Tag Archives: Denver Broncos

CFL, NFL

Posey, DeVier

to12str-deposeyCard: Topps Strata 2012 Clear Cut
Acquired: 2016, EBay

Posey had his breakout season at Ohio State in his Sophmore year, 2009, with 60 catches for 828 yards at 8 TDs. 2010 resulted in equally strong numbers with 54 catches for 848 yards and 7 TDs. After controversy surrounded payments being made to players on the Buckeyes, Posey found himself suspended.  An athletic talent who is a good route runner, Posey had a solid performance at the combine and clocked a 4.5 40.

There was some hype around this pick when the Texans selected DeVier Posey in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft.  At this point Houston was looking for a new compliment to future HoF receiver Andre Johnson, and was feeling really thin at the position after Kevin Walter left.  Posey could not crack the Texans starting lineup while with the team.  A combination of injuries and a changeover in coaches didn’t help either. He finished with 22 receptions for 272 yards in three years.  The Texans traded him during the 2015 draft to the New York Jets to select Jalen Strong. Posey was cut by the Jets and then signed with the Broncos in 2016.

After being released he was claimed by the CFL Toronto Argonauts but spent the season on IR. DeVier quickly developed a rapport with QB Ricky Ray in 2017 and was second in the league in receiving with 280 yards, before he missed 6 games due to injury.  He returned to the starting lineup in late August.

The market certainly marked Posey as a future star and had him sign a bevvy of cards, but this one just stuck out. A great looking card and autograph to boot. Topps for once completely raised the bar. A partially translucent design integrated into a patch autograph card? Take my money please!

College Football HoF, NFL

Smith, Rod (WR-DEN)


Cards: Playoff Prestige 2004 Xtra Points, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2004 (072/250), Playoff 2005
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 1/20   Received: 3/10    (48 days)

Rod Smith is considered one of the greatest undrafted wide receiver free agent acquisitions in NFL history. After going unselected out of tiny Missouri Southern State in 1994, Rod signed with the Denver Broncos.  Rod spent the entirety of the 1994 season on the practice squad, while the Broncos were going through a slow overhaul at WR.

A gifted receiver who displayed eagerness and unyielding work ethic, Rod felt he had to work twice as hard as other players, because not only did he come from a Division II school, he had to work his way off the practice squad.  In 1995 he was promoted to the active roster, contributing primarily on special teams. In week 3, Rod posted his first reception- a 43 yard touchdown bomb from John Elway over the top of Darrell Green to win the game against the Redskins. The catch signaled the beginning of Rod’s arrival at the NFL stage. Throughout the 1995 season and the following year, Rod saw increased play time alongside Ed McCaffrey, as Anthony Miller was winding down.

Rod played his first full season in 1997. His ascension is critical in Broncos lore as he was able to help Denver win the Super Bowl in 1997 and 1998. Over the next 6 consecutive seasons he’d post over 1,000 yards receiving, including a career high 1,602 receiving yards in 2000, and 113 receptions in 2001. He’d also earn All Pro/Pro Bowl nods in both seasons. Rod made one more Pro Bowl appearance in 2005 after recording 85 receptions for 1105 yards and 6 TDs.

Rod was on pace for another banner season in 2006 but suffered a hip injury. In the end, Rod had to have his entire hip replaced in 2007, which ended the promising wide receiver’s career too soon, as he owned nearly the entire Broncos receiving record books. As fans sit there and debate, there is no question to me that if Smith’s career continued, he’d be a shoo in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His numbers and wins for a receiver are on par with that of Jerry Rice. Unfortunately there is a logger jam of players at receiver going back years that may curtail his induction.

In 2008, Rod was inducted into the Division II Football Hall of Fame. Soon thereafter, he also received honors from the College Football Hall of Fame (2009) and the Denver Broncos Ring of Honor (2012).
I was surprised to get Rod’s autograph on these cards. He also included a business card of his new self-help book, ‘The Rod Effect’ , which charts his life from rags to success outside of football.

G/Gs 183/125    REC  849    YDS 11389    AVG  13.4     TD 68    LG 85T

NFL

Cosby, Quan (2)



do09cl qcosby SS
Cards: Upper Deck 2009 Draft Edition (#25/350), Donruss Gridiron Gear 2009 (#706/999), Playoff Contenders 2009 Playoff Ticket, Bowman 2009 (#134/299), Donruss Threads 2009 Gridiron Kings (#10/50), Donruss Classics 2009 (#043/299), Topps Certified 2009
Acquired: IP 2015, University Coop Season Opener, IP 2016, Tiff’s Treats Grand Opening Cedar Park
See Also: Quan Cosby

bo09 qcosby LPbow09 qcosbyWell the University Coop Season Opener turned out to be a total bust in 2015. Both do09th qcosby GKdo09gg qcosbyTony DeGrate and Doug Dawson were no shows, but I was still able to parlay a few Quan Cosby cards into autographs as he was hanging out in the building.  He’d sign his Donruss Gridiron and Upper Deck cards for me at the time.

Later I reloaded and got the rest of his cards at the Tiff’s Treats Grand Opening. With some rare cards here in the GridIron Kings, Donruss Classics, and Playoff Contenders, Quan took the time to study each card intently before signing each one. Since I did not have the time to prep the Contenders card, Quan made sure the ink dried on the card.

Let’s not lie. There are some real design gems in this group. Among them, I spent the extra coinage to get a hold of this Donruss Threads Gridiron Kings patch card. The college letter patch also goes without saying. The Bowman just smacks me in the face with simplicity and finishes it off with a great photo.

About the only one that doesn’t get me out of the group is the Donruss Gridiron Gear card.  I’m not sure what is going on with the abstract deconstruction in the background.  Although Quan stands out from the background composition, he’s anchored by the strange looking artifact of photo background that looks like a #1. It just detracts more than it adds and is just way too over designed.