Tag Archives: New York Giants

NFL, XFL

Johnson, Le’Shon ‘Cowboy’

CARD: Topps XFL 2001 Endzone Autographs
ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Le’Shon Johnson transferred from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M University to Northern Illinois University to play RB in 1992.
  • Stepped onto the scene his senior year in ’93 and rushed for 1,976 yards on 327 carries.
  • 3rd round pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1994.
  • Ran 26 times for 99 yards, and caught 13 passes for 168 yards.
  • Split time the next season between Green Bay and Arizona.
  • Best season came in ’96 when Johnson ran 141 times for 634 yards and 3 TDs, and caught 15 passes for 176 yards and a TD.
  • Had a career high  214 yards on 21 carries against the New Orleans Saints that year.
  • In ’97 he ran 23 times for 81 yards.
  • Sat out a season in 1998 due to Lymphoma Cancer.
  • Returned in 1999 to play for the New York Giants, rushing 61 times for 143 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Played one final season in 2001 for the XFL Chicago Enforcers.
  • Second fiddle to the league’s leading rusher John Avery- still managed to post in the top 10 rushing for 287 yards while placing 2nd in the league with 6 TDs rushing.
  • In 2025, Le’Shon was found guilty of “possessing, selling, transporting, and delivering animals (dogs) to be used in fighting ventures.”

ACCOLADES:

  • NIU Sports Hall of Fame

NOTES:

I think this was part of a stack of cards that was provided to me by my friend Joe as thanks for helping him out.

NFL, Pro Football HoF

Robustelli, Andy (1925-2011)

CARD: Upper Deck Legends Certified 1997
ACQUIRED: eBay, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Milton College’s most impressive player (because the college is now defunct), Andy Robustelli played both ways at DE and T.
  • He’d be selected in the 19th round of the 1951 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
  • Robustelli made the team and played for the Rams through 1955.
  • Traded to the New York, he’d play for the Giants from ’56-’64.
  • During that time with the Giants, Robustelli developed quite a reputation as a fearsome pass rusher and fantastic read/ react lineman.
  • Andy only missed one game over his entire playing career.
  • Worked one year with NBC as a color man in 1965.
  • Diversified his holdings into leisure travel lifestyles and founded a sports marketing company.
  • In 1973, Robustelli was approached by Giants’ owner Wellington Mara to take over the front office of the team.
  • He headed day to day operations for the franchise through the 1978 season.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • Italian Sports Hall of Fame
  • Walter Camp Man of the Year
  • New York Giants Ring of Honor
  • Bert Bell Award
  • Pro Bowl 1953, ’55-57, ’59-’61
  • All Pro 1953, ’55-’56, 1958-’60
  • Second Team AP 1952, ’54, ’57, ’62
  • NFL Player of the Year 1962

NOTES:

Robustelli has an impressive lineage of family who have played football including grandsons who played in the Arena Football League and CFL as well as former World League defensive lineman and great nephew Dan Sileo.

EPITAPH:

5/31/2011- Andy passed away due to complications from surgery for a kidney stone.

NFL

Painter, Curtis

CARD: Score 2009, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2009
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 4/30 RECEIVED: 5/27 (27 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Curtis Painter played QB at Purdue from 2005-’08.
  • He threw for 11,163 yards and 67 TDs to 46 Interceptions over his college career.
  • Painter has a quick release, and equalled the school’s single game passing record with 6 passing TDs against Eastern Illinois.
  • At the 2007 Motor Bowl he completed 35 of 54 passes for a record 546 yards and 3 TDs.
  • Colts GM Bill Polian watched him twice during the previous season, so it was no surprise when they pulled the trigger on him in the 6th round of the 2009 NFL Draft.
  • The team liked what they saw and wanted to groom him behind Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi.
  • Painter finally saw action as the starting QB near the end of his rookie season as the team decided to rest its starters for the playoffs.
  • He’d complete 8 of 28 passes for 83 yards.
  • After not playing the entire 2010 season, Painter was thrust into action in 2011 after Manning was lost for the season due to an injured neck.
  • He’d replace Kerry Collins in the starting lineup and after 8 contests was replaced in the lineup by Dan Orlovsky.
  • Completed 132 of 243 passes for 1541 yards and 6 TDs to 9 picks.
  • Released after the 2011 season.
  • Signed with the Giants in 2013 where he’d back up… Eli Manning!
  • Completed 8 of 16 passes for 57 yards and 2 interceptions.
  • Released during the 2014 offseason.

NOTES:

I think its safe to say that Curtis Painter is the only player to complete the circle having backed up both Peyton and Eli Manning. He also comes from a long and secretive line of quality QBs from Purdue.