Tag Archives: Houston Texans

NFL

Payne, Seth

udxl02 payneCards: Upper Deck 2002 XL, Scoreboard 1997, Upper Deck Houston Texans 2002
Acquired: In Person 5/19, 610 Houston Fan Fest 2013

Seth Payne has always been a model player and leader where ever he went, from his days at Cornell and on into the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars and later the Houston Texans.

At Cornell, Seth received All-Ivy League 1st or 2nd team honors from 1994-1996. His 19 career sacks from the defensive end position, set the school record. He finished his career at the school with 34 games played, 182 tackles, 25 tackles for losses, 19 sacks, and 1 forced fumble and recovery. Coming from a small school, probably worked against Payne, but his 6-4 , 290 frame bode well for him to transition from end to tackle in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars made Seth their 4th round pick of the 1997 draft where he made the transition slowly into the starting lineup. By 1999 though, Payne was a fulltime starter. He played through the 2001 season with the Jaguars recording his best season that udhou02 payneyear with 5 sacks and 55 tackles.

At this point the Jaguars were in salary cap hell, so to get out of it, they arranged with the expansion Houston Texans a deal- take Tony Boselli with the first pick, and the Jaguars would
make Seth Payne and Gary Walker available for the Texans to grab as well. This would help alleviate some of the Jaguars cap purgatory. Former Jaguars defensive coordinator (1999-2000) Dom Capers and Texans head coach, jumped at the offer.

Seth was moved to nose tackle in 2002. He recorded a career high 65 tackles and the Texans first safety in the team’s first game against the Dallas Cowboys.  After injury claimed his 2003 campaign, Payne returned to form in 2004 with 2 sacks and 51 tackles. In 2005, he hustled his way to 4 sacks and 59 tackles, but injuries claimed the majority of his 2006 season, and while Seth survived the initial change over from Capers to new head coach Gary Kubiak, he’d be cut in early 2007. Payne at the time of his departure was the longest tenured member of the defense and the sbd97 paynelast member of the Texans initial expansion draft to be cut. Although the Jaguars resigned him later on, Seth was cut in training camp before the next regular season.

Seth at this time has joined the Houston Sports Radio 610 team. At Fan Fest this year, he signed these three cards for me, even remarking that the (hideous) Scoreboard college card of him, was actually a photo from his junior season when he was mobbing Columbia tailback ( and future NFL defensive end) Marcellus Wiley. Wiley was a short yardage back at the time, and clocked in generously at 6-4, 275, so when he and Payne collided, it provided fans quite the show.

G/Gs 121/98    Tac 333     Sac 17.5       Fum 3
Int 0      Yds 0     Avg -.-     Td 0     Lg -.-

 

NFL

Meggett, Davin

Card: Sage/ Hit Low 2012
Acquired: 2012, Box Breaker

Davin Meggett was a powerful 4 year runningback at the University of Maryland.  A Doak Walker 2011 dark horse candidate before his Senior season, Meggett averaged 74.7 yards per game. He was also dependable in the receiving game, recording 17 catches in his last year.  Before that he split time in a crowded and talented backfield.  A small-ish back at 5-9, with a strong frame (218 lbs), Davin finished his career ranked 7th on the school’s All-Time rushing list with 2,411 yards. He has great vision, thrives running between the tackles, and his short stature allows him to hide behind the line efficiently before making his cut.  This made Meggett an intriguing prospect that many scouts have likened to Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State.

He is expected to contribute to a team as a stout, short yardage back who provides a change of pace out of the backfield. Going unselected in the 2012 draft, Meggett signed a free agent contract with the Houston Texans and spent a good deal of the season on the team’s practice squad. He was cut at the end of November and later picked up by the Colts who placed Davin on their practice squad.

NFL, University of Texas

Studdard, Kasey “Studly Stud”

Acquired: In Person, 6/10/12, 610 Houston Fan Fest III

Kasey Studdard had a strong career blocking for the Texas Longhorns from 2003-2006, earning all Big 12 Honors, and Team Captain along the way.  The gritty offensive guard was taken by his hometown Houston Texans with their 6th round pick of the 2007 draft and inserted into their ZBS. Forced into action due to an injury to Ironman Chester Pitts, Studdard started 14 games for the team in 2009.  He’d continue to play for the Texans through 2011, but an injury ended his season and the team opted to not resign him. Restless without football for 2011, Studdard did his time rehabbing and working out to stay in football shape.  The Texans called him up before training camp and resigned him to the squad during 2012, but he’d be cut after the third preseason game. He is quite recognizable to Texans’ fans because of his mangy beard that he has grown out that he claims keeps him cool during the warmer times of the year. (I claim it makes him look like a white version of MMA fighter Kimbo Slice.)

Along with a host of other players at the 610 Fan Fest, I got Kasey and James Kirkendoll without ever setting foot at their table because they were walking around the floor among the crowd. A savvy fan pointed him out, and I was able to go over and score his autograph saving me precious time. I liked this picture of Studdard. They never made a card of him, but I thought this picture captured him in all his glory and grit, and would be perfect for him if they ever did. A popular member of the Longhorns squad, Kasey is considered the model of aggression and grit that fans love from offensive linemen. I am very surprised that Upper Deck didn’t make a Longhorn card of Studdard, but I guess that will have to wait for the ‘second edition’.