’d be during Superbowl  LI that Grady shined. On the big stage he tied a Super Bowl record, sacking quarterback Tom Brady 3 times. If not for the Patriots furious comeback, Jarrett could’ve been the big game’s MVP.  He’d return for a full slate of games and record 34 tackles, 21 assists, and 4 sacks in 2017.

NFL

Yates, TJ (2)

Cards:  Sage HIT 2011, Sage 2011 Duo Autograph, Playoff 2011, Sage 2011
Acquired: 2017, EBay
See Also: TJ Yates

Reliable Matt Schaub took the majority of the snaps in 2012, with the Texans posting a 12-4 record, losing in the playoffs during the Divisional Round to the Patriots. TJ Yates rode the bench as the primary backup to Matt, and just threw 10 passes that year.

Things were business as usual riding into 2013, but after winning their first two games, the wheels just fell off the Texans wagon, primarily due to quarterback play. Teams either figured Schaub out, or his lins franc injury was worse than anybody thought.  The Texans cycled through Schaub to Yates and then finally to Case Keenum. TJ saw action in 3 games going 15 of 22 for 113 yards and 2 interceptions.  It was a surprising fall for the once mighty team as the Texans slumped to 2-14. After the season ended, the team cleared house releasing Gary Kubiak‘s coaching staff and hiring Bill O’Brien in his place for 2014.

With BO’B the Texans opted to go with a ‘multiple’ offensive set. While the team liked Yates, they traded him to the Atlanta Falcons for LB Akeem Dent. He’d get a little playing time in behind Matt Ryan going 3 of 4 for 64 yards and an interception, but be on the street the following season. That’s when fate intervened again.

It was October and the phone rang. On the other end of the line was a familiar voice. It was Rick Smith, GM of the Texans, and he wanted TJ Yates to come back to play QB for the Texans again.  You see, the Texans were just passing the buck on their quarterback issues. After trading veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to the Jets, Brian Hoyer was the man of the hour in 2015. Backing him up was screwball Ryan Mallett.  The problem was, Hoyer was oft injured, and they already knew what a basket case they had in Mallett, so the Texans needed to shore up their QB play badly.

The Texans in the meantime were middling. Going into the bye week they were 3-5, and facing a familiar opponent in Week 10: The Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals were undefeated going into the Sunday night game, and all the ESPN ‘gurus’ selected them to win, so for the Texans to pull this one off, they’d need divine intervention or… TJ Yates.

True to form Hoyer got a concussion during the contest. TJ Yates trotted onto the field with 3 weeks study under his belt, shook off the rust like it was December 11th, 2010 all over again, and led the Texans to victory.  He’d throw a TD strike in the 4th quarter to DeAndre Hopkins to seal the win 10-6.  After the game, players gushed about Yates. Ironman left tackle Duane Brown said to Yates, “Let your legend grow,” and JJ Watt quipped that, “Everytime we play in this stadium we should have TJ start.”  TJ turned things around for the Texans winning the next game against the Jets, but during his 3rd game against the Colts, tore his ACL scrambling out of the pocket. His season was over.  Yates finished 28/57 for 370 yards, with 3 TDs to 1 pick.

In 2016, TJ signed with the Miami Dolphins suiting up for 6 games, but did not see any playing time. He continued his mercenary QB for hire act, and signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he was expected to vie for playing time behind starter Tyrod Taylor competing against rookie Nathan Peterman for 2017. He’d be cut with an injury settlement, but as fate would have it, TJ had another stint in him- with the Houston Texans.

The wheels fell off the Texans bandwagon early. Tom Savage, while solid in relief of Brock Osweiler, turned out not to be the answer in 2017. It was rookie QB Deshaun Watson who lit the league on fire, but a freak ACL tear in practice ended his season around the mid-point. The Texans signed Yates to back up Savage.  – It was shades of 2013 all over again…

After Tom Savage suffered a brutal hit during the San Fransisco game that gave him a concussion, TJ was forced into service again. Although he did not lead the team to a win, he threw 2 TDs during the contest.  TJ started the remainder of the season for the Texans, but there was no magic bullet this time for the team, as injuries had destroyed any hope for the team making a comeback some time ago.