Rajion Neal played runningback for the Tennessee Volunteers program from 2010-2013. Displaying an interesting skillset, Neal showed great hands and versatility playing runningback, Wildcat, and wide receiver. He finished with 444 carries for 2163 yards and 19 TDs, along with 66 catches for 626 yards and 5 TDs for Tennessee.
Undrafted, Rajion has seen time criss-crossing the North American continent in 3 different leagues. As a practice squad member, Neal has seen time with the Packers, Dolphins, Raiders, Steelers, and Browns in the NFL, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL.
He’d join the Memphis Express of the AAF in 2019 and make the squad, but be cut after two games. finishing with 8 carries for 15 yards, and 4 receptions for 10 yards. Rajion returned to the Tiger-Cats of the CFL but did not make the squad.
A really well designed card here of Tyler Ervin. It’s almost- just almost over-designed but I still dig it. Anyway they hadn’t issued numbers yet for players so the double Ott zero goes to Tyler. It takes a bit of Photoshop magic to make these things happen so kudos to the designer who had their hand in this one. About the only thing I don’t like is the silver type of his name gets a little lost in the clouds per say- but otherwise its a gorgeous card.
The Texans were looking for speed in the 2016 NFL Draft- something they sorely missed as their team aged over the previous few seasons. Ervin was an intriguing prospect to them, so Houston plucked him out in the 4th round. During his time at San Jose State, Tyler established himself as a dangerous return man and a dependable back. On regular occasions he broke school single game and season combined yards from scrimmage records. Ervin finished his Senior year at the school with 1601 yards rushing, and 334 yards receiving.
The coaching staff in Houston has been patient with the development of Tyler. Injuries have ended both his 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons before they got off the ground. He in fact, was considered on the outside looking in, going towards the 2018 camp, but much to his credit he battled up and into the runningback picture, and returned kicks and punts throughout the season. He’d be cut midway through 2018, with the return of D’Onta Foreman evident.
He’d spent most of the rest of the season with the Baltimore Ravens on their practice squad, and was claimed off of waivers by the Jaguars before the 2019 season, where the team used him occasionally on kick and punt return duties. He was released near the end of the season and picked up by the Green Bay Packers.
Jerry Burns played quarterback at Michigan from 1947-1950. He quietly ascended the college ranks, including a head coaching stop at Iowa. In 1967, Burns joined Vince Lombardi’s staff at Green Bay. He’d serve on Lombardi’s staff for the Packers Super Bowl I and II victories before Jerry was poached by division rival Minnesota, to serve as head coach Bud Grant’s offensive coordinator.
Jerry was forward thinking for the time. Arguably he can be considered one of the pioneers of what was later popularized as the West Coast Offense, as his team’s short to intermediate passing game, supported by runningbacks predated the Walsh era by a few years with Fran Tarkenton. Jerry served as offensive coordinator for 18 years- eventually succeeding Grant as head coach in 1986.
As head coach, Burns guided the Vikings to the playoffs from 1987 to 1989, losing to the Redskins in the 1987 NFL Championship Game, and then the 49ers in the divisional round in both 1988 and 1989. His teams were actually known more for stacked defensive talent than anything else, and he posted a 52-43 record over 6 seasons. Burns retired after the 1991 season, after posting an 8-8 record. He was later inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor.
I love writing players who share with me history and information about their lives, and I had heard that Jerry loves getting fan mail, so I thought it was worth the shot. About a month later I received this very nice letter in the mail from his daughter, Kelly. Jerry is in his 90s now, and getting him to recall these memories makes him feel great. She kindly paraphrased and wrote down Jerry’s responses to my questions.
What was your favorite moment as a coach?
“He’s had so many wonderful moments but finally becoming the Vikings Head Coach!”
