Tag Archives: kansas city chiefs

NFL, University of Texas

Charles, Jamaal

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2012, UT Upper Deck 2012 Icons, Panini 2015
Acquired: IP 2018, GiGi’s Cupcakes Soft Grand Opening

Jamaal Charles represents one of the biggest in person coups in a while for me. I had been looking for him for a couple of years- hearing about and missing out on a few events he was at. I guess it all started in 2013, when I did the Spoodog Box Break with Mike-E and Spoodog. Spoo had 2 or 3 certified Jamaal’s and pulled another in the case, but I had no luck whatsoever.

After finding out that GiGi’s Cupcakes had a soft opening the previous day, I decided to go up to see if I could get Brian Orapko and Michael Griffin’s autograph. I knew that Charles had been there the previous day, and I was pretty disappointed to miss out on him, but I packed his cards anyway. When I arrived after driving across town and through an on and off ice storm, I saw this beautiful powder blue Lambo sitting in the parking lot. I walked in and exclaimed, “Who’s sexy car is that outside?”, and Brian responded to me, “Oh that is Jamaal’s. He’s here too.”  The game was finally over. I had found him. After getting Brian and Griff, I went outside, grabbed 3 cards and pushed my luck. Rak was very impressed that I came prepared and Jamaal was kind enough to sign all 3.

Jamaal Charles comes from a very long line of excellent runningbacks out of the University of Texas. A standout in track, Charles joined UT in 2005 winning the National Championship in his Freshman year. He averaged a whopping 7.4 yards per carry on 119 carries and scored 11 TDs. He’d have his best numbers in 2007, rushing for 1,619 yards and 18 touchdowns on 258 carries. After the campaign concluded he declared for the 2008 NFL Draft.  He finished 4th in career total rushing yards (3,328) with UT trailing only Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell, and Cedric Benson.

Surprisingly Jamaal did not get selected until the 3rd round of the 2008 NFL draft. He’d be chosen by the Kansas City Chiefs- a rush heavy team led by Larry Johnson. During his rookie season he saw the field seldomly but made the best of it rushing for 357 yards on 67 carries. Jamaal’s first TD was a 36 yard pass reception from Tyler Thigpen against the Bills in Week 12. In 2009, Jamaal had a breakthrough and became starter for the Chiefs. He’d rush for the first of 5 1,000 yard seasons that he’d post over the next 6 seasons. Jamaal’s biggest attraction as a runningback is his yards per carry. He led the league with a 5.9 yard per carry in 2009, and then in 2010 had a career high 6.4 yards per carry (1467 yards). After an injury plagued 2011, Jamaal returned to form rushing for a career high 1,509 yards, 70 receptions (693 yards), 7 receiving TDs, and a 91 yard scamper in 2012. 2013 saw him rush for a career high 12 TDs and 1,287 yards and likewise in 2014 another 1,033 yards and 9 TDs (206 carries).

Unfortunately both Jamaal’s 2015 and 2016 season were marred by back to back season ending injuries, so the Chiefs decided to let Jamaal test the free agent waters for 2017. It ruffled some feathers when Charles- the career yardage leader for the Chiefs- signed with the division rival Denver Broncos. (I even picked up Jamaal late in one of my fantasy drafts and stashed him on my bench.) During his lone season at Mile High Jamaal hard charged to 296 yards on 69 carries. Unhappy with the runningback situation there, he asked to be released and is currently a free agent.

NFL

Kennison, Eddie

Card: Score 2006
Acquired: 2017, Future Considerations

Ah Eddie Kennison. I only casually followed the 1996 Draft. Things had already been put into motion with the Oilers, and with my personal life a complete disaster zone at the time, I was completely and utterly disinterested in football. Still, in the meantime, when the Rams selected Kennison, for a brief shining moment there he was the WR compliment for Isaac Bruce, before the appearance of Torry Holt.

An LSU product,  Eddie played for the Tigers from 1993 to 1995. His best year came in ’95 when he put up 45 catches, 739 yards, and 2 TDs. A track man, Kennison averaged 15.9 yards per reception. He had some good measurables entering the combine running a reported 4.29 40.  He’d be the 3rd receiver taken off the board, after Keshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn, and a spot ahead of future HoF WR Marvin Harrison. -Truly the 1996 draft was stocked with WR talent.

In his first season with the Rams, Eddie put up a solid stat line of 54 receptions, 924 yards and 9 TDs. He’d also contribute on special teams as a punt returner with 29 returns for 423 yards and a whopping 2 TDs. After the 1998 season, Eddie was signed by the rival New Orleans Saints. He’d record a career long 90 yard TD reception against the Atlanta Falcons in 1999 and lead the team in yards and receptions despite a quarterback carousel of talent. After the season the Bears traded a mere 5th round pick to get Eddie, where he’d spend just one season with Chicago before heading off to Denver in 2001.

Eddie had a rough ride with the Broncos. After 8 games he decided that he had enough of the sport and opted to retire. Denver released him, but Eddie decided that he still wanted to play after all. About a month later, he signed with  the rival Kansas City Chiefs. Eddie had his best years in KC, spending the next 7 seasons there. He had his best 2 seasons professionally in 2004 and 2005 respectively putting up consecutive 1000 yard seasons and posting career highs in both receiving and yards. After the 2007 season, he’d briefly resurface with the Rams in 2008, and retire after signing a ceremonial one day contract with the Chiefs.

Lance came through again with this one at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame dinner getting Eddie on this Chiefs card. Little known fact is that Kennison refuses to sign any cards from his early playing days on the Rams. Whether this is due to them being rookie cards or that he just has some bad memories with them is unknown. This is not a bad looking card. I find the embellishment and the pencil thin lines to be a bit distracting, but the photo is pretty solid. You can always count on Score to at least have good action photography and provide a wide spectrum of players from each team.

G/Gs 179/84   Rec 548     Yds 8345     Avg 15.2     Td 42    Lg 90t
PR  153       Yds 1528        Avg  10.0        Td   3     Lg   78t

NFL

Braverman, Daniel

Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Daniel Braverman was an outstanding receiver for the Broncos of Western Michigan- where he finished his final college season in 2015 with a career-high 1,367 yards and 13 touchdowns.  He was selected by the Bears in the 7th round of the 2016 NFL draft.  Expected to compete as a slot man, Braverman lacks nothing for the subtlety and skill required to play at the NFL level, but his size (5’10”, 177) may get him jammed out of plays.  He didn’t make the Bears final regular roster for the 2016 season, but was signed to their practice squad instead. The team promoted him to the regular season roster in November, but he didn’t see any substantial game action in 3 games.  In early 2018, Daniel signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.