Tag Archives: new orleans saints

AAF, NFL, The Spring League, XFL

Silvers, Brandon

Topps AAF NOW 2019, #41

CARDS: Topps AAF Now 2019, Topps AAF 2019, Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: In Person 2023, Houston Roughnecks v. San Antonio Brahmas
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o New York Jets. TTM 2020, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Brandon Silvers played QB at Troy from 2014-2017.
  • Threw for 10,677 yards, 71 TDs, 29 picks, and 64.4% completions, with a 135.8 passer rating.
  • Finished second in school history in TDs and yards.
  • Had a tryout with the Saints following the 2018 NFL Draft but was not signed.
  • Was selected in the 3rd round by the Memphis Express during the AAF Quarterback Protect or Pick Draft in 2019.
  • Silvers faced an uphill battle behind Troy Cook, Christian Hackenberg, and Zach Mettenberger.
  • Cook was quickly out of the picture, with Hack taking over as starter and Silvers sliding in behind him.
  • Supplanted due to ineffectiveness, Silvers took over as starter but was quickly injured.
  • Mettenberg competently guided the Apollos until he was injured against the Stallions.
  • Silvers returned to the lineup with a vengeance in Week 6.
  • The Express in the meantime signed former NFL QB Johnny Manziel, who was chomping at the bit to take the reins from Brandon.
  • Silvers refused to relinquish his starting role, leading the team to an exciting win in OT over the Birmingham Iron in Week 7.
  • He’d then give the Apollos all they could handle in a 34-31 loss, before the league collapsed after their week 8 matchup.
  • Silvers briefly was on the radar of the Jets, seeing some off season time with them later that year.
  • In 2020, Brandon joined the XFL, playing for the Seattle Dragons under head coach Jim Zorn.
  • He’d throw for 539 yards and 6 TDs on 102 attempts.
  • 2021 saw him play for the Conquers of The Spring League, and then went unselected in the 2022 USFL Supplemental Player Draft.
  • Silvers returned to the XFL for 2023, as a member of the Houston Roughnecks.
  • He threw for 13 TDs and 1551 yards on 156 completions (262 passes) leading the Roughnecks to the playoffs.
  • The Roughnecks XFL roster was dispersed into the UFL draft pool for 2024.
  • Eventually Silvers made his way to St Louis where he backs up AJ McCarron.

ACCOLADES:

  • NCAA QB Freshman Record (70.5% completion rate- min. 250 passes)
Topps XFL 2020, #17
Topps AAF 2019, #11

NOTES:

I have been trying to get Brandon for sometime since he had 3 cards that I wanted signed. When the Roughnecks were around in 2020 I was a big fan, but when they returned in ’23, I switched over to the Brahmas because they were closer. I was hoping that the Brahmas would grab Silvers as their quarterback but he ended up in H-Town with Wade Phillips instead.

By the time the Roughnecks came to SA, I had figured out the best spot to get autographs from which was right next to the visitors end zone where the players were coming in and going out.

After the Roughnecks defeated the Brahmas in OT, he came over and kindly signed these 3 cards for me. Like many players he really loved those times in the AAF.

NFL

Porter, Rufus ‘Roof’

Gameday 1992, #469
Action Packed 1990, #256
Skybox 1992, #56
Action Packed 1991, #256
Pro Set 1989, #400

CARDS: Fleer 1990, ProSet 1989, Skybox 1992, Action Packed 1990, Action Packed 1991, Gameday 1992
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021 & 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 1/19/21 RECEIVED: 1/25/21 (6 days)
SENT: 9/25/23 RECEIVED: 10/13/23 (18 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Rufus Porter was a big, rangy LB that played college ball at Southern.
  • Going undrafted in 1988, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks and was a surprising diamond in the rough found by the franchise.
  • Recorded 16 special teams tackles, and saw time as a defensive end and nickle situations later in the season.
  • Recorded 10.5 sacks, and led Seattle with 4 forced fumbles in ’89.
  • Had another 10 sack appearance in ’91, and a 9.5 effort in ’92.
  • After two consecutive down seasons with the Seahawks, Rufus took his game to New Orleans in ’96.
  • Earned a gameball for his play against the Colts that season.
  • Played one final season in Tampa in 1997.

ACCOLADES:

  • 1988, ’89 Pro Bowl
  • Steve Largent Award 1991
Fleer 1990, #272

NOTES:

Rufus was blessed to come onto the NFL scene and get in on nearly all the big sets from the Big Bang of cards during the late 80s and early 90s. As he was on all my set needs, I got him on two cards back in 2021 and then realized he was in every other set. I didn’t want to put him on blast so soon after he started signing so I waited 2 years to ask for his autograph on these remaining set needs.

Oddly Rufus appears in the Action Packed series 3 times, almost scoring a trifecta at #256 in every set- only to appear as #257 in 1992.

It can not be emphasized how awesome many of these cards are. The neck roll was obligatory for many of the linebackers during this period and the Action Packed 1990 and the Skybox Impact ’92 really show it off. If you wanted to be an intimidator, a neck roll was a first good step.

Porter appears in all Tecmo Super Bowl games. He was affectionately referred to as ‘ROOF!’, By the Kingdome faithful who would yell his name after he made a big play.

AAF, Arena, NFL, XFL

Folkerts, Brian

Topps XFL 2020, #41

CARD: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas V Arlington Renegades

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Brian Folkerts played college ball for tiny Washburn University from 2008-11.
  • During that time for the Ichabods, Folkerts played both RT and LT for the school.
  • Although possessing the ideal size (6’4″, 306), he’d go unselected in the 2012 NFL Draft.
  • After being cut by the Saints in 2012, Folkerts joined the Arena Football League, playing FB for the San Jose Sabrecats in 2013.
  • He followed that up with a stint playing for the Carolina Panthers from 2013-15.
  • After a short stint with both the ‘9ers and Rams in 2015, Brian rejoined the Panthers briefly again in 2017.
  • Sprained his ankle in the preseason and was cut.
  • In 2019, signed with the San Antonio Commanders of the Alliance of American Football.
  • Played C and blocked up front for one of the league’s better ground games.
  • After the AAF folded, Brian was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL in 2020.
  • With COVID scrambling the XFL before the season concluded, Brian stayed in playing shape.
  • In 2023, was selected by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL 3.0.
  • Has been dabbling in coaching since COVID and in the XFL offseason works as an OL coach for Wingate University in North Carolina.

NOTES:

I was partially miffed and shocked at how many Commanders and former AAFers ended up with the Renegades in 2023. I packed a bunch of Renegade players cards along with my Kenneth Farrow’s, and while Kenneth was signing, both Brian and De’Vante Bausby came over to pay high respects to my Farrow Commanders jersey. I was extremely flattered.

Later my neighbors with me at the game, got field passes for after the game to wander around. They had enough for 5, and invited me, so I said, “Why not?” I rushed the field for a few autographs, and saw Brian standing there with his family taking photos. He was gracious enough to sign his card, take a photo with me, and talk about the Alliance and the Commanders with me. (He also agreed that the league was second to none as far as entertainment was concerned.)

After the game I posted this photo up on Twitter. (I didn’t realize how nice the Renegades icy whites look up close.) He also retweeted it and again had nothing to say but high praises of the Commanders faithful.

With the Commanders gone and the Brahmas reeling, the Renegade players were doing their hardest sell to adopt me.