CARD: TNT XFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Arlington Renegades
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Salvatore Cannella played TE/WR at Auburn from 2017-’19.
Oft used at the majority ground and pound school, he provided mismatches with his unusual size (6’5″, 228), speed, and hands.
He finished his college career with 25 catches for 330 yards and 5 TDs.
Undrafted, Sal played in 2020 for the TSL Generals of the Spring Football League.
He put in his all catching 5 passes for 66 yards and a TD in the Spring League Championship Game.
After a workout with the Colts, he played for the Generals again in 2021.
This led to short stints with a mini-camp at Chicago, and on the off season roster of the Dolphins that year.
The TSL retooled as the USFL, and Sal found himself as the second TE off the board in the positional phase of the league’s draft by the New Orleans Breakers in 2022.
Sal had a great season, catching 34 passes for 368 yards and a TD.
Shortly thereafter he spent roughly a month on the Packers offseason roster.
Cannella was a huge defection for the USFL, when he was drafted and signed by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL in 2023.
He finished second in receiving among TEs with 42 receptions for 415 yards, and was a key cog in the Renegades XFL Championship victory.
After offseason stints with both the Seahawks and Vikings, he resigned with the Renegades for the ’24 campaign.
Sal concluded the season with 53 catches for 497 yards and 6 TDs.
He joined the Bucs for the offseason, but didn’t make the squad.
ACCOLADES:
All USFL Team 2022
All XFL 2023
NOTES:
A little over a week before the game, I went ahead and created and ordered cards of Sal and Luis Perez. (I wasn’t going to be caught flat footed like the previous season.) I was pretty happy with the results.
When I went to the game, I arrived at my normal seats. The players were doing warmups and I flagged down Sal. He looked genuinely touched that I made a card of him and that it was of such high production value. Sal signed the card, and I let him keep the extras I had as thanks.
So right after I got De’Veon on a few cards at the Roughnecks event way, way back in 2020, the XFL Topps set was released. In 2023, when the Brahmas played the Renegades in SA, I finally figured out my strategy for getting autographs, but it was only after the Renegades game that I settled in. It’s pretty much worked like a charm since.
After the Brahmas beat the Renegades, I was able to get De’Veon to come over. Any of the players who were ex-AAFers gravitated towards me to give me props. De’Veon for example played for Orlando.
I also reminded him that I was that fan that flagged him down at the scrimmage that the Vipers had against the Roughnecks back in 2020. He smiled widely and said, “I REMEMBER YOU!!!” We exchanged pleasantries and I tried to get his glove off of him but he had already promised it to the kids across the way. No big deal. Next year!
Ontiwaun Carter played RB at Arizona from 1991-94.
In each year he saw his rushing yards increase, to a career high 1,163 as a senior.
At the time his 3,501 total rushing yards ranked 2nd, and his 805 carries ranked first in school history.
Signed as a FA with the Miami Dolphins in ’95 but was among the final cuts.
Joined the NFLE in 1996 playing for the Rhein Fire, rushing 22 times for 110 yards.
He returned to the league in 1997, and as the defacto #1 back for the Fire, ran for 587 yards on 120 carries and 2 TDs to lead the WLAF.
Key cog in the franchise appearing in World Bowl ’97.
Started working with troubled youths back in the states.
Returned for one last season with the Rhein Fire in 2000.
Went into ministry after playing days were over and is the founder of Restorer of the Breach Ministries in Las Vegas.
NOTES:
Pastor Carter was kind enough to write me a nice note, thanking me for bringing a smile to his face. -These are the responses that make what I do feel rewarding.
RUSH
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
218
1020
4.25
2
50
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
LG
26
133
5.1
0
15
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
