Tag Archives: cleveland browns

NFL

Edwards, Braylon

Cards: Score 2009, Score 2009 Franchise, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Gold Patch
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 6/15 Received: 7/10 (25 days)

Braylon was a phenom at Michigan playing WR for the Wolverines from 2001 to 2004. He’d cross over the 1,000 yard barrier in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He’d post 97 receptions for 1,330 yards and 15 TDs in his Senior campaign as he won the Bilitnikoff award as the nation’s best receiver. With great speed and hands, Edwards was considered a top flight blue chip prospect

Braylon was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 3rd overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. After a rough rookie debut thanks to a brief holdout and a staph infection, Braylon took about half the season to break into the starting lineup. He posted 512 yards on 32 catches, 3 TDs, including an 80 yard bomb. In 2006, Braylon’s production began to ramp up with 884 yards and 6 TDs. His most impressive season came in 2007 when he rolled up 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 TDs earning a Pro Bowl nod. After a very difficult 2008 season in which Braylon saw his production drop to 873 yards on 55 receptions, he’d be traded 5 games into the 2009 season to the New York Jets. Braylon’s 2010 season saw him barely miss the 1,000 yard mark for the second time in his career with 53 catches for 904 yards and 7 TDs.

He then spent the next 3 years bouncing around the league, playing for the 49ers, Seahawks and Jets before retiring. Braylon was an exciting talent in the league, and that was evidenced in his statistics. In six of his 10 seasons, he had long catches of 65 or greater.

I had gotten the Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Gold patch and these Score cards of Braylon way back in 2012 or 2013 during Christmastime. I loved the Donruss card but was ultimately disappointed that I did not pull an autograph from the hobby box. I thought there was no chance I’d ever get it signed. So I was very surprised to see Braylon Edwards signing through the mail in 2020, but I was sorta slow footed getting these cards out the door. After a few nail biting weeks, he signed all three of these beautiful cards.

G/GsRECYDSAVGTDLG
109/92349539715.54080t
NFL, ufl

Devlin, Pat

Card: Upper Deck College Legends 2011
Acquired: 2020, EBay

Pat Devlin split his time playing for the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Delaware Fighting Blue Hens. He made the jump to play for the Blue Hens in 2009, helping guide the team to a 6-5 record while throwing for 16 TDs to 9 interceptions. Along the way he’d break multiple single game, season and career passing records at the school. Pat’s numbers really shone brightly in 2010, as he threw for 3,032 yards, 65.2% completion percentage (261/384) and 22 TDs to just 3 interceptions. Although considered by many to be a fine quarterback, he was not selected in the 2011 NFL Draft.

He signed with the Miami Dolphins and was on the team through 2014, joining the Vikings only briefly that year. The next year, Pat spent about a month with the Bears, and then later the Browns. He retired without throwing an NFL pass. Of note, the UFL tried to make a run at Pat to join their league in 2011, but due to a mandatory contract they were unable to come to terms.

Arena, NFL, XFL

Brohm, Jeff ‘J Bro’

Cards: Topps XFL 2001, Topps XFL 2001 Promo
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Purdue
Sent: 8/6/19 Received: 6/11/20 (311 days)

Jeff Brohm played quarterback for his hometown Louisville Cardinals from 1989-1993. Early on he honed his game behind future NFL quarterback Browning Nagle. Brohm took over the starting gig in 1991. After an injury ended his season early on, Jeff returned with a vengeance in 1992 throwing for 2008 yards on 297 attempts (9 TD). He’d eclipse virtually all his personal season best passing statistics in his senior campaign, going 184/304 (60.9), for 2626 yards, and 20 TDs to just 9 picks and lead the Cardinals to a victory in the Liberty Bowl over Michigan State.

He’d not be selected in the 1994 NFL Draft, but signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers, winning the 3rd string job. Jeff then saw free agent stops with the Washington Redskins (1995), and 49ers (1996-1997). With the ‘9ers, Jeff saw his only significant playing time in the NFL throwing for 353 yards and a TD over his stop with SF. Jeff then was on the rosters of the Bucs (1998), Broncos (1999) and Browns (2000).

Jeff’s football career took an unexpected turn in 2001, when he was selected to play in the upstart XFL by the Orlando Rage with the 4th overall pick. Although Jeff had a particularly successful season, going on to be the XFL’s best rated quarterback, and being named to the league’s first team squad, the offensive lines in the XFL were particularly bad, and Jeff like many other quarterbacks suffered from unnecessary sacks and quarterback hits.

During one of those games against the Maniax, he was brutally taken down, and knocked out. The hit was so brutal, his helmet was turned and he had to be taken to the hospital. Amazingly though he returned near the end of the game with a neck brace on and watched from the sidelines. He amazingly started 6 days later and was asked by a sideline reporter his reaction to playing that day. Brohm had an epic and fiery response.

Let me answer that question by asking you two questions – One, is this or is this not the XFL? Yes, it is. Two, do I or do I not currently have a pulse? Yes, I do. Let’s play football.

-Jeff Brohm

A shoulder injury however near the end of the season, ended his career and potentially a return to the NFL. After that lone season in the XFL concluded, Jeff moved into the coaching ranks, starting with his hometown Louisville Fire of the Arena Football League. He then quickly joined his Alma Mater the following season, staying with them through 2008 as a quarterbacks coach, and then later as a passing game coordinator, offensive coordinator, and assistant head coach. Jeff then honed his skills at various stops at Florida Atlantic (2009), Illinois (2010-2011), UAB (2012), and Western Kentucky (2013) – where he earned his first head coaching job from 2014 to 2016.

With his bang up job with the Hilltoppers in the books, Jeff left for greener pastures, and was hired as head coach of the Purdue Boilermakers in 2017. Jeff has been linked many times since then to more prestigious jobs with Tennessee and Nebraska, but going into 2021 remains the head coach at Purdue.

I had sorta given up on these cards after seeing some quick and recent returns, but in reality I was just probably at the bottom of Jeff’s mailbag.

G/GS NFLATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
8/0583735363.81179.2
G/GS XFLATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTRAT
7/71196899358.09399.9
ArenaWLPCT
2140.125