Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

AAF, NFL

Johnson, Charles

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o The Philadelphia Eagles
Sent: 4/10 Received: 7/26 (107 days)

Charles Johnson was the big bodied playmaker in Steve Spurrier’s Sun N Gun offense at Wide Receiver. Over 8 games, he caught 45 passes (70 targets) primarily from Garrett Gilbert, for 687 yards, 5 TDs and a 2 point conversion. His 687 yards and 70 targets were a league mark. Charles best game came against the San Antonio Commanders in Week 2, as he set AAF records with 10 catches for 192 yards and a TD.

“He’s done a fantastic job since he’s been here. He got himself acclimated to the system, and he and I have great rapport.”

– Apollos QB Garrett Gilbert

Charles Johnson’s football story starts at Antelope Valley Community College back in 2008. He caught 24 passes for 231 yards and 3 TDs, and then at Eastern Kentucky catching 3 passes for 63 yards. He transferred to Grand Valley and reshirted for a year. Returning to the gridiron in 2011 he blew the doors off of the college recording 56 receptions for 1030 yards and 15 TDs. Johnson followed that season up with an equally impressive Senior campaign with 72 receptions for 1,199 yards and 16 TDs.

Although he was not invited to the NFL combine in 2013, and hailing from a small school, Charles turned heads with his 4.39 40 on his school’s Pro Day. He parlayed his efforts to sneak onto draft boards as a 7th round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Earning a spot on the team’s practice squad, Charles was signed away by the WR needy Browns, where he spent 2013 and 2014.

He then spent the next 3 seasons with the Vikings from 2014-2016. It was with the Vikes Johnson saw the most success, cobbling together 31 catches for 475 yards and 2 TDs during 2014. Hampered by injuries and inconsistency, Johnson struggled through 2015 and 2016.

Charles signed with the Panthers in 2017, but did not make the squad. The following year in 2018 he joined the Jets, but was cut mid-year and elected to join the AAF.

After the disappointing end to the league, Charles signed within the first few days of the AAF free agent frenzy. When I saw his name popped up on the transaction boards for the Eagles, I didn’t hesitate for a second and sent out to him the following week.

As one of the older players in the AAF, Charles was of interest to many scouts in the NFL and there was a lot of chatter always surrounding what a great story he was for the league, and how just getting back to basics had really helped him fall back in love with the game. I got his autograph on his lone AAF card, and although they did come out with a Topps NOW card of him- I thought that Topps really missed out on the certified autograph boat with him.

NFL

Coleman, Justin

Card: Sage 2015   (171/250)
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

Justin Coleman played for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2011-2014. He saw action in all four years for the school posting 157 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 interceptions for 106 yards and a TD, with 17 pass deflections. Despite his numbers, Coleman’s overall pedestrian 40 time (4.53) combined with his size (5’11”, 185) caused him to drop out of the draft. He’d sign as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings after the 2015 Draft but be released in August. Claimed by the Patriots, he’d be cut the following day. The Seattle Seahawks signed Justin to their practice squad the day after that- and then the Patriots came back three days later and signed Justin to their active roster. Whew! Talking about a whirlwind tour.

Justin ended up being a key player in the Patriots’ secondary, playing in 10 games and starting 2. He’d finish his rookie year with 23 total tackles, 5 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery. Although he played for the team in 2016, he only started 1 game and had 11 total tackles and 3 pass deflections.

The Patriots traded Coleman technically back to the Seahawks in 2017 for a seventh round pick. Coleman started 5 games for the Legion of Boom recording 2 interceptions for 58 yards and 2 touchdowns, to go along with 9 pass deflections, 1.5 sacks, and 35 tackles. Moving forward through 2018 with the departure of Richard Sherman, it looked as though the Seahawks were hoping that Coleman would be a major player for the team. He became their primary nickelback and produced a career high 51 total tackles, .5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 10 pass deflections, and returned a fumble for a TD against the 49ers.

Literally at the time of this post Justin was inking a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions. As offenses continue to evolutionize, defenses are forced to catch up and the specialized slot corner or nickelback is now in extreme demand. That being said, Justin is now the highest paid slot defender in the league.

NFL, University of Texas

Griffin, Cedric (2) ‘Griff’

Cards: Upper Deck 2006, Score Select 2008, Adrenalyn 2009
Acquired: In Person, 2018
See Also: Cedric Griffin

Wow, so I went out to this unbearably hot event at Del Valley stadium to get Cedric Griffin and Aaron Ross in the middle of July. That’s dedication. Anyway, it was a really good and encouraging camp for the kids. There were some great speeches from the players, and they were more than happy to provide autographs to anyone and everyone.

I patiently waited until the end. A kid kept backing up nervously, so I told him to go ahead and get Cedric’s autograph before me. Cedric and the kid looked at me and laughed. It was his son.

Cedric told me that he loved every moment of the NFL experience and cheerfully penned these 3 cards for me in no time flat.

I previously had gotten Griffin on a card or two a few years ago. I gave away the Adrenalyn card -even though I really liked it, so I had always wanted to get Cedric again on a few more cards including the Upper Deck 2006 rookie debut- which I seem to have carved out a small niche in collecting. I don’t like that particular card. It appears that somebody Photoshopped the background very poorly. The Score Select 2008 is an okay card, but the chrome is a bit garish. Thankfully, Cedric’s bold silver autograph makes up for the design descrepancies on each card.