Tag Archives: indianapolis colts

Arena, NFL, NFLE

Kubiak, Jim

Playoff Contenders 2000, #166

Card: Panini Contenders 2000 European Ticket
Acquired: 2021, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jim Kubiak was a traditional dropback passer who played for Navy from 1991 to 1994.

  • Over 4 years he threw for 6008 yards (558/969) and 23 TDs. 

  • His career yardage and completion totals represented a school record.

  • Commitments to the Navy prevented him from playing immediately out of college.

  • As a member of the NFL, he was an off-season member of the Panthers (96), Colts (98-99), Jets (00), and Colts again (03).

  • Jim garnered extensive experience from his time in the World League playing for the Dragons (99) and Admirals (00).

  • Threw for 7 TDs and 2 INT for the Dragons in 99, and 4 TDs and 817 yards in 2000 for Amsterdam.

  • Over the next 5 years, Kubiak honed his skills in the Arena Football League, playing for the Buffalo Destroyers (01-02), Dallas Desperados (03), Detroit Fury (04), and Georgia Force (05).

  • Best year in the AFL came in ’03 with the Desperados, throwing for 4762 yards, 97TDs/17 Int, on 388 of 557 passing.

  • Spent the entire 2004 season on IR with the Fury. 

  • Retired after blowing out his knee early in the 2005 season with the Georgia Force, but worked in their front office in both 06 and 07.

  • After a few college stops, also worked with the Soul (05) and the Force (08-12) as their OC. 

NFLE

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AFL

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ACCOLADES:

  • 2nd Team All Arena 2003

NOTES:

Jim Kubiak is not related to Gary Kubiak. Kubiak spent time working as a color man for a few years in Buffalo for the Bills. Currently he is a director of the WNY QB Academy.

NFL, WLAF

Naposki, Eric

Card: Ultimate World League 1991
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Prison
Sent: 5/9 Received: 5/18 (9 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Eric Naposki played college football at UConn where he excelled as a hard hitting outside linebacker.
  • In 1988, as a street free agent, he literally slipped onto the Patriots, by sneaking a number from a registration table, getting a tryout and then later making the final cuts.

  • Appeared on special teams in 3 games, but injuries derailed his career from continuing forward. 

  • Eric went on to sign with the Colts Cowboys and the Jets, but did not see significant playing time.

  • Experienced his greatest success after joining the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football in 1991.

  • In his first season with the team, Naposki recorded 51 total tackles, an interception for a TD, 2 forced fumbles, and 7 sacks. 

  • Was arguably one of the most popular players on the team and even had his own fan club thanks in part to his Spanish fluency.

  • Upon returning stateside injuries again prevented him from moving forward, although he was in camp with the Washington Redskins.
  • Returned to the Dragons in 1992  but the league reorganized after the season.

  • Retired later that year after injuries continued to dog him, this time in camp with the Seattle Seahawks. 

  • After a few years off, Naposki returned to the Dragons in 1996, winning World Bowl 97.
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ACCOLADES:

  • Barcelona Dragons Hall of Fame

NOTES:

As this was a first for me, it should be noted, that yes, I wrote Eric in prison for his autograph. While this may seem wrong to many, I do not presume to give fame to him or the crimes that were committed in regards to this case- rather my solicitation for his signature is an attempt by me to frame a certain time in our lives when things were more simple and innocent.

Eric wrote me a long and impassioned letter on multiple slips of paper talking to me about the time he played in the World League. He also included a copy of these copies of his accomplishments from his playing days, and thanked me for writing him. Erik was convicted of murder in 2012, and received life without parole. The case itself is not without its warts, as he was convicted on purely circumstantial evidence, and a loss of exculpatory evidence, partially due to a delay in the prosecution of the case. -He has always maintained his innocence. Currently his case is under investigation by a 501 nonprofit legal organization

that is committed to exonerating individuals who claim to have been wrongly convicted. From what I understand he also passes the time working as a member of the California Wildfire Inmate team.

I am not sure if Eric’s card is an error card or not as it spells his name Erik, and so does the Barcelona Dragons article above, however in most media it is spelled Eric.

AAF, CFL, NFL, XFL

McKay, Mekale

Cards: Panini Contenders 2016, Leaf Draft 2016, Panini Prism 2016
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim

The Commanders big signing event of the season came at Dick’s Sporting Goods and with big names from the team appearing, it made total sense for me to go. Even though the event said NO OUTSIDE ITEMS, I figured I would take my chances and show up with my cards. It turned out nobody cared and I was able to go through the line 2 times to get all my cards covered. Mekale was next to Derron Smith, and they argued over which had the better cards. Mekale was sold on his Prism card, but he got trumped by Derron who had a Prism die cut card that looked like a fence. Overall it was a great event and I was happy with getting all the players’ autographs that were in attendance, as about two weeks later the league would disappear. Mekale’s autograph is very unique. I have never seen an M shaped quite like that.

Mekale was not drafted coming out of Arkansas (2012)/ Cincinnati (2013-2015), where he posted 108 receptions for 2034 yards and 19 TDs over his time between the two schools. A huge target stepping in at 6-5, McKay averaged an improbable 30.3 yards per reception in 2013 when he hauled in 16 catches for 485 yards and 7 TDs. He’d sign with the Colts after the draft in 2016, but be cut after training camp. Mekale then bounced around between the Jaguars, Broncos, Titans, Bears, and Cowboys over the next two years.

In 2019 McKay signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the now defunct Alliance of American Football. He’d post 22 receptions for 375 yards and 4 TDs including 1 2 point conversion. Mekale’s 17 yards a reception also was among the league leaders in that category. After the league ‘suspended operations’, Mekale drew interest from the Buffalo Bills and attended minicamp with the Browns.

Mekale was then selected by the New York Guardians of the XFL 2020, during the second round of the initial phase of the player draft. Over the course of the season he caught 12 passes for 184 yards and a TD, before the COVID pandemic cancelled the season. Two months later, McKay signed with the Blue Bombers of the CFL, but roughly a month later the league suspended play due to COVID as well.