While the address I sent to was a PO Box in California, the cards came back postmarked from Hawaii. I think a first for me after all these years. Todd was right there at the cusp of it all with the cards in 1991. Wasn’t really a big fan of this design of Classic. In fact I laughed at it because of the camo, but strangely its grown on me over the years. Both of these cards have superior photography to support the design.
Cards: Score 2009, Score 2010, Topps Prime 2010, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Longevity, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2009 Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Work Sent:11/12/18 Received: 7/9/19 (239 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Austin Collie played WR at BYU in 2004, 2007, and 2008.
In 2008, he smashed school records and led the conference with 106 catches for 1,538 yards and 15 TDs.
He’d be selected in the 4th round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
In Austin’s rookie season he battled Pierre Garcon for the starting position in the slot.
Collie finished with 676 yards on 60 catches, scoring 7 TDs.
In 2010, Collie caught 58 passes for 649 yards and 8 TDs in 9 games, but suffered two concussions in non-consecutive games- shortening and eventually ending his season.
Rolling into 2011, with Peyton Manning on IR, the team trotted out Curtis Painter initially, but later saw both Dan Orlovsky and Kerry Collins take snaps at QB.
Collie’s numbers suffered, as his yards per reception dropped (9.5) and his TD catches plummeted (1).
He’d again suffer a concussion during the 2012 NFL season, and later during the regular season- a season ending knee injury.
Signed with the 49ers, but didn’t make it through the final roster cuts.
Joined the Patriots and was on and off the roster throughout the 2013 season catching 6 passes for 63 yards on the season.
After a year out of football, Collie played in the CFL for the BC Lions in 2015.
On the season, he caught 43 passes for 439 yards and 7 TDs.
Retired in 2018 and currently works in the medical field treating concussions.
NOTES:
I don’t recall sending Austin a Topps Prime 2010, so it was nice of him to include it with the bevy of cards I sent to him- which covered all my set needs during that period and as well as the additional 2009 Upper Deck Star Rookies card.
CARD: Wildcard World League 1992 ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023 FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o Work
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Eddie Brown played WR at Iowa State where he racked up 27 catches for 562 yards and 5 TDs in 22 contests.
Undrafted he’d play in the CFL in 1990 and ’91 as an import player for the Stamps and the Rough Riders.
In 1992 he took his game to the Sacramento Surge of the World League, where he led the league in receiving and set records for yards in a season.
After the Surge won World Bowl II and the World League went on hiatus, Brown went right back to the CFL playing for the Argos that year but not seeing the field.
It was with the Esks that Eddie really found a home and hit his stride, playing with the team from 1993-’95.
He pounded out back to back 1000+ yard seasons, including a career high 1,378 yards and 15 TDs in ’93, and a career high 79 catches in ’94.
As part of the CFLUSA invasion in ’95, he’d split his time with the Memphis Mad Dogs and the Esks that year.
In ’96 he returned to Edmonton for another 2 year stint.
He’d return to form that season with another 70 cathces for 1,325 yards and 7 TDs.
He’d also go down in Grey Cup and CFL lore for making an incredible, juggling catch for a TD in a snow covered stadium during the ’96 contest.
After a small stint with the Alouettes in ’98, Eddie saw a renaissance of sorts playing out on the left coast with BC through ’99.
Downtown took his game to the Arena Football League, playing one year with the Iowa Barnstormers in 2000 catching 11 TDs on 39 receptions.
By the end of the year he was back in the CFL playing for Toronto.
A small hiatus in 2001, led him back to Renegades for his final season in 2002.
Infamously walked off during a game, frustrated with the team’s lack of focus on getting into the playoffs and never looked back.
Has been a positional coach in the Ottawa area for almost 10 years.
ACCOLADES:
All World League 1991
CFL All-Star 1996
CFL West All-Star 1996, ’99
NOTES:
I had been eyeballing this card for a few years on EBay and decided to lowball offer the seller. To my surprise he accepted- and Eddie Brown was soon to be mine. I’m not a big fan of ball point pen autographs but I can’t complain since the last time I sent to him I basically overpaid and flushed Canadian postage down the toilet.
Eddie ‘Downtown’ Brown, is not to be confused with Eddie ‘Touchdown’ Brown- former Arena football star and father to former NFL receiver Antonio Brown. He is also not to be confused with former Bengals WR Eddie ‘Downtown’ Brown either.
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
532
8663
16.3
60
78
CFL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
48
1011
21.1
12
80t
WL
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
39
698
17.9
11
N/a
Arena
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
