Tag Archives: atlanta legends

AAF, NFL

Robinson, Denard ‘Shoelace’

Topps 2013, #133

CARDS: Topps 2013, Sage 2013, Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: 2019, C/o EBay
2020, C/o The Jacksonville Jaguars
Sent: 11/4/20 Received: 11/20/21 (381 days)
Failure: 2020, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • In 2010, became the first player in NCAA history to pass for over 2,500 yards and rush for over 1,500 in a single year.
  • Finest moment came that year in a game against Notre Dame, accounting for 502 of the Wolverine’s 532 yards.
  • Had 3 games passing and rushing for 200+ yards each.
  • Completed college career passing for 6250 yards and 49 TDs, while rushing 723 times for 4495 yards and 42 TDs.
  • 5th round selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013.
  • Played 4 seasons for the Jaguars, after converting to RB.
  • Best season came in 2014, rushing 135 times for 582 yards and 4 TDs, while catching 23 receptions for 124 yards.
  • Injuries derailed development at the end of the 2014 season, lasting into 2015, allowing for TJ Yeldon to take starting job.
  • After trying out for the Bears in 2018, remained in playing shape and signed with the Atlanta Legends of the AAF for 2019. 
  • Played 7 games for the Legends, seeing 24 carries for 66 yards and a TD, and caught 7 passes for 37 yards, but finished on IR as the league ceased operations.
  • Robinson has begun a coaching career, and after briefly serving at Jacksonville University, is currently on the staff of the Jacksonville Jaguars front office.
Topps AAF 2019, #AU-DR
Topps AAF 2019, #26

ACCOLADES:

  • Set NCAA record for most yards rushing by a QB (4,495)
  • 2010 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year
SAGE Hit 2013, #117

NOTES:

Denard was pretty easy to find on the web, but he wouldn’t sign from home. It took him a while to get back to me, but it appears he signs his fanmail once a year through the Jags right now.

I was pretty disappointed in the Topps AAF 2019 entry. The fact that the certified is just the same as the base card minus a few effects is quite lazy.

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AAF, NFL, XFL

Freeman, KeShun

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: 2019, Washington Defenders Open House

KeShun Freeman was a 4 year starter at defensive end for the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. A captain for the team, he posted 159 total tackles, 8 sacks, 20.5 tackles for loss, 4 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles.

Keshun joined the New Orleans Saints in training camp in 2018, but did not make the squad. He then played for the Atlanta Legends of the AAF where they let him continue to hone his craft more as a tweener. Freeman finished with 14 tackles and .5 sacks in 8 games before the league folded in April of 2019.

Keshun started for the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2020 seeing action at defensive end, outside linebacker and middle linebacker. An integral member on special teams, he finished with 17 tackles in 5 games for the Defenders solid defense.

I really liked Keshun’s card and it was high on my list to get autographed. I have made a few friends on Twitter, and after the collapse of the AAF, became fast friends with a fellow football historian. He had season tickets to the Defenders and offered to get autographs for me, which I excitedly jumped at. It goes to prove that kindness and charity are not done for yet.

AAF, NFL

Murray, Aaron

Cards: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: 2019, EBay. 2019, TTM. IP 2020, Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Bay Vipers Joint Practice
Sent: 5/15 Received: 7/25 (71 days)
Failure: TTM 2014 C/o The Kansas City Chiefs, TTM 2019, C/o The Atlanta Legends.

Aaron Murray played college ball at Georgia from 2009 to 2013 . A prolific passer, Murray threw for 13,166 yards and 121 TDs for the Bulldogs. Along the way he set numerous SEC passing records, and was the 2013 Capital One Bowl MVP. He parlayed his efforts into a 5th round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014.

Aaron made the squad but didn’t see any significant playing time. He’d be cut in 2016 and then bounce around from the Cardinals practice squad to the Eagles practice squad, and then in 2017 briefly with the Rams.

After a brief hiatus, it was rumored that Aaron was planning to join the Alliance of American Football. He signed with the Atlanta Legends and then was subsequently protected by the team with the second overall pick of the 2018 Pick or Protect AAF Draft.

The Legends were a team in constant flux early in camp and into the season. Head Coach Brad Childress departed shortly into camp. Offensive Coordinator Mike Vick also was reassigned. The offensive playcaller- Rich Bartel- who took over as the OC departed after the 3rd game. Thankfully venerable Ken Zampese stepped in and filled the role through the dissolution of the league.

Murray was unseated as starter by Matt Simms going into the first contest against Orlando. He’d remain on the bench until the 4th contest of the season when the Legends played the Hotshots. With Simms ailing, and the Legends sitting at 0-3, Aaron came in and led Atlanta to a 14-11 victory. He’d go 20 of 33 for 254 yards and run 7 times for 54 yards in the upset. The following week, Murray was on fire, going 27/43 for 306 yards and a TD against the Express.

Murray was brought back down to Earth by the Commanders in Week 6, and a head injury in Week 7 against Orlando didn’t help matters much.

In the final contest against Birmingham, Aaron split QB duties with Simms starting the first half and Murray wrapping up the second half- to largely the same deflated results.

On a positive note, Aaron had the highest completion percentage in AAF history (64.8%) among qualified throwers. He’d also throw for 1048 yards 3 TDs, one 2 point conversion, and 7 picks.

I had been after Aaron since his days at Kansas City and while he was a pretty reliable signer there, I was one of the few that didn’t get anything. I tried again right after the AAF cards came out- which was almost a week before the league folded. Thankfully I did get everything RTSed from the team. Finally I decided to give him another shot via his home address. I was happy to get 1 of 2 signed by him- but I am still kicking the tires on picking up a Topps Now card of him from his win over Arizona.

Aaron later joined the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL for 2020. When the Vipers did their joint practice with the Roughnecks, I pulled two more AAF cards and decided to take a shot. I staked him out for the entire practice, and at the end, was able to get him, thanks to another fan who was able to get him over with a Georgia mini. Murray then signed these two cards for me a few seconds afterwards.