Tag Archives: chicago bears

NFL

Braverman, Daniel

Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Daniel Braverman was an outstanding receiver for the Broncos of Western Michigan- where he finished his final college season in 2015 with a career-high 1,367 yards and 13 touchdowns.  He was selected by the Bears in the 7th round of the 2016 NFL draft.  Expected to compete as a slot man, Braverman lacks nothing for the subtlety and skill required to play at the NFL level, but his size (5’10”, 177) may get him jammed out of plays.  He didn’t make the Bears final regular roster for the 2016 season, but was signed to their practice squad instead. The team promoted him to the regular season roster in November, but he didn’t see any substantial game action in 3 games.  In early 2018, Daniel signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

NFL, ufl

Grant, Charles

Card: Bowman’s Best 2002
Acquired: 2015, Target Autographed Memorabilia

Charles played 8 seasons in the NFL from 2002-2009. He recorded 424 total tackles, 47 sacks, and 16 forced fumbles over his career. He was selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the New Orleans Saints with the 25th overall pick. Over his college career at Georgia, Grant posted 136 tackles and 15 sacks. He received a Super Bowl ring for being a member of the New Orleans Saints 2009 NFL Championship run. After the season he’d be released by the team.

Charles appeared on the rosters briefly of the UFL Omaha Nighthawks, the Miami Dolphins, and Chicago Bears, before retiring in 2010. After his playing days ended, Charles has been spotted coaching football in the Baltimore area.

G/Gs  118/106        TAC  424      SAC  47.0        FUM 16
INT  1      YDS   8         AVG   8.0       TD   0        LG   8

NFL

Okoye, Amobi (2)

sco09 aokoye

Cards: Topps 2008 Magic. Score Inscriptions 2009
Acquired: 2016, EBay
See Also: Okoye, Amobi

Amobi Okoye had a rough run there after his first month in the NFL.  I am really not sure what the Texans expected out of Okoye -other than he take the league by storm.  It was a tall order for a kid, considering Okoye was the youngest player in the NFL to ever be drafted in the first round. In the end, he signed a 5 year contract with the team, but only finished out 4. With so much promise, especially after that first month, it is still surprising that Okoye is considered a bust. His best season was his rookie season when he recorded 5.5. sacks.  Amobi had a brief resurgence in 2010 with a career high 44 tackles and 3 sacks, but after that season, Amobi was cut.

He’d sign with the Chicago Bears and record 27 tackles and 4 sacks in 2011. He’d be cut in 2012 by the Bucs, but later returned for the last month of the year off the bench for the Bears again. Amobi was stricken with a rare medical condition that forced him to be induced into a 3 month coma to prevent seizures in 2013.  He spent the next 17 months battling anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, experienced a 145-day memory gap, and lost around 80  pounds.  Amazingly he returned to the practice field in late 2014, signing with the Dallas Cowboys, but was released in 2015. Later in 2016 Amobi signed with the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders, but did not see action with the squad. In 2017 he penned a Players’ Tribune piece and expressed that at 30, he still feels that he can play and contribute to a squad. I for one hope he is given that chance.