Tag Archives: cincinnati bengals

NFL

Walter, Kevin (2)

sco10 kwalter ud09 kwalter pac09 kwalter dor&s10 kwalter long

Cards: Score 2010, Upper Deck 2009, Pacific 2009, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009
Acquired:  TTM 2014, C/o Home
Sent:     Received:
Failure:  2012, C/o The Houston Texans
See Also: Kevin Walter

The previous one I had signed before, bubbled because of the finish on the card.  After my initial luck back in 2009/2010, I tried to go back to the well again to get Walter on some more cards. He’d be cut after the 2012 season, thus ending any chance on getting his autograph on anything else.

He posted two respectable seasons in 2011 (39 receptions for 474 yards and 3 TDs) and 2012 (41 receptions for 518 yards and 2 TDs) for the Texans.  The receiver needy Tennessee Titans signed Kevin that following season, but he didn’t take a snap due to injury. Kevin would retire after the 2013 season.  He was later named to the Houston Texans’ 10th Anniversary team.

I contacted Kevin at his home address in Texas where he signed these cards for me with his amazing signature. (The postmark on the return was from New York.) He also responded by wishing me and my family well, as well.

G/GS  152/93     REC 356     YDS 4379    AVG 12.3     TD 25   LG 61T

AFL, NFL, Pro Football HoF

Joiner, Charlie

ud97lgd cjoiner
Card: Upper Deck Legends 1997
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Home
Sent: 1/2     Received:  2/2    (31 days)

Charlie Joiner played an exhaustive 18 seasons in the AFL/NFL. Originally a 4th round pick of the Houston Oilers in 1969, as a defensive back, he made the switch to wide receiver and then started 8 games in 1970. He’d record 28 receptions for 416 yards and 3 TDs, including a 87 yarder.  He’d play with the Oilers through 6 games of the 1972 season but was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Joiner spent the next 3 seasons there where he started coming into his own during the 1975 season. He’d pull down 37 receptions for 726 yards and 5 TDs.  The Bengals then traded him to the Chargers, where Charlie became the perfect fit for Air Coryell’s West Coast Offense catching passes from young Dan Fouts. In the midst of the ‘Dead Ball Era’, Charlie had 50 receptions for 1056 yards and 7 TDs -earning his first Pro Bowl nomination. He’d return to form in 1979 with a career high 72 receptions and 1008 yards with his second Pro Bowl berth.  The following year in 1980, Charlie earned his final Pro Bowl trip, and his first and only All-Pro Honor with 70 receptions for 1132 yards and 7 TDs. While he’d log a career high 1,188 yards in 1981, he did not earn any additional honors for the remainder of his career.  Joiner personified longevity in a league meant to break people.  He continued to play for the Chargers until his retirement after the 1986 season.  His 239 games played as a wide receiver, receptions, and yards, were NFL records at the time of his retirement.

G/GS  239/211      REC 750       YDS 12146     AVG 16.2    TD 65   LG 87

NFL

Hawk, AJ

sco09 ajhawk ad10 ajhawk

Cards: Score 2009, Adrenalyn 2009
Acquired: TTM 2015, C/o Home
Sent: 10/13        Received: 10/29     (16 days)

AJ Hawk was a member of the 2006 NFL draft which had some storied players in it. Expectations were high for the class and comparisons were drawn between this draft and the 1989 and 1985 classes respectively.  The first surprise of the day was dropped by the Texans who did not draft either Reggie Bush or home town favorite Vince Young, but DE Mario Williams.  After D’Brickshaw Ferguson was taken off the board by the New York Jets, the defensive needy Packers drafted AJ Hawk out of Ohio State with the 5th pick.

AJ played in 51 games at Ohio State collecting 394 tackles (196 solo), 41 stops for a loss, 15½ sacks, seven INTs,  and three forced fumbles.
The colorful Hawk became an instant fan favorite in Green Bay for not only his aggressive style of play but his colorful personality and creative haircuts. His rookie season was outstanding as Hawk finished 3rd in voting for defensive rookie of the year honors after recording 119 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions.  He’d play for the Packers for the next 8 additional seasons- logging 4 additional 100+ tackle seasons.  In 2015 AJ was released from the Packers under amicable terms.  At the time of his departure, Hawk was the franchise’s all-time leading tackler with 1,030 combined tackles. He signed with the Bengals and played in 11 games,  making 16 tackles and a sack.

AJ is a passionate podcaster and web enthusiast. You can visit his website at thehawkcast.com