Tag Archives: New England Patriots

AAF, NFL, The Spring League, usfl, XFL

Wright, Scooby ‘Shark-Dog’

Topps AAF 2019 Certified, #AU-SW
Topps AAF 2019, #28
Topps XFL 2020, #11

CARDS: Topps AAF 2019, Topps XFL 2020, Topps AAF Certified 2019
ACQUIRED: 2019, Box Breaker. 2020, Future Considerations. TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 8/15 RECEIVED: 11/4 (81 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Scooby played LB for Arizona and saw playing time right out of the gate as a true Freshman in 2013.
  • In 3 years (27 games), he had 236 total tackles, 38 TFL, 14 sacks, and 6 FF.
  • Drafted by the Browns late in the 7th round (2016), Scooby has seen much of his NFL career on and off the practice squad.
  • Joined the Cardinals late in 2016, and was on and off the regular season squad and practice squad through 2018.
  • In 2018, Wright was a territorial allocation of the Arizona Hotshots of the AAF and played with the team during its abbreviated season in 2019 (8 tackles).
  • Spent 2019 on the practice squad of the New England Patriots.
  • 2020, saw Scoob take his game to the XFL where he played for the DC Defenders, notching 17 tackles, before the league ended operations due to COVID.
  • After playing for the Alphas of the Spring League that year, Scoob reappeared on the radar of Spring Football in 2022 with the Birmingham Stallions.
  • It was with the Stallions, Scoob etched his name into Spring Football lore.
  • He had 52 TT, 3 sacks, and 2 FF for Birmingham in ’22.
  • During the Championship game that year, Shark-Dog had a spectacular pick 6 for the go ahead score.
  • Spent 2023 on IR.

ACCOLADES:

  • USFL 2022 Defensive Player of the Week – Week 4

NOTES:

I am very glad to finally close the book on Scooby. After the Hotshots beat the Commanders in that final game, I tried to get him but he was quick to go to the locker room but I had no luck. In 2020, when he joined the Defenders, my friend Seth, offered to get his autograph at the Defenders team event. He came through in spades and I was able to get him in this beautiful gold pen.

Later Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus), helped me out with Shark-Dog’s address. I finally got around to sending this XFL 2020 card to him, after I found out that there was going to be no USFL card of him. He was nice enough to sign both XFL 2020 cards I sent, as one was for my friend Seth.

I sorta blew it though because I had a Leaf Draft card I could’ve sent among others, but I guess I’ll just have to get him after the USFL and XFL merge.

During his time in the USFL Scooby has earned the nickname ‘Shark-dog’ based on his unique defensive celebration. As he put it to the sideline reporter: “I had to go Shark-Dog on them. Half Shark, half Dog.”

NFL, XFL

Beavers, Willie

Topps XFL 2020, #171

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: IP, XFL 2023 Championship Game

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Willie Beavers was a 4th round pick out of Western Michigan by the Minnesota Vikings in 2016.
  • Beavers has kept the dream alive and his agent busy since then, seeing tours with the Vikings, Patriots and Seahawks in 2016-’17.
  • After concluding his time with the Seahawks in 2018, spent a bit of time with the Bears as well that year.
  • After a short stint with the 9ers in 2019, played for the XFL Dallas Renegades in 2020.
  • Great film allowed him to return to the NFL, where Willie got practice squad for the Falcons later that year and into 2021.
  • Signed with the Commanders in ’22, but was injured and released.
  • Returned to the XFL to play with the Arlington Renegades in 2023, starting 5 contests.

NOTES:

The Renegades had just pulled off a huge upset in the XFL Championship game over the Defenders, and after the celebration at midfield, Dallas players were rightfully a combination of delirious, elated, and exhausted. Willie was slowly milling off the field, and as the throng of people around me called him over, he didn’t budge until I called him by name. He slowly ambled over took selfies and signed a card for me. I told him how much I appreciate every one of them and to keep living the dream!

NFL

Rakoczy, Gregg

Fleer 1990, #57
Fleer 1991, #41
Pro Set 1990, #476

CARDS: Fleer 1991, Pro Set 1990, Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 4/12 RECEIVED: 4/22 (10 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Gregg Rakoczy was a versatile OL that was a 2nd round pick out of Miami (FL), by the Cleveland Browns in 1987.
  • 2 year starter at center, returned to guard after the return of longtime stalwart OL Mike Baab 1990.
  • Ironically signed with the Patriots in 1991, essentially replacing Mike Baab at center.
  • Played for NE through the 1992 season, playing in 81 games, starting 48.

ACCOLADES:

  • All-Rookie Team 1987

NOTES:

Gregg’s 1990 Fleer is just an excellent in the dirt shot. He has a great autograph for a big man, and while I find his Fleer 1991 card to be absolutely abysmal, it’s not a bad addition to my collection. His Fleer 1990 has an uncorrected error, with the blurb on the back referring to him as ‘Greg’. Only had 7 cards, but two of them (Pacific 1991 as well) made this mistake.