Tag Archives: Minnesota Vikings

NFL

Heinicke, Taylor

sage15 Heinicke

Card: Sage 2015
Acquired: Box Breaker, 2015

Taylor Heinicke turned Colonial Athletic Association Old Dominion into a contender with his arm, and  a school record 11,483 career passing yards and 102 touchdown passes.  He was also an adept runner and handled punting duties from time to time. In 2013, Taylor threw for a record 730 passing yards, which stands as a Division I record. Despite this, Taylor’s draft analysis did not stand up well, with many scouts also knocking his size.  He went unselected in the 2015 NFL draft. Although he was courted by the Falcons, Taylor felt more like he had a chance going to Minnesota.   Taylor called it, “A dream come true,” to play in the NFL and for the Vikings.  Heinike had a great camp and preseason going 27 of 41 for 279 yards and two touchdowns  in the preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.  Comfortable with incumbent Teddy Bridgewater and Shaun Hill moving forward, Minnesota cut Christian Ponder.  While Taylor has not dressed for any games, he looks to challenge 14 year veteran Shaun Hill in the near future for the backup job.

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Singletary, Mike (2)

aprks92 singletaryCard: Action Packed Rookies 1992
Acquired: 2015, Future Considerations
See Also: Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary went from being a golden boy in coaching cirlces to a pariah after his tenure as the head coach in San Fransisco. Fired with one game left in the 2010 season,  it’s hard to accept sometimes how harsh the mistress of football can be.  Mike joined Leslie Frazier’s  staff on the Minnesota Vikings in 2011. He’d hold the unique position of Linebackers Coach/ Special Assistant to the Coach.

When the Vikings cleaned house after the 2013 season, Mike was not retained.  In the meantime, Mike went on an introspective journey of sorts, shouldering the burden of his shortcomings in San Fransisco. He has spent time travelling to and learning from former coaches, former players, and even trainers, trying to refine his knowledge, preparation, and communication skills.  Mike wants to coach again, and at this point, it’s a crime that he hasn’t come closer to coaching opportunities around the league, with only an interview for the Giants in 2016.

My friend Nathan was at the Baylor vs Texas football game in 2015 that I couldn’t attend. He was nice enough to spot me on this autograph I needed for the Action Packed 1992 Rookies set.  It was important that I get an in person autograph of Singletary as it has long been rumored that he uses a ghost signer.

CFL, NFL

Josey, Henry

sage14 hjosey

Card: Sage 2014
Acquired: 2015, Box Breaker

Henry Josey is chasing the dream and you have to admire a man like that. After running for 263 yards in one game as a Sophmore for Missou, catching 175 passes, and running for over a thousand yards twice in his career, you’d think a guy’s name with 4.4 speed would be etched on a map somewhere for a professional team, but things didn’t work out that way for Josey.

Going undrafted he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014. While he had a great preseason rushing for the Eagles, averaging 6.6 yards per carry on 225 yards, he was part of the final painful round of cuts.  From there, the Barry Sanders sized running back has been on rosters of the Colts, Jaguars, and the Vikings -just in 2014.

After being cut by the Vikings in 2015, Henry signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL.  He rushed for 30 yards, and had 4 receptions in his debut season for the Argos.