Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

NFL, ufl

Mond, Kellen

CARDS: Panini Elite 2021, Panini Prism 2021, Panini Illusions 2021, Panini Mosaic 2021, Panini Contenders 2021 RotY, Panini Donruss 2021, Panini Prestige 2021, Score 2021, Panini Luminance 2021, Panini Absolute 2021, Panini Illusions 2021 (Vikings), Upper Deck UFL 2025
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, Brahmas Rally. eBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kellen Mond played QB for Texas A&M from 2017-’20.
  • Over his college career he completed 801/1358 passes for 71 TDs to 27 interceptions.
  • He also ran for 1608 yards and 22 TDs on 438 carries.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Never really given a chance, as he was drafted by the FO, while HC Mike Zimmer wanted someone else.
  • He completed 2 of 3 passes for 5 yards in a backup role, despite never speaking to his head coach.
  • Signed with the Cleveland Browns after being cut in 2022 but didn’t make the team’s final roster.
  • Joined the Colts practice squad in 2023.
  • Signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 but didn’t make the squad.
  • Jumped to the UFL for the 2025 season where he was named the Brahmas starter.
  • Again Mond dropped right into a dysfunctional FO and coaching situation in San Antonio.
  • With HC Wade Philips health ailing, and a pitched battle for control inside the organization, their OC AJ Smith would quit abruptly after week 2.
  • Mond completed 98 of 171 passes for 850 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions in 7 starts.
  • After the Brahmas were unceremoniously euthanized new ownership of the UFL, Mond did not return to the league for 2026.

ACCOLADES:

  • MVP 2021 Senior Bowl

NOTES:

Not going to lie. I took advantage of the event. There were no lines or gatekeepers. The players were highly accessible and friendly- and I was STACKED with cards. I think Kellen got through 15 of them before GM Marc Lillibridge came up and shooed me away. I took it like a champ and Kellen was kind enough to just sign, sign, sign. Kellen was pretty cool. We talked about Htown and the Woodlands for a bit. (I ended up sending 3 or 4 to Joe per our rolling agreement for him to send me additional cards and I skim a few for myself to add to my own).

I really think Kellen had some terrible, terrible luck falling into two dysfunctional front office/ head coaching situations. The UFL doesn’t know what it wants to be honestly. Is it a farm league to the NFL or a professional league of its own? Kellen has some great tools, but he just needs time and the UFL could’ve been a great place for him to grow.

NFL

Harvin, Percy

CARD: Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Dress for Success Certified Materials, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Freshman Orientation Certified Materials
ACQUIRED: 2026, eBay

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Percy Harvin played college ball at Florida from 2006-2008.
  • The do it all receiver accounted for 3,781 yards and 22 TDs over his college career.
  • He rushed for 1852 on 194 carries (19 TDs), and caught 133 passes for 1929 yards (13 TDs).
  • Also a track man, Percy was once clocked an astounding 4.32 40.
  • First round choice of the Minnesota Vikings (22 overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft.
  • Went on to have an outstanding rookie season catching 60 passes for 790 yards and 6 TDs, rushing for an additional 135 more, and kick returing 42 times for 1156 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Started a career high 14 games in 2011, catching 87 passes for 967 yards and 6 TDs.
  • He also rushed for a season career high 345 yards on 52 carries scoring 2 times.
  • Over career returned 5 kickoffs for TDs, including 3 over 100 (101, 104, 105).
  • Traded to Seahawks in 2013 for a first round and a bevvy of other picks.
  • Due to injury, didn’t make his debut until late in November that season.
  • Still he helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl title by returning the second half kickoff 87 yards for a TD.
  • Traded to the Jets midway through the 2014 season and recorded over 1K yards from scrimmage.
  • Signed with the Bills in 2015.
  • Retired in 2016- citing injury issues, but returned mid-season to play for the Bills.
  • During the 2017 NFL off-season, Percy announced his final retirement from the sport.

ACCOLADES:

  • 2009 NFL Rookie of the Year
  • Pro Bowl 2009
  • NFL Special Teams Player of the Week 2010 (Week 6)
  • NFC Special Teams Player of the Month 2012 (September)

NOTES:

I have been seeing weakness in the certified mid tier/ ‘hall of very good’ autograph market on eBay and really pounced to get this one. Percy Harvin, while never a Hall of Famer, was memorable enough that his cards have really maintained their value in the market. I tend to snipe with one bid at the end of the auction. That’s it. When I bid, I always put my max bid and add two to three cents to it- and that’s how I won this one.

If there was a Percy Harvin autograph I wanted these were them. Not only are they from subsets I really like, one of them is a rare tricolor patch.

Later I added this really nice Freshman Orientation patch auto from that same Donruss set too. I made an offer to the seller and they went for it. I think if I need anything else of Percy it’d just be his Score 2009 auto and that’d be it for the trifecta.

Harvin was injury plagued and that definitely shortened his career. He frequently suffered from debilitating migraines that kept him out of games. Whether or not that contributed to his locker room issues and general attitude remains to be seen.

NFL

Mularkey, Mike ‘Inspector Gadget’

CARDS: Pro Set 1991 HoF Photo Contest, Fleer 1990, Score 1992, Playbook
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 6/13/22 RECEIVED: 6/24/22 (11 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mike Mularkey played college ball at Florida from 1980 to ’82.
  • He caught 55 passes for 628 yards and 3 TDs over his college career.
  • In 1983 signed with the San Fransisco 49ers as a 9th round pick, but ultimately finished the season on the roster of the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Caught first TD pass against Buccaneers in 1984, for one yard.
  • Known as a blocking TE, played for the Vikings through the ’88 season, catching 42 passes for 464 yards and 5 TDs.
  • Signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1989 and had a career high 22 receptions for 326 yards and a TD.
  • Recorded career highs again in ’90 catching 32 receptions for 365 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Retired after the 1991 season.
  • After a year off, went into coaching with Concordia University (MN) and was there for two years.
  • Quickly moved back to the NFL in 1994 working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a quality control and then later a TE coach.
  • Returned to Pittsburgh in ’96 as a TE coach, and then later as the offensive coordinator (2001-’03).
  • In 2004 took his first head coaching job in Buffalo and coached the team to a 14-18 record over two seasons as the team had to manage a QB controversy in 2005.
  • After an odd season with the Nick Saban Dolphins as OC in 2006, and then Cam Cameron as his TE coach in 2007, Mike hopped over to the Falcons in 2008 where he was OC again.
  • Head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for one season in 2012, posting a 2-14 record.
  • Stayed in the AFC South as the TE coach for the Tennessee Titans in 2013.
  • Then after Ken Whisenhunt was fired during the season in 2015, Mularkey finished out the season, posting a 2-7 record.
  • Kept on board as the HC, Whisenhunt rebuilt the Titans, and in 2016 and 2017 posted a 9-7 record- making the playoffs in the latter.
  • Served as a TE coach for the Falcons in 2019, retiring from coaching after the season.

ACCOLADES:

  • Assistant Coach of the Year 2001
  • Offensive Coordinator of the Year 2010

NOTES:

Yes! What a play drawn up by Mike! Randle El Shovel 68 (Pitch to Randle El. Shovel to Jerome.) Pretty neat! He even wrote in a few player names including Bettis, Hines, Kordell Stewart and Randle El. So we know for certain this play came from his golden era with the Steelers between 2001-’03. Mike’s nickname ‘Inspector Gadget’ came from his penchant for gadget plays during his time with Pittsburgh.

To be honest, Mike got no respect. I remember when the Titans hired him as their head coach, everyone, even flaming tacks fans were snickering or uninspired by the choice- but much to Mike’s credit, he did build a successful team, and then he was run out of town.. after making the playoffs!