Tag Archives: Crown Royale 2013

NFL

Michael, Christine ‘C-Mike’

Card: Crown Royale Silhouette 2013 (222/299)
Acquired: 2018 BB, Walmart Autographed Memorabilia

Christine Michael played college ball for Texas A&M from 2009-2012. He posted solid numbers while at the school and finished his career there with 529 carries for 2791 yards and 34 TDs. With a whopping 5.4 yards per carry, C-Mike was also an effective receiver out of the backfield posting 44 receptions for 323 yards and a TD.  His numbers during the combine were effective enough to help his draft stock. He’d be selected in the 2nd round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

C-Mike played sparingly over the next few years. Fantasy Football owners regarded him as a sexy deep sleeper, especially with questions about Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. He’d be traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. Looking for depth after the departure of DeMarco Murray, Michael was viewed as a forward thinking trade by the Cowboys. Instead of fighting for a starting nod, Christine was on the street quickly in November. He’d be briefly on the roster of the Redskins, before returning to the Seahawks.

The Seahawks knew how to use C-Mike right. He’d post career highs in rushing twice over the next few weeks filling in for Lynch and Thomas Rawls. He’d re-up with the Seahawks in 2016.  Michael appeared to be the starter for the following season, but with the emergence of CJ Prosise and the return of Rawls, C-Mike was inexplicably cut. He quickly found a home with the runningback starved Green Bay Packers and finished 2016 with the franchise.  He’d finish with a career high 148 carries for 583 yards and 7 TDs, along with 22 receptions for 107 yards and a TD- in his Frankenstein season between Seattle and GB. Michael signed with the Colts in 2017 but did not see a snap as he was placed on IR before camp began. He made it to the regular season of 2018- but was cut after the first game. Currently he is a free agent.

I got a really nice two for one deal when I bought this little box. Inside was Jarrett Dillard and for the patch card, an autographed Christine Michael. It was quite the charge as these boxes are just supposed to have one autograph and one patch in them, but I’ll take it! This is a great patch card! It’s just the right size where it isn’t jumbo, but at the same time, it’s not too tiny where I feel like I’m just being given a taste. The patch is also a ‘tri-color’ to boot. Otherwise, the design is a bit garish. I was never really too much of a fan of Crown Royale, and the gold fleurons combined with the spiral bound look at the bottom and top of the card, just really doesn’t- sing to me.

NFL

Swearinger, DJ “DJ Swagg”

CR13 Swearinger to13 swearinger

Cards: Crown Royale 2013, Topps 2013, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2013
Acquired: IP 7/17/2014, Academy Texans Stampede Tour

djswaggThe Texans opted not to send players to any Texans Draft Parties outside of Houston. Apparently they decided to draw their wagons this year after their pitiful 2013 performance and keep their guys at home. I wasn’t happy about this at all, as Academy was running promotions with the Titans in Tennessee as part of their draft day program. I know my rancor towards Academy on Twitter- especially being a Texas company touting the traitorous Titans, didn’t make it happen, but I’d love to say somebody paid attention or listened. In mid July the Texans made it down to Austin for their Stampede Tour. I was happy to see DJ Swearinger and Eric Brown were on the list. I quickly made an order to my card shop, as I was surprised not to have any Swagg cards in my collection, and biting my nails off through the wait, 4 of them showed up for me just in time for the event.

Even though the weather was nasty, it worked to my advantage, as the players were late getting to a previous commitment. They were still on the radio at the other event, when I showed up at Academy only 30 minutes early. Being that Austin traffic was unforgiving I knew I was in for a long wait. Academy was smart about it. They issued numbers to everybody who came through the door so that we didn’t argue over spots in line. That was perfect. I ended up with #36. The players showed up over an hour late. That was fine, as it allowed me to get as many cards as I needed signed. I really caught Swearinger’s attention with the Crown Royale card he really pined over. When I got up to DJ again the second time, I asked him if he wanted any of the cards I had. He wanted the SP Gamecocks card, so I made a deal that if he’d sign the other two, it was his. He had no problem with that and the handlers did not make a fuss.

ud13st swearingerThe Texans had a rough 2013. With the departure of safety Glover Quin to Detroit, it left a gaping hole in the secondary. To address the issue, the team ran out and desperately signed still injured Super Bowl champion Ed  Reed to a contract, and then drafted DJ Swearinger in the second round of the 2013 draft to learn from the well versed Reed. Ed however rarely saw the field for the team and was cut midway through the season. In the meantime, DJ Swagg got a trial by fire in the secondary. He’d start 10 games for the Texans, recording 54 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 4 pass defensed, and his first career interception against the Arizona Cardinals (Carson Palmer).

DJ is an active personality on Twitter, who really loves to make the highlight play. A viscious hitter, he’s always the subject of fines and conversation between referees when he lays down a lick, even drawing the ire of Peyton Manning during a preseason game who earned an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting Swearinger. Swearinger also has a knack for the strip, forcing 2 fumbles within the 10 yard line during the 2014 season. A college teammate of #1 pick JaDeveon Clowney, Swearinger went to bat for him and is very excited about having him on the Houston Texans.