Tag Archives: los angeles rams

AAF, NFL

Spruce, Nelson (2)

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020, Topps XFL 2020 NOW, Topps AAF Certified 2019 HACK, Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2016 Gameday, Sage 2016 Artistry
ACQUIRED: Personal Break, 2020. TTM 2019, C/o Home. TTM 2024, C/o Home
SENT: 6/3/19 RECEIVED: 6/15/20 (378 days)
SENT: 7/10 RECEIVED: 8/30 (51 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Nelson Spruce
  • After being released by the Rams, Nelson signed with the Bears in October of 2017.
  • Then after two small stints with the Chiefs and Chargers, Nelson signed with the San Diego Fleet of the AAF at the tail end of 2018.
  • In Week 7 against the Arizona Hotshots in 2019, he had 12 catches for 146 yards.
  • He finished 5th with 426 yards and second in catches with 38.
  • After the collapse of the AAF- he was a 3rd round pick of the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL in 2020.
  • Caught 20 passes for 256 yards and 2 scores in 3 starts.
  • Unfortunately the COVID pandemic derailed the XFL season after the midway point of the season.
  • Spent about 6 months on the off-season roster of the Montreal Alouettes in 2021.
  • As of 2024- is a VP of brand/ product development with FIBR.

NOTES:

OK. So I sat intentionally on Nelson’s post for a while. Almost right after I got his autographs back from 2019, I popped open a box of XFL 2020 and, “Pfbbbttt,” There’s Nelson’s XFL base card- so I had to get that signed too. Then it hit me… Nelson, despite his stat line and prominence in the AAF, doesn’t appear in the set. I needed to do all that before throwing up another post about him.

I really upped my quality on the custom cards across the board, down to the print quality and design. I was very happy with how the AAF card turned out, and I sent an extra for him to keep as well.

NFL

Wilcher, Mike

Pro Set 1989, #209
Pro Set 1990, #175
Fleer 1990, #46

CARDS: Pro Set 1990, Pro Set 1989, Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED:
SENT: 7/10/20 RECEIVED: 8/7/20 (28 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Wilcher followed in Lawrence Taylor’s footsteps at North Carolina playing there in
  • He posted 68 tackles in his senior season and racked up 20 TFL between his Junior and Senior seasons at defensive end.
  • In 1983, the Rams converted to a 3-4 defense and were looking for an outside linebacker.
  • Mike fit that bill and the team selected him near the top of round 2 and decided to convert him over.
  • It wasn’t until 1984 when Mike was able to cement over a spot in the starting lineup at ROLB- and the starting LB in nickel and dime formations.
  • In 1985, he posted a career high 12.5 sacks along with 95 tackles.
  • Mike scored his only professional TD of his career in 1987, a 35 yard fumble recovery against the Redskins, in a 30-26 win.
  • He held down the starting job through the 1990 season- finishing with 400 career tackles with the Rams,
  • In 1991, Mike played a final season for the San Diego Chargers, dressing for 2 contests.

NOTES:

Mike had outstanding speed for the era, and was a solid coverage man. Severely underrated, the Rams saw a drop off after his departure. Mike had a pretty decent selection of cards. I really liked the Fleer and Pro Set entries of the era.

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NFL

Keenum, Case (2)

Topps 2014, #224
Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012, #67

CARDS: Topps 2014, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o The Houston Texans
SENT: 6/8/23 RECEIVED: 8/19/23 (73 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2013, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Case Keenum
  • Case had career marks in a variety of passing categories during 2018.
  • He went 365/586 for 3,890 yards starting all 16 games for the Broncos.
  • In 2019, Case played for the Redskins, starting 8 contests, throwing for 1707 yards and 11 TDs to 4 interceptions.
  • This led to a two year stint as backup for the Cleveland Browns in 2020 and 2021, followed by the Bills in 2022.
  • Proof positive that you can go home, Case signed with the Houston Texans in 2023.
  • Expected to mentor the Texans quarterback room and perform duties as an emergency QB behind CJ Stroud and Davis Mills, Case suited up for 2 contests.
  • In the game against the Titans, Case went 23/36 for 229 yards and a TD in a surprising 19-16 win.

NOTES:

In bad taste, the Titans decided to wear their ‘throwback’ Oilers uniforms against Houston in Nashville. Furthermore the game was tabbed as a homecoming game for former players, and then head coach Mike Vrabel strolls out wearing a white Stetson- ALA former HOUSTON Oilers head coach Bum Phillips- for the game. (Bum Phillips notoriously didn’t back the Tennessee Titans, Bud Adams, or the Tennessee Oilers. He was HOUSTON through and through.)

Things lined up for the Titans too, as the Texans limped into the contest with injuries across the board to their starting lineup, including Nico Collins and CJ Stroud. Enter Case Keenum.

Keenum helped guide the Texans to the win over the Titans, making Tennessee the butt of all backfired jokes, and contributed to Mike Vrabel getting fired, by leading Houston to the upset- cementing Case’s legacy and place in Houston football lore.

As Case’s playing career enters its twilight, it’s believed that there will be no shortage of teams wanting to help him transition into the coaching ranks.

I really like Case, and when he resigned with Houston, I thought I’d try him again TTM. I was juiced to get him on these two cards. On top of that he’s a big time HOUSTON Oilers and Houston Texans fan, and thinks the colors should come home.