Tag Archives: leaf draft 2014

CFL, IFL, NFL, XFL

Ealy, Kony (2)

CARDS: Leaf Draft 2014, Topps Chrome 2014, Sage 2014
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Kony Ealy
  • Kony joined the Cowboys during the 2018 preseason, but was cut.
  • He’d then sign with the Raiders, but again would be cut before the end of the year.
  • The next year Kony was selected by and signed with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL20.
  • With the season cancelled due to COVID after 5 games, Kony finished with 9 tackles, 2 TFL, and half a sack.
  • He spent a season then in the CFL with the Argos from 2021 to the end of camp in 2022.
  • With that it was off for a month with the Vegas Knight Hawks of the IFL.
  • And then finally another 3 months with the Edmonton Elks before the end of the 2022 season.

NOTES:

Well I had reloaded on Kony after meeting him in person at the Houston Roughnecks team meet and greet for season ticket holders and I was hopeful the league would pick back up in 2021 but unfortunately COVID finished off the XFL20. So I held onto this post and eventually forgot about it.

A few things about Kony. I think if he had found a spot on a team primarily as a situational starter or designated pass rusher, he might’ve stuck around longer at his different stops. It takes a genius of a DC to unlock potential and Kony had plenty of that- as evidenced in his Super Bowl 50 performance when he logged 3 sacks, forced a fumble and made an interception.

I really also relate to the big guy as he has struggled with depression after the loss of his father and sister, and while he was with the Roughnecks, he opened up about it and his battle with it.

University of Texas

McCoy, Case ‘Rivalry Killer’

Leaf Draft 2014, #12

CARD: Leaf Draft 2014
ACQUIRED: IP, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Case McCoy was offered scholarships by many big name schools to play QB, eventually choosing Texas.
  • The little brother to Colt McCoy who also played at Texas- he wanted to play here for all the reasons that other players are discouraged from following in the footsteps of their family at the same position.
  • He saw very little action his freshman year in 2010.
  • Case competed against Garrett Gilbert and David Ash in 2011.
  • Completed 88 passes for 1,034 yards and 7 TDs.
  • Coming in, in relief of Ash, Case had a penchant for sparking the team to come from behind wins.
  • Completed a school record 124 passes before throwing his first career interception.
  • No game was more important than his 25-23 win over A&M in 2011.
  • After serving as David Ash’s backup in 2012, Case was thrust into the starting role after Ash suffered two concussions- ending his college career.
  • McCoy responded by rattling 6 consecutive wins for the Longhorns, including defeating Oklahoma, and a berth in the Alamo Bowl.
  • Finished his career ranked tenth in TD passes (34) and tenth in passing yards (3,689).

NOTES:

I decided pretty late to go to this event since I only had one card. I needed an autograph pick-me-up and this really fit the bill. It was a small event, and there weren’t that many people there. I’m not saying he’s not popular or well received- In fact Case is a folk hero for beating A&M before the Texas rivalry was put on hold. It worked to everyone’s advantage as Case was able to elaborate and ramble a little bit on his answers to our many questions giving us great insight into the game.

Among the tidbits he shared was that outside of that A&M contest- the Oklahoma games were his favorite. He told us about how Oklahoma would spend the entire season working with 4 down linemen on defense and then when they’d play Texas- they’d switch to a 3 tech- or vice versa. In the game that UT finally beat the Sooners under Case- they anticipated the switch and basically ran 3 different plays the entire contest.

Then he told us about his game against the Mountaineers where he was able to air it out. He said he loved the atmosphere there as their stadium is one of the few that sells alcohol in the stadium. He told us about the tradition of ‘warming up’ without shirts on in cold environments (a tradition started by Vince, passed to Colt, and on to Case), and how the Mountaineer fanbase had hilariously cruel things to say to him.

Then he reminisced about how the town and stadium have one road in and out, and how the cops literally had to clear the road of drunks (on the road) so that the visiting Texas bus could get out to get to the airport!

Stuff like that. I don’t want to spoil it all just in case he write a novel later but, Case had quite a fascinating yarn to spin.

NFL, XFL

Williams, Andre

Cards: Topps Valor 2014, Topps 2014 Chrome, Leaf Draft 2013, Topps Valor 2014 Strength, Topps Fire 2014, Topps Flashback 85 Chrome 2014
Acquired: IP 2020, Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Bay Vipers Scrimmage, Houston Roughnecks Season Ticket Holders Party

Andre Williams quietly put himself together quite a ledger while playing his college ball for Boston College from 2010-2013. During his Senior year he ran 355 times for 2,177 yards and 18 TDs, earning the Doak Walker award for his efforts in 2013. He was also a unanimous All-American. Williams parlayed his efforts into a 4th round selection by the New York Giants.

Andre had a solid rookie year with 721 yards and 7 rushing TDs, including a 131 yard effort against the Titans. Surprisingly after a poor performance in 2015, Andre was released by the team. He’d earn his way onto the starting roster with the Chargers in 2016, running for 87 yards in the season finale. He’d see sparse playing time for the team in 2017 on and off the practice squad and then as an injury casualty to end the season.

Williams was selected in the 9th round of the XFL player draft by the Houston Roughnecks in 2020. The Roughnecks under head coach June Jones exclusively ran the Run N Shoot offense, so there was just one back in the backfield. Andre split time in the backfield with James Butler. In 5 contests, Andre rushed 23 times for 92 yards. It’s a shame that the XFL ended when it did, as Williams had his best game in the finale against Seattle, rushing 10 times for 54 yards in the Roughnecks 32-23 win.

With a lot of Run N Shoot style backs available to the Roughnecks in the XFL Draft, I was surprised the Roughnecks selected Williams. Nonetheless I snuck him onto my XFL fantasy squad, figuring that he’d eventually he’d see the lion’s share of carries.

Andre had a stack of great cards that were produced in a very short period of time. He’s got a pretty solid graph too, with some nice loops and a strong hook on the S at the end. I really liked his Topps Valor cards. They really pulled out all the punches at the end on that set, and artistically it has a lot of merit.

The first time I got Andre’s autograph, Lance and I caught him as he was leaving the field after the Vipers scrimmage. He was very nice, and graciously signed a stack of card for me. At the end of our conversation, he blessed me- which made me respond accordingly and thank him for his time.

I think I just had one more card of him left for the Roughnecks Season Ticket Holder event the weekend before the first game. He was interviewed by the FOX Sports team and as he left the stage signed this final card for me.