Tag Archives: new orleans saints

NFL, ufl

Mond, Kellen

CARDS: Panini Elite 2021, Panini Prism 2021, Panini Illusions 2021, Panini Mosaic 2021, Panini Contenders 2021 RotY, Panini Donruss 2021, Panini Prestige 2021, Score 2021, Panini Luminance 2021, Panini Absolute 2021, Panini Illusions 2021 (Vikings), Upper Deck UFL 2025
ACQUIRED: IP 2025, Brahmas Rally. eBay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kellen Mond played QB for Texas A&M from 2017-’20.
  • Over his college career he completed 801/1358 passes for 71 TDs to 27 interceptions.
  • He also ran for 1608 yards and 22 TDs on 438 carries.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
  • Never really given a chance, as he was drafted by the FO, while HC Mike Zimmer wanted someone else.
  • He completed 2 of 3 passes for 5 yards in a backup role, despite never speaking to his head coach.
  • Signed with the Cleveland Browns after being cut in 2022 but didn’t make the team’s final roster.
  • Joined the Colts practice squad in 2023.
  • Signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2024 but didn’t make the squad.
  • Jumped to the UFL for the 2025 season where he was named the Brahmas starter.
  • Again Mond dropped right into a dysfunctional FO and coaching situation in San Antonio.
  • With HC Wade Philips health ailing, and a pitched battle for control inside the organization, their OC AJ Smith would quit abruptly after week 2.
  • Mond completed 98 of 171 passes for 850 yards and 2 TDs to 2 interceptions in 7 starts.
  • After the Brahmas were unceremoniously euthanized new ownership of the UFL, Mond did not return to the league for 2026.

ACCOLADES:

  • MVP 2021 Senior Bowl

NOTES:

Not going to lie. I took advantage of the event. There were no lines or gatekeepers. The players were highly accessible and friendly- and I was STACKED with cards. I think Kellen got through 15 of them before GM Marc Lillibridge came up and shooed me away. I took it like a champ and Kellen was kind enough to just sign, sign, sign. Kellen was pretty cool. We talked about Htown and the Woodlands for a bit. (I ended up sending 3 or 4 to Joe per our rolling agreement for him to send me additional cards and I skim a few for myself to add to my own).

I really think Kellen had some terrible, terrible luck falling into two dysfunctional front office/ head coaching situations. The UFL doesn’t know what it wants to be honestly. Is it a farm league to the NFL or a professional league of its own? Kellen has some great tools, but he just needs time and the UFL could’ve been a great place for him to grow.

CFL, NFL

Horn, Joe ‘Hollywood’

CARDS: Leaf Rookies & Stars 2004, Leaf Rookies & Stars 2005
ACQUIRED: 2025, Paid Signing

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Joe Horn played WR at tiny Itwamba Community College in Mississippi.
  • He caught 54 passes for 878 yards and 7 TDs and moonlighted as a PR.
  • Did not play football for two years after leaving college.
  • Eventually he caught the attention of the CFL in 1994 during their CFLUSA Invasion.
  • He’d be initially signed by the Baltimore Stallions and then the Shreveport Pirates, before landing on the roster of the Memphis Mad Dogs in 1995.
  • Horn had an outstanding season in the CFL catching 71 passes for 1415 yards.
  • The Chiefs drafted Horn in the 5th round of the 1996 NFL Draft.
  • He’d toil away for the next 4 seasons with the Chiefs only starting 2 contests.
  • Signed with the Saints in 2000 where he’d establish himself as a true receiving threat.
  • Horn caught 94 passes for 1340 yards and 8 TDs that season.
  • He followed up his first thousand yard season with 1265, 1312, and 973 over the next 3 seasons.
  • In 2004, Joe had 94 catches for a career high 1399 yards and 11 TDs.
  • As injuries began to take their toll on Horn, his numbers decreased to a point the Saints asked him to take a pay cut.
  • Released after the 2006 season, Horn finished second in receiving yards and receptions, while setting the franchise mark for receiving TDs with 50 in 7 seasons.
  • Played one final cash grab season with the Falcons in 2007 catching 27 passes for 243 yards and a TD to close out his career.
  • Sells his own BBQ sauce called Bayou 87.
  • Also coaches WR at Northeast Community College.

ACCOLADES:

  • Saints Hall of Fame 2020
  • Pro Bowl 2000-’02, ’04

NOTES:

I had wanted Horn for a while and being that he doesn’t sign TTM when he came cheap, I didn’t hesitate at participating in this signing which also included Rickey Jackson.

Horn is most notoriously known for pulling out a cell phone from underneath a goalpost after scoring a TD during a 2003 Monday Night Football Game.

CFL, NFL, NFLE

Starling, Kendrick

CARD: Playoff Contenders 2004
ACQUIRED: Private Break, 2020

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kendrick Starling played WR at Navarro JC in 1999 and 2000.
  • He caught 111 passes for 2305 yards and 26 TDs.
  • Joined Marshall University for 2001, and later transferred for San Jose State in 2002.
  • Kendrick Starling played for the Spartans for two years.
  • In 23 games he had 77 receptions for 899 yards and 5 TDs.
  • He also led the conference in yards per return on kick returns, averaging 28.1 yards on 20 returns, netting 562 yards.
  • Undrafted in 2004, he’d sign with the Houston Texans.
  • He made the squad that year, used primarily on special teams seeing action in 8 contests.
  • In 2005 Starling hopped around practice squads, leaving the Texans for Seattle, and later in the season for New Orleans.
  • Rejoined the Texans in 2006 and was allocated to NFL Europa to play for the Rhein Fire.
  • A long bomb threat, Kendrick caught 13 passes for 320 yards and 3 TDs, and lead the league with 24.6 yards per reception.
  • After being waived by the Texans after camp in 2006, Starling signed with the Eskimos the following year in 2007.
  • He’d catch 2 passes for 18 yards for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats that season in 3 contests.
  • In 2025, Starling was sentenced to 25 years in prison for abuse of a child.

NOTES:

The Texans during this period were always looking for a long bomb solution to groom next to Andre Johnson. Someone who could also be a special teams kick or punt returner as well. Starling fit that bill and I remember really hoping he’d pan out. He was considered a deep sleeper entering the draft. He quickly developed into a guy you could cheer for, with a fun personality, style, but a humble willingness to learn. Unfortunately things did not work out for him.