Tag Archives: Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL

Harvey, Derrick

Card:  Score 2009 Inscriptions
Acquired: 2010, Box Breaker

I really like the 2009 Score football card design and decided to buy a small box of the cards when they were on clearance at a local toy store for 10 bucks. I was surprised to find an authenticated autograph inside from Jacksonville defensive end Derrick Harvey. I also realized that Jacksonville was probably the last team that I didn’t have an autograph from.  Strange oddity of note is that the Houston Oilers were the first team that the Jaguars beat, and the Jaguars were the first team the Texans beat on the road.

The BCS National Championship Defensive MVP, Harvey had some nice measurables coming out of college from Florida. The 6’5″, 252 lb defensive end ran a 4.67-78  at private workouts and was the 3rd defensive end drafted in the top ten of the 2008 draft. The team had an ornery negotiation with Derrick, and they drug on for an unusually long period of time. He would be the last first round choice to sign- with a 33 day hold out, also setting a franchise mark for that dubious honor. Derrick has suffered unfairly at the hands of the media and fans who were angry about the team trading up to get him, and quickly labeled him a bust.

Considered to be a project, Derrick in his rookie season would only start 9 games, but would grab 3.5 sacks an interception and finally had to bulk up as a stand up LB and DE as well in the Jaguars 3-4 defense. In 2009, Harvey would start all 16 games having a decent sophomore season with 57 total tackles improving on his rookie totals, (which made him the highest rated defensive end against the run from the 2008 draft.)  He would be one of the few bright spots on the Jacksonville defense. The Jaguars responded by changing defensive line coaches and continuing to surround Harvey with more defensive line talent from the 2010 draft and free agency and hope for more production out of their young star.

Games 34    Tac 78      Sac  5.5    FF  0     Int  1   Yds 0   Avg -.-  Td 0

NFL

Givins, Ernest


Cards: SkyBox 1992, Action Packed 1991, Score 1990, ProSet 1990, Action Packed 1992, GameDay 1992.
Acquired: In Person, 1991, 1994, Houston Oiler Training Camp. TTM 2010, c/o Home.
Sent: 3/26   Received:  4/29   (33 days)
See Also: Ernest Givins (2), Ernest Givins(3)

Ernest Givins was a second round choice of the Houston Oilers in 1986. At 5-9 178, Ernest was considered undersized for his position when he came out of Louisville, but was an amazing route runner and ideal for the slot position. He was also difficult to tackle and had incredible acrobatic balance accounting for shelves of highlight film including a hit where he was flipped over the back of the defender and made the catch, landing on his feet in the endzone. Ernest would play for the Oilers for the next ten seasons, (and one for Jacksonville,) notching two ProBowl nominations in 1992 and 1990- where in the latter he was also named All-Pro. He went over 900 yards 5 times in his career. Ernest was also well known for his after touchdown celebration dance entitled ‘The Electric Slide’ (shown partially in action in the Action Packed 1991 card,) which quickly endeared him to Oiler fans and became recognizable around the league.

In 1995 he was cut by the Oilers and signed with the expansion Jaguars where he played for one season. He finished first on the Houston Oilers all-time list for receptions and yards and tied for third in touchdowns. As of 2010, Givins lives in St. Petersburg, and is active in the community as a semi-pro football coach for the Bay Area Gamblers and offensive coordinator for Boca Ciega High School.

I met Ernest Givins and got his autograph at training camp on two different occasions. The first time went by with little fanfare. He signed my card and I thanked him. So by the time I got back to him in 1994, I was a bit more mouthy by then so I asked him to do his trademark touchdown dance ‘The Electric Slide’. His response coyly was, “I wouldn’t want to break tradition.” It was a good laugh. I later tracked him down through the internet, partially thanks to Wikipedia and got his autograph on a few extra cards.

Games  147      Rec 571        Yds 8215         Avg 14.4          Td 49           Lg 83T

NFL

Beuerlein, Steve

Cards: Action Packed 1992, Fleer 1990, ProSet 1990, ProSet 1992, ProSet Power 1992, Score 1989, Score 1990, Topps 1992, Upper Deck 1992.
Acquired: In Person, 1991-1992 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp. In Person, CGA Youth Golf Tournament 1993.

Steve defines accessibility and patience. When I went to Cowboys training camp, I found myself struggling to find new cards to purchase of Steve because he was a tireless signer who would autograph hundreds of cards after practice. Beuerlein was one of the better backups that the Cowboys had, and probably is the one of the better journeyman quarterbacks in NFL history.  A streaky passer,  Steve had his ups and downs, typically suiting up as second fiddle for around half his career.  He would go on to play or start for 6 teams over a 17 seasons including the Raiders, Cowboys, Cardinals, Jaguars, Panthers, and Broncos. Of small note, Steve was the first quarterback of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Steve would go to his only Pro Bowl in 1999 playing then for the Panthers, throwing for 36 touchdowns that year where he appeared out of nowhere, and stood a good chance of being MVP that year- if not for a certain somebody named Kurt Warner. He then disappeared under the radar again in 2000 but put up respectable numbers. Beuerlein signed with the Broncos and played back up behind Jake Plummer through 2003, but elected to resign with the Panthers on a one day contract so that he could retire with them. Since retirement Steve has taken up NFL broadcasting and is an avid golfer.

G 147      Att  1894       Comp 3328         Yds  24046
Td 147        Int 112          Rat 80.3