I waited patiently to get AC on all of these and sent out to him in 2019, but failed out. After seeing he was signing again, I went ahead and gave him another shot with a little cash to grease the wheels. All of these are set needs, so I consider these successes a major coup.
Greg Camarillo walked on at Stanford as a punter in 2001, but eventually was able to settle in at WR.
Caught 18 passes in both his Junior and Senior campaigns.
Finished his college career with 45 catches for 599 yards.
Was not selected in the 2005 NFL draft, but picked up as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers.
He’d make the team as a practice squad member and was cut in 2007.
Signed off of waivers by the Miami Dolphins.
Didn’t really see much playing time until late in the 2007 season.
Blew up on the Baltimore Ravens catching 3 passes for 103 yards and a 64 yard TD, helping the Dolphins secure their only win of the season.
The 64 yard play would be the longest of the year for the hapless Dolphins.
In 2008, saw increased playtime, including an 11 catch 111 yard performance in a win over the Denver Broncos.
Joined the Vikings in 2010 playing for Minnesota through 2011.
Finished career in 2012 with the New Orleans Saints.
NOTES:
I loved these action shots of Greg, and being that they were also some set needs it made sense to get his autograph on them. He’s got a pretty solid autograph. I love the loops in the G and C. Greg is both Mexican American and of Jewish heritage.
Cullen played high school football in Texas, so he grew up wanting to play for the University of Texas.
Declining scholarships to other schools, he opted to walk on at UT in 1999.
Worked his way into the lineup as a longsnapper, while moonlighting at TE graduating in 2004.
Free agent signee of the Minnesota Vikings that year, and he quickly became the team’s starting longsnapper.
Cullen held the position down until 2010, when a back injury sidelined him.
Returned to the Vikings and played for the team through 2014.
He’d retire after being cut in 2015.
NOTES:
Longsnappers hold a certain ‘lunchpail’ lore to fans of football. The most unsung skilled player position in the NFL, if you don’t have someone who can 100% snap that ball from the line of scrimmage to a punter or holder’s hands, you’re taking a risk at it being blocked. As such, the position has become a sort of ironman position in the league. It’s not a glorified $20 million dollar a year job- as such, these guys once they get locked in, many of them play 10-15 seasons easy for the franchise, exclusively doing longsnapping.
My friend Mark has sort of cornered the market on Cullen. Apparently he has mutual acquaintances through him and was able to get this autograph on an off and on set need for me.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
