Tag Archives: Houston Texans

McCardell, Keenan ‘Thunder’ (2)

CARDS: Atomic 2001, Playoff Contenders 2001, Upper Deck 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o The Minnesota Vikings
FAILURE: TTM 2022, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

I had been wanting to get a few more Jaguars’ players autographs, and with very few of them who signed I thought I’d loop back and get Keenan, since I’d never gotten him TTM. Since I met him way back in 2012 or 2013 at Houston Fan Fest, I had developed a passing interest in Atomic and Playoff Contenders sets. The die cut gimmick with the large logo really got me, and the autographs look great on it so, it’s slowly become my 2001 favorite.

The Unknown Commodity card from Upper Deck was selected because it’s very much a card that emulated the zeitgeist of the era. Over the top large lettering as the background with an image on top of it. I mean, it’s not bad. Certainly catches the eye, but at the same time, feels dated and makes you smirk a bit.

McCardell has been enjoying a surge through the coaching ranks. After a stop at Maryland as the WR coach, as of 2022 he’s with the Minnesota Vikings in the same capacity.

Houston, Lamarr ‘Marr’

Panini UT 2015, #36
Topps 2013, #123

CARDS: Panini UT 2015, Topps 2013
ACQUIRED: IP 2022, NFL Alumni Bowling Event

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played four years at the University of Texas from 2006-09.
  • Kicked inside to DT after playing DE after two years.
  • Started 33 games, recording 170 tackles, 43 TFL, 15 sacks, 65 pressures, 13 pass breakups, 1 FF and 2 fumble recoveries.
  • Second round pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2010.
  • Played both Defensive end positions over 4 years with Raiders.
  • Had 228 total tackles, 37 TFL, 16.5 sacks, 6 fumble recoveries, and 1 pick.
  • Signed with Bears in 2015, playing the next 3 seasons and 5 games.
  • Started just 2 games in 2015 (16 played) but recorded a career high 8 sacks.
  • Split 2017 between the Bears and Texans, playing 5 games for each team.
  • Signed with the Texans to help ailing defensive front, posting a sack, 7 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
  • Also recorded first TD, returning a fumble 34 yards in his final game with the team.

NOTES:

I mean the evening wasn’t a total disaster at the bowling event. I was very excited when the Texans signed Lamarr to bolster their defensive front after JJ Watt went down with an injury. I thought he delivered, and in his final contest I thought the light really went on, but the franchise saw otherwise and cut him.

When I got his autograph on these cards, I asked him what happened and he told me that, “They told me I was too old.”

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Jones-Smith, Jaryd

Topps AAF 2019, #59

CARD: Topps AAF 2019
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o The Ravens
SENT: 1/24 RECEIVED: 7/29 (186 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2020, C/o The 49ers

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Literal man-mountain at 6’7″, 295, originally signed by the Houston Texans out of Pitt in 2018.
  • Joined the San Antonio Commanders of the AAF in 2019, quickly establishing himself as a fan favorite.
  • Starting all the games, blocked up front for one of the league’s best ground games.
  • After the league shuttered, spent time with NFL teams in Miami, San Fransisco, Las Vegas, and Baltimore.
  • Started 3 games with the Raiders (2020) and a game with the Ravens (2021).

NOTES:

After the AAF announced that it was folding, Jaryd showed up at one of the fan organized Commanders ‘going away parties’ thanking fans and saying goodbye at one of the local bars.

I wrote Jaryd care of the Ravens and he was nice enough to sign this card and put the inscription, ” ‘Manders Baby!” on it for me.