Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL, XFL

Thomas, Jordan (TE) ‘King Kong’

Panini Contenders 2018 Rookie Ticket, #144

CARD: Panini Contenders 2018 Rookie Ticket
ACQUIRED: EBay, 2023
MEMORABILIA: Jordan Thomas’ Gloves
ACQUIRED: In Person 2023, San Antonio Brahmas v Orlando Guardians

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Jordan Thomas played TE for Mississippi St from 2016-17.
  • In his Senior season he posted 22 receptions for 263 yards and 3 TDs.
  • At 6’5″, 277, Thomas made a massive target and the Texans, (who love drafting TEs), selecting him in the 6th round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
  • He started 10 games his rookie year, catching 20 passes for 215 yards and 4 TDs.
  • Jordan lost a lot of his 2019 to injury- and then got buried on the depth chart.
  • He signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2020 and caught a pass for a 3 yard TD.
  • He’d be claimed off of waivers by the Patriots that year during the season and waived just before the new year.
  • The Colts signed Thomas to a reserve contract and he’d be released in September of 2021.
  • In 2022, he signed a futures contract with the Lions and was released just a few months later.
  • In November of that year, Thomas joined up with the XFL as a draft choice of the Battlehawks.
  • He’d be cut in early 2023, but the Orlando Guardians quickly snatched him up.
  • Jordan was not short of highlights playing for the Guardians, and was a star for the team.
Jordan Thomas’ gloves

NOTES:

So I started talking to players as they got ready to hit the field. I recognized Jordan from his time with the Texans and pounded his shoulder pads and gave him words of encouragement. I told him I know he’s money and that he can kill it out there- just not against the Brahmas okay? He laughed at me and then hit the field.

On the first drive he was put in single coverage near the endzone. He caught the jump ball with ease, and as he lifted the ball into the air over the diminutive CB, two DBs attempted to jump and hit the ball out of Jordan’s giant hands. There was audible laughing at the DBs who failed to get anywhere near it. It was like King Kong was slapping down airplanes on top of the Empire State Building. It was great highlight film!

For the remainder of the game the Brahmas kept DB Kameron Kelly on Jordan and Kelly kept him relatively in check. They attempted to try the same play later in the game, but unfortunately there was a miscommunication between QB Dormandy and Jordan resulting in an incompletion.

The following week against his former team Jordan had another highlight worthy play against his former team- the Battlehawks. He caught an 84 yard catch and run on a fake punt for a TD. On the season he had 8 receptions for 148 yards and 3 TDs.

At half time during the game against the Guardians he laughed as he walked toward me and I yelled at him, “I want your gloves man!” He laughed. As the game ended in a Brahmas win, Jordan was one of the last players off the field. The kids were screaming and yelling, harassing players for anything. As Jordan approached they went into overdrive. He laughed again, and said, “I promised my man here for these gloves, took off the sweaty 3XXX gloves and handed the pair to me.

I totally blew it and forgot to pack his Texans card I had, so I went ahead and bought a certified card off of EBay. I hope to see him next year, though at the same time, I’d love to see him return back to the NFL.

NFL

Francis, Russ ‘All-World Tight End’ (1953-2023)

Upper Deck Legends 1997, #104

CARD: Upper Deck Legends 1997
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3 RECEIVED: 3/23 (59 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Russ Francis was a three year starter at TE for the Oregon Ducks.
  • It was really in his Junior year in 1974 he put up some outstanding numbers, catching 31 passes for 495 yards and 4 TDs.
  • A monster prospect, clocking in at 6’6″, 245, Russ not only had the hands, he had the size as well.
  • Russ was a slam dunk first round pick of the New England Patriots in 1975, taken 16th overall.
  • Russ chewed up the scenery his rookie year with the Pats, with 35 catches for 636 yards and 4 TDs.
  • In 1980, Russ had a career high 664 yards and 8 TDs on 41 receptions.
  • After the Patriots refused to give Russ a bonus for his Pro Bowl appearance, combined with how the team treated teammate Daryl Stingley after his paralization, Francis opted to retire.
  • Russ became a broadcaster briefly with ABC Sports, but after having a conversation with 49ers Bill Walsh, decided to come out of retirement in ’82.
  • Russ joined the ‘9ers, through a trade, just in time to help them build their dynasty, and helping the team win Super Bowl XIX in 1984.
  • He’d post a career high 44 receptions in 1985.
  • Russ played 7 games with the ‘9ers in 1987, before returning back to the Patriots.
  • He played one more year with New England in ’88, spending the entire ’89 campaign on IR, retiring soon thereafter.
  • Russ has had a robust life since retirement, participating in Wrestlemania II, dabbling in politics, hosting radio, and outdoor shows.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1976-’78
  • Polynesian Sports Hall of Fame (Contributor)
  • NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (1978)
  • Wrestlemania II

NOTES:

I really, really wanted Russ to be my first response of 2022, but he ended up responding a few months later. Still, a great response from Russ, who put a lot of inscriptions on the card. He also wrote a nice note saying that he, “Had a great time in Wrestlemania II!”

Russ has two nicknames. He was dubbed ‘All-Universe’ because he could do it all when he came into the NFL. His second, ‘All-World Tight End’ was given to him by Howard Cosell during a MNF contest.

I think Russ deserved this card as a legend, and a lot more credit than he gets. A prolific receiver during the dead ball era, if not for an injury and retiring suddenly, he easily could’ve topped out over 6k yards. Nothing to sneeze at when 5 seasons were during the infamous dead ball era.

Russ appears on the original Tecmo Super Bowl as a member of the San Fransisco 49ers. He is notable as he is the receiver for a play that can not be defended against that if you time the pass right, catches the ball on every throw, even under heavy blitz.

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EPITAPH:

10/1/23- Russ had recently completed the purchase of the Lake Placid Airways Scenic Tours Business. He was on in a single engine Cessna 177 Cardinal with the SVP of the Pilot’s Association, when the plane started experiencing engine trouble after take off. The plane was unable to return to the runway. -Francis was just 70 years old.

NFL

Green, Gerri

Sage 2019, #A67 Black

Card: Sage 2019
Acquired: 2019, Box Breaker

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Gerri Green played LB for Miss State from 2015-18.
  • Recorded 160 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 3 picks for 84 yards and a TD, 6 pass deflections and 2 fumble recoveries.
  • Selected in the 6th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
  • Waived at the end of camp, briefly spent time with the Patriots before rejoining the Colts.
  • Signed by the Redskins in 2020, and then was on and off the Roster of the Raiders through 2022, where he currently is a practice squad member of the Titans.

NOTES:

I knew I was pretty much done with Sage at this time. 2019 was when the bottom started really dropping out of the market for me. The design of the Sage 2019 set (especially inserts and base) is atrocious and the members of their autograph hits were so-so.