Tag Archives: los angeles chargers

NFL, XFL

Ballage, Kalen

Panini Contenders 2018 Draft Picks, SN23
Panini Prestige 2018, #297

CARDS: Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2018, Panini Prestige 2018
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v St Louis Battlehawks

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kalen Ballage was a RB at Arizona State who ran for 1984 yards and 27 TDs (450 carries) playing for the school from 2014-’17.
  • A 4th round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 2018.
  • Had a breakout game his rookie year rushing for 123 yards on 12 carries against the Minnesota Vikings- scoring a TD.
  • 2019 was disappointing, and by 2020, the Dolphins were searching for trade partners.
  • Waived with an injury settlement, Ballage spent about a month on the roster of the New York Jets that year.
  • Ultimately proved to be effective playing for the Chargers that year, contributing 91 carries for 303 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Also showed a nice touch out of the backfield, catching 29 passes.
  • Played for the Steelers in ’21 and spent the season on special teams.
  • Selected in the 6th round of the 2023 XFL Draft by the San Antonio Brahmas.
  • Was the primary back in the ground and pound offense, but was ultimately supplanted in the lineup by Jacques Patrick, and then an Achilles injury ended his season after 5 games.
  • Finished season with 55 carries for 149 yards and 11 receptions for 82 yards.
  • Expected to fight a crowded backfield for 1st team reps in 2024 with the Brahmas retooled offense, but with a crowded backfield was an early cut during preseason.

NOTES:

I was very excited to see the Brahmas drafted Kalen. He has a lot of cards and I hoped that I’d get more of them signed. Of subsets, I always look forward to the Gameday subsets from Panini.

I was able to get these two signed as he walked off the field in the first game near the home side entrance at the Alamodome.

Arena, CFL, NFL, NFLE

Arth, Tom

CARD: Hamburg Sea Devils Team Issue 2005
ACQUIRED: 2022, Private Acquisition

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Tom Arth played QB at tiny John Carroll University, throwing for 2,000 yards and 28 TDs in 1998.
  • Over four years, he’d set 18 records including passing yards (10,457) and touchdowns (49).
  • Undrafted in 2003, he’d manage to hang on to the roster of the Colts for three seasons.
  • He’d get seasoning in the NFLE with the Scottish Claymores (2004) and the Hamburg Sea Devils (2005).
  • Joined the Packers in 2006, but didn’t make the squad there or his next stop in 2007 with the Toronto Argonauts (2007).
  • Hopped over to the Arena Football League, playing for the Grand Rapids Rampage (2007) and Georgia Force (2008).
  • After returning to the college ranks, as head coach of John Carroll, Chattanooga, and Akron, most recently served as the passing game specialist of the Los Angeles Chargers (2022).

NOTES:

Tom played in the Arena Football League but it’s not clear if he didn’t start or if his stats are just unavailable.

NFLE/EUROPA

ATTCPDYDSPCTTDINTLGRAT
744142055.4%2495t58.4
AAF, NFL, usfl

Bowman, Braedon

Topps AAF 2019, #BRB
Topps AAF 2019, #60

CARDS: Topps AAF 2019 Certified, Topps AAF 2019
ACQUIRED: Box Breaker, 2019. C/o Home, 2022
SENT: 6/29 RECEIVED: 7/13 (14 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Braedon Bowman played TE at South Alabama from 2014-15.
  • Big, strong, solid blocker caught 29 passes for 381 yards over his college career.
  • Undrafted (2016), and later signed by Jags but didn’t make roster.
  • Signed by the Jets and suited up for a few games, becoming only second player from South Alabama to play in an NFL game.
  • Spent the next two seasons on the off-season rosters of the Saints (’17) and Chargers (’18-’19).
  • Played for the Birmingham Iron of the AAF in 2019.
  • After spending early part of season on IR, caught 4 passes for 43 yards and first TD since high school.
  • After AAF collapsed, got onboard with the New Jersey Generals of the USFL in 2022.
  • Caught 12 passes for 122 yards and a TD.

NOTES:

Braedon wrote me a nice note thanking me for being a fan of the AAF and that he hopes I’m able to get as many autographs as I could.