Tag Archives: buffalo bills

CFL, NFL

Wood, Cierre

Card: Panini Contenders 2013
Acquired: 2017, EBay

Cierre Wood was a solid runningback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 2010-2013. In his Sophomore year he led the team with 603 yards on 119 carries, scoring 3 TDs. He also displayed nice hands out of the backfield with 20 receptions for 170 yards and 2 TDs. Cierre put together a solid Junior year, with 1,102 yards and 9 TDs on 217 carries. He returned for his Senior campaign in 2013 and posted 742 yards on 114 carries. Scouts were underwhelmed by Wood’s blocking, questioned his ball security, and were concerned about a suspension for breaking team rules during his Senior season. He went unselected during the 2013 NFL Draft.

Cierre signed with the Houston Texans for 2013. The Texans were in transition at runningback and beginning to seek a future heir for Arian Foster. With Foster oft-injured, Ben Tate locked into the second string job and the departure of Justin Forsett to greener pastures, it was a straight up battle between Dennis Johnson, Cierre Wood, and Ray Graham for the 3rd back spot. In the end Wood won out on the runningback derby.  The Texans kicked off the season 2-0, but then dropped the next 14 games. It was really a snakebitten squad. Injuries abound, quarterback issues, Kubiak having a heart attack during a game- it was just one thing after another. In the midst of the descent Cierre was released with two other players for violating unspecified team rules. He’d finish the season on the practice squad of the New England Patriots.

In 2014, Cierre spent some time on the rosters of both the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He joined the Buffalo Bills in 2015 but blew out an ACL, ending his season.  Wood rehabbed and decided to give the CFL a shot, signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2017. In early May he was traded to the Montreal Alouettes but did not make the squad.

Panini’s Contenders set is always pretty solid. I found the split design of this particular card to be both daring and unique as there are very few column grid cards like this one. The photo is touched up well and it’s a solid action shot of Cierre. Even the typography of this card looks good, and there is plenty of space for the autograph.

NFL

Williams, Jonathan

Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Jonathan Williams played runninback for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 2012 to 2014.  Every year Jonathan’s numbers improved culminating in his junior year in which he had 211 carries for 1190 yards and 12 TDs.  After sitting out his entire senior year due to a foot injury, Williams was selected in the 5th round of the 2016 NFL Draft.  He’d play sparingly over the course of his rookie season rushing for 94 yards, and scoring his first touchdown against the New England Patriots. Jonathan was cut in 2017, and quickly found a home with the Broncos on their practice squad.  Soon thereafter the New Orleans Saints stepped in, and signed Jonathan to a two year deal off of Denver’s practice squad. Currently, Jonathan is a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

NFL, The Spring League

Dixon, Anthony ‘Boobie’

Card: Panini Threads 2010
Acquired: 2017, Walmart Autographed Memorabilia

Selected in the 6th round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of  Mississippi State, Anthony Dixon was quite a surprise for the San Fransisco 49ers.  The power back made the roster after the sudden retirement of Glen Coffee, by putting together one of the best preseasons in NFL history, rushing 74 times for 300 yards and 4 TDs.

Dixon pretty much backed up Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook during the season, but still managed to carve out 70 carries for 237 yards and 2 TDs in 2010. He spent the majority of the remainder of his 49er career on special teams, signing with the Bills in 2014.

He had his most productive year with the Bills, rushing 105 times for 432 yards and 2 TDs, including a career long 47 yard jaunt. Boobie also earned Special Teams Player of the Week Honors in Week 12 after he blocked a Jets’ punt. A lingering calf injury cratered his 2015 campaign and he was released in 2016.

After spending the entire season out of football, Anthony signed with the Spring League to showcase his talents to NFL and CFL scouts in 2017. He split time at runningback and fullback and had a 45 yard TD run and was considered one of the league’s standout players. Currently he remains a free agent.