Tag Archives: green bay packers

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

Moses, JJ (2)

UD04 mosesCard: Upper Deck 2003
Acquired: IP 2014, Kemah Houston Texans Fan Fest.
See Also: JJ Moses, Houston Texans Ambassadors

After losing all of the other cards to the TTM gods back in 2013 of JJ Moses, I quickly scrambled to get some cards together to have him sign at that year’s Fan Fest event. Unfortunately this Upper Deck 2003 missed the cut, so once I got a copy I held onto it just in case I’d get the chance to see JJ again.

I decided at the last second again to make the yearly pilgrimage to Houston for the 2014 Fan Fest. I wasn’t mosesreally prepared for the journey there. The weather was some of the worst I had encountered in quite a while, and I got lost. Luckily I pulled out my ancient GPS – that hadn’t ever been updated (2007) and limped into Kemah with a new umbrella in hand. The remnants of a tropical storm were dumping in waves over the Houston area, but thankfully this kept the event low key. I quickly found parking in the covered lot and was directed to the backup makeup location where the players and cheerleaders were going to sign in tents.  The players were forgivingly late, but once they got the procession going they quickly signed everything in their way.

When I got up to the front, I was really surprised that JJ remembered me. He was very kind, and let me know that he had read and liked my previous post on him! I hoped at a later date to do a custom of JJ from his days with the Claymores, but I could not find an image that was large enough (that wouldn’t pixelate badly) to use. I reached out to JJ to see if he had anything through his Facebook page, but as of the publishing of this article, did not hear back from him. JJ remains active in the local Houston area for events, charities, and as a Houston Texans’ Ambassador.

 

Arena, NFL

Tomczak, Mike (2)


Cards: Skybox 92, Action Packed 1989, Score 1989
Acquired: TTM 2016, C/o Work
Sent:  12/4/16    Received: 2/11/17 (65 days)
See Also: Mike Tomczak

Mike’s dreams came true when he joined the Chicago Bears- a team he idolized as a kid. While Ditka put so much pressure on Mike that he considered quitting the sport he loved, Mike ended up carving out a 15 year career in the NFL playing at a variety of stops in the league after Chicago. Infamously during his stay in Green Bay he opted to hold out for a better contract- which caused the team to cut him, and brought about the Brett Favre era that much quicker. Mike had no problem spreading the love around, throwing to 35 different players in 88 touchdown strikes. While Mike only topped the 300 yard mark one time with the Bears, Packers, and Browns, he blossomed late in his career adding 3 more to his career with the Steelers. Mike is known for being the lead guitar player during the Bears infamous 1985 ‘Super Bowl Shuffle’ video. He also shares the same birthday with fellow quarterback Doug Flutie.

Tomczak had some great cards over his career. It took me some time to figure out which ones to send him. After some deliberation I decided on these three. I liked the design and photo for all three of these cards. Action Packed did a short run test promo in 1989 that covered a few NFC teams. It was pretty much identical to their 1990 run, minus the copyright. Score 1989 was blockbuster by any right with the vibrant colors and strong action photos standing out. Skybox was a late addition to the market, coming from the basketball arena, but its initial offering was simple, clean, and impressive.