CARDS: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified ACQURIED: Ebay 2019, IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Washington Defenders
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Aussie Brad Wing played Australian Football growing up.
He went to college at LSU from 2012-’13 where he gained notoriety as a punter.
Punted 118 times for 5261 yards and a 44.8 yard average.
At the end of 2012, he was suspended for undisclosed rules- of which Brad admitted was continuous failed drug tests.
After going undrafted in 2013, he spent camp that year with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He’d make the squad of the Steelers the following year and see action punting in all 16 games in 2014.
Traded to the New York Giants in 2015 for a 7th round pick.
Punted for NY for the next 3 seasons and became a fan favorite.
Had a league high 95 punts in 2017, but also a league leading 2 blocks.
Signed with the Memphis Express of the AAF in 2018- for play in the 2019 season.
During the season he’d be cut for unknown reasons.
Over the next few years Brad struggled with mental health and sobriety.
In late 2022, the San Antonio Brahmas selected Wing to play in the XFL23.
He’d see action in all 10 games, and lead the league statistically across the board.
On the season, he had 2010 yards on 42 punts (47.2 yards per punt), and a 72 yard long punt- but was snubbed for All-XFL honors.
Brad signed with the Steelers in 2023, and punted in 2 contests for the team.
He returned to the Brahmas (now in the UFL) in 2024 where he’s a fan favorite.
On the season, he had 35 punts for 1598 yards, a 45.7 yard average, and 12 of those punts dropped inside the 20.
He entered UFL and San Antonio lore when in the 2024 opener he completed a fake punt for 40 yards to Alex Mollette who rumbled in for a TD right before the half against the DC Defenders.
NOTES:
Finally. I got Brad Wing of the Memphis Express (and Brahmas). Mark (MSB) got Brad a while ago through a family address, but I felt that I had other priorities so I waited on this one. When he got signed by the Brahmas I thought it was fortuitous, so I put his card aside. It took the entire season to nab him on his AAF base card, even though he was very friendly with fans.
When Brad was snubbed for the All XFL team in ’23 I ranted about it on Twitter. His family liked my post and agreed with me.
His father, Dave, played professionally in the NFLE for the Scottish Claymores.
Channing suited up for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL in 2020.
After the league folded due to COVID, he returned to the CFL and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, whom he’d been with briefly before signing with the XFL.
In 2022, he played for the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL.
He’d intercept 7 passes for 121 yards and make 14 tackles.
Afterwards, briefly was on the offseason roster of the Washington Commanders.
Although drafted by the Battlehawks of the XFL 23, Stribling opted to resign with the Stars.
With the USFL and XFL merged, Stribling was drafted by the Birmingham Stallions in the 2024 player dispersal draft.
Ultimately ended up on the roster of the Battlehawks- but was cut during the regular season.
NOTES:
Channing was on a shortlist of players I really wanted since he was impossible to get TTM and he had… four(?) cards I was looking to get signed. Since players didn’t really pay any attention to me pregame, I decided to troll the Battlehawks players.
I yelled at Channing that he wasn’t fooling anyone, since he changed his number from 41 to 14. (Wikipedia even showed it as 41.) I then heckled him about his time with the Express. He smiled and after the game gladly came over and inked these 4 cards. When he looked at them, he called them ‘classic’.
CARDS: Topps AAF Now 2019, Topps AAF 2019, Topps XFL 2020 ACQUIRED: In Person 2023, Houston Roughnecks v. San Antonio Brahmas FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o New York Jets. TTM 2020, C/o Home
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Brandon Silvers played QB at Troy from 2014-2017.
Threw for 10,677 yards, 71 TDs, 29 picks, and 64.4% completions, with a 135.8 passer rating.
Finished second in school history in TDs and yards.
Had a tryout with the Saints following the 2018 NFL Draft but was not signed.
Was selected in the 3rd round by the Memphis Express during the AAF Quarterback Protect or Pick Draft in 2019.
Silvers faced an uphill battle behind Troy Cook, Christian Hackenberg, and Zach Mettenberger.
Cook was quickly out of the picture, with Hack taking over as starter and Silvers sliding in behind him.
Supplanted due to ineffectiveness, Silvers took over as starter but was quickly injured.
Mettenberg competently guided the Apollos until he was injured against the Stallions.
Silvers returned to the lineup with a vengeance in Week 6.
The Express in the meantime signed former NFL QB Johnny Manziel, who was chomping at the bit to take the reins from Brandon.
Silvers refused to relinquish his starting role, leading the team to an exciting win in OT over the Birmingham Iron in Week 7.
He’d then give the Apollos all they could handle in a 34-31 loss, before the league collapsed after their week 8 matchup.
Silvers briefly was on the radar of the Jets, seeing some off season time with them later that year.
In 2020, Brandon joined the XFL, playing for the Seattle Dragons under head coach Jim Zorn.
He’d throw for 539 yards and 6 TDs on 102 attempts.
2021 saw him play for the Conquers of The Spring League, and then went unselected in the 2022 USFL Supplemental Player Draft.
Silvers returned to the XFL for 2023, as a member of the Houston Roughnecks.
He threw for 13 TDs and 1551 yards on 156 completions (262 passes) leading the Roughnecks to the playoffs.
The Roughnecks XFL roster was dispersed into the UFL draft pool for 2024.
Eventually Silvers made his way to St Louis where he backs up AJ McCarron.
ACCOLADES:
NCAA QB Freshman Record (70.5% completion rate- min. 250 passes)
Topps XFL 2020, #17Topps AAF 2019, #11
NOTES:
I have been trying to get Brandon for sometime since he had 3 cards that I wanted signed. When the Roughnecks were around in 2020 I was a big fan, but when they returned in ’23, I switched over to the Brahmas because they were closer. I was hoping that the Brahmas would grab Silvers as their quarterback but he ended up in H-Town with Wade Phillips instead.
By the time the Roughnecks came to SA, I had figured out the best spot to get autographs from which was right next to the visitors end zone where the players were coming in and going out.
After the Roughnecks defeated the Brahmas in OT, he came over and kindly signed these 3 cards for me. Like many players he really loved those times in the AAF.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
