Cardale Jones played QB for the Ohio State University from 2013-2016.
He got his first start in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2014, when he threw for 257 yards and 3 TDs- and was named MVP of the game.
After a battle with JT Barrett for the starting role, Jones earned the starting nod in 2015.
Started 7 games throwing for 1460 yards and 8 TDs (5 INT), while rushing for 193 yards on 64 carries (2 TD).
Declared for the 2016 NFL Draft.
Selected in the 4th round by the Buffalo Bills.
Buried on the depth chart behind Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel, he completed 6 of 11 passes for 96 yards and an interception his rookie year.
Traded to the Chargers in 2017.
Spent 2018 on the Chargers practice squad.
Released in 2019, and joined the Seahawks for a bit over a week.
Joined the DC Defenders of the XFL20 later that year.
Had a solid debut in the league completing 16 of 26 passes for 291 yards and 2 TDs for the team’s first win.
Finished the abbreviated season with 674 yards on 61 of 113 passing (4 TD to 7 INT).
Briefly was on the radar of the Edmonton Elks of the CFL and then later the Massachusetts Pirates in ’22.
NOTES:
My good friend Seth Lessans- a season ticketholder of the Defenders in 2020, was willing to help me get any autographs I wanted, so I cashed in big time with a bunch of players including Cardale on his Panini Contenders School Colors card. I’ve tried to keep up with Seth, but our communication is spotty for whatever reason. I hope he’s doing okay.
I got a few of these really nice XFL cards of Cardale, but I didn’t want to risk them TTM or pay the going rate I’d seen at a few events of roughly 50 bucks per item. Eventually I was able to find an event through the same broker that got me Pete Mandley a few months ago for an extremely reasonable price. I went ahead and cashed in nearly all my set needs.
Cardale maintains that he still loves the game and is ready to suit up at any time.
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, #11Topps 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.
CARD: Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Eli Rogers played WR for Louisville from 2011-14.
Consistent and dependable, Rogers never failed to catch less than 41 passes every year.
Over his 4 years with the school he posted 176 receptions for 2020 yards and 12 TDs.
He also moonlighted on punt returns, with 29 career returns for 248 yards.
He spent the entire 2015 campaign on IR with the Steelers after signing as an UDFA.
Earning the final (5th) WR spot with the Steelers that year, he ended up starting 8 games, recording 48 receptions for 594 yards and 3 TDs.
24 of his receptions went for first downs.
With an increasingly crowded WR room and an ACL injury, Rogers saw his playtime decrease over the next two seasons.
After being cut in August of 2019, he’d find his way to the XFL 2020 as a selection of the DC Defenders.
He’d catch 19 passes for 164 yards.
After bouncing around between the Montreal Alouettes (2021), and the Bandits (2022), Eli was a first round pick of the Orlando Guardians in 2023.
Despite the franchise’s early on QB woes, Eli posted 20 catches for 173 yards and a TD.
NOTES:
Eli was one of the first players out onto the field for the Guardians, as he serves as a return man for the Guardians. I moved to this really sweet spot that puts me in earshot of the players. I called out his name and he saw me with my card and pen and flashed a smile. After warm-ups finished and the players started returning to the locker rooms, Eli came over and signed his XFL 2020 card for me. We joked about how I was an OG fan of the XFL in 2020 and how the Defenders were fun to watch, before he kindly signed this card for me.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
