Tag Archives: Carolina Panthers

Arena, NFL

Conner, Darion

Gameday 1992, #7

CARDS: Action Packed 1991, Gameday 1992, Skybox 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3 RECEIVED: 1/30 (27 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Darion Conner was a 3 time All-Southwestern Athletic Conference Selection out of Jackson State.
  • In 1989 posted 12.5 sacks and 130 tackles.
  • Second round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1990, Conner was prized for his versatility.
  • Settled at ROLB, and in first 3 seasons went over 100 tackles each year.
  • In 1994, played one season for the Saints, and had a career high 10.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception for 56 yards.
  • 1995 saw him take his skill set to Carolina, where he added another 7.0 sacks to his resume as an original member of the Panthers.
  • After two largely fruitless seasons in Philadelphia (’96-’97), Darion was signed by the ‘original but new’ Cleveland Browns.
  • Didn’t play a down for the team, so he decided to take his skills to the Arena Football League in 1999 playing OL/DL.
  • Connor was an impactful player in Arena Football.
  • He’d play with the Tampa Bay Storm through 2005.
  • Connor’s football career ended abruptly after he committed DUI-manslaughter and vehiculuar homicide.
  • He was sentenced to 15 years in prison- of which, he has paid his debt to society and is now a free man.
Action Packed 1991, #4
Skybox 1992, #126

NOTES:

Darion signed all three of these cards for me masterfully with a silver sharpie. The Skybox card looks incredible.

TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
51933.0515656.0056
NFL
TACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
4411.0500-.-0-.-
ARENA
NFL, usfl, XFL

Ta’Amu, Jordan

TNT XFL 2023 Custom
Topps XFL 2020, Future Stars #14
Topps XFL 2020, #116

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 GREEN 43/99, Topps XFL 2020 Stars of the Future, Topps NOW 2020 2.16.20, Topps NOW 2020 2.9.20, TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2023 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders. IP, 2024 San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders.
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The Kansas City Chiefs

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jordan Ta’Amu played college ball for Ole Miss from 2017-’18.
  • In 2 years he was 381/591 for 5,600 yards, 30 TDs and 12 picks.
  • Based on his limited resume at QB he went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
  • He was a camp arm for the Texans that year for roughly the month of August.
  • Afterwards he decided to try his hand in the XFL in 2020 and was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks.
  • He had an exceptional start to his season, showing poise with his arm and opportunistic legs, but before he could finish his season, the XFL ended due to COVID.
  • Signed with the Chiefs in April of ’20, and was a member of the practice squad through October.
  • Joined the Lions PS, but was resigned to the Chiefs in ’21 through a futures contract.
  • Jordan had cups of coffee with the Lions (again), Redskins, and Panthers, before landing with the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL in 2022.
  • He finished as the league’s leader in passing yards (2,014) and TDs (14).
  • Ta’amu joined the XFL23 as a member of the DC Defenders.
  • He’d lead the team to the XFL Championship game, throwing for 1,894 yards and 14 TDs.
  • In August of 2023, he’d again be brought in briefly- this time by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • As a late addition, Jordan returned to the Defenders for the 2024 season.
  • He finished with 1,846 yards passing, and 15 TDs- both ranking second in the UFL.
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #11
Topps XFL NOW 2020, #7

ACCOLADES:

  • XFL Offensive Player of the Year 2023
  • All-XFL 2023

NOTES:

Before the game I had spotted the Ta’Amu family wearing matching jerseys. I keyed in on them figuring that they’d know where to go to be able to get close enough to get his autograph. After the game the Defenders were lingering after their victory so I wandered over to their side and picked up an autograph from Santos Ramirez. The gatekeepers of the Alamodome were getting more aggressive about telling me to leave but I ignored them as long as possible. Santos was shocked he had a card so I gambled he wouldn’t mind slipping over to get Jordan on his base card.

After I secured the autograph much to Santos’ credit, I went outside and found the team busses. His family was waiting outside there and told me that he wouldn’t have a problem signing the rest of my cards if I just hung out long enough. We talked about his career and they told me that he’d hoped to have played closer to Texas than Washington but he was happy to be playing. They all admired his limited print Topps XFL NOW 2020 cards- and when he came out he said hello to them and he signed the remaining cards including an additional one I gifted to my friend Mark- of Mark’s Signing Bonus. A big win for me as Ta’Amu doesn’t sign TTM.

In 2024, the Brahmas first game was against the Defenders at home. I printed out my custom XFL card and was able to get him to sign it before the game started. It was I think the only one I got signed that day, and although disappointed with the lack of a haul I got, I was happy with getting this one gem.

If I’m very lucky maybe I’ll pick up that final short run Topps NOW XFL 2023 (#22) card of him and get him to sign that too but it’s been on and off the market so many times, I’ve forgotten to purchase it.

NFL

Dyson, Kevin

Upper Deck MVP 2002, #240
Atomic 2001, #140

CARDS: Upper Deck MVP 2002, Atomic 2001, SP Authentic 2001
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 7/8 RECEIVED: 12/5 (150 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played WR for the University of Utah from 1993-’97.
  • Caught 192 passes for 2,726 yards and 18 touchdowns.
  • First round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 1998.
  • Caught 21 passes for 263 yards and 2 TDs his rookie season.
  • Had a career high 54 catches in 1999.
  • Caught the lateral from Frank Wycheck in the Music City Miracle.
  • Then was stopped one yard short of the goal line in the closing moments of Super Bowl XXIV.
  • After an injury in 2000 limited him to two games, returned to form in 2001 and tied his career high with 54 receptions, along with 825 yards and 7 TDs.
  • Joined the Panthers in 2003, but spent most of the season on IR.
  • Spent the off season with the Chargers (’04) and Redskins (’05).
  • Went back to school, obtaining his doctorate, spending time in coaching, and education.
SP 2001, #85

NOTES:

Every once in a while I’m just surprised by an older card set I’ve discovered. Case in point- SP 2001. Simple, elegant, lots of space to work with.. it’s just great design, and the landscape format helps make autographs pop and look more cinematic.