Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

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!

CFL, IFL, NFL, The Spring League, XFL

Dixon, Ahmad

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Ahmad Dixon played college ball at Baylor from 2010-’14 at defensive back.
  • Over his college careers with the Bears, he had 288 combined tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 9 pass deflections, and 4 picks for 72 yard and a TD.
  • Selected in the 7th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
  • Signed to the Vikings practice squad, and then to the Bears active roster during the 2014 season.
  • Had 5 special teams tackles and a fumble recovery for the Bears.
  • Signed by the Dolphins and quickly cut, Dixon ended the year back on the Vikings and was cut in 2015
  • Dixon tried his hand in the CFL and appeared in one game for the Edmonton Eskimos in 2017.
  • Played for the South team of The Spring League in 2018.
  • Resigned with the Esks that year but was released in final cut downs.
  • Drafted by the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL 2020 during the 6th round.
  • Before COVID ended the season, Dixon had 44 tackles in 4 games for LA.
  • Joined the Massachusetts Pirates of the IFL in 2021, posting 49 tackles, 4 pass breakups, an interception and a sack.
  • Played for the Philadelphia Stars in 2022, and started 9 contests, recording 41 total tackles, 1 pass deflections, 1 pick, and 2 forced fumbles.
  • Signed with the Pirates again for 2023 but did not make the squad.

NOTES:

This card is an uncorrected error. Topps accidentally spelled Ahmad’s name, ‘Ahmed’. Cheap certified autographed cards for my favorite sets are a no brainier through eBay.