Tag Archives: New York Giants

NFL

Fox, Mike (DL)

Card: Action Packed Rookies 1990
Acquired: 2018, Paid Signing

At defensive tackle, Mike Fox could come alive and take over a game during his college days. A dominant defender, Fox was considered one of the best defensive linemen  to ever play for West Virginia. He had his best year in his Senior campaign, when he had 71 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks earning him Honorable Mention All-American.

He’d be selected in the second round by the New York Giants, who decided that his massive frame (6’6″, 272) was a good fit for their 3-4 alignment. They thought he had the versatility to play both defensive end and nose.  The Giants were pretty stacked with Erik Howard and Leonard Marshall, but were always looking for up and coming talent. Mike played sparingly his rookie year, but won Super Bowl XXV as a member of the team.

Mike’s best year with the Giants came as a full time starter in 1993. Playing at right defensive end he had 32 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. He’d play with New York through 1994, and then was selected by the Carolina Panthers during their expansion draft. He had his best season as a pro for the expansion Panthers in 1995, posting 42 tackles, and 4.5 sacks in 16 starts. Over the next 3 additional seasons, injuries would catch up with Mike and hamper his productivity. The Panthers left him exposed for the Cleveland Browns Expansion Draft in 1999 but he’d go unselected. Soon thereafter he’d be cut and retired.

Mike seldom signs through the mail, so to get him on a cheap paid signing didn’t really ruffle my feathers too much. His autograph is pretty pedestrian, but the card is really nice. Thankfully he signed it on the front and not in that tiny autograph box on the back.

G/GS 133/84    TAC 198    SAC 17.0    FUM 4
INT 0     YDS 0       AVG -.-    TD 0    LG -.-

NFL

Quarles, Kelcy

Card: Leaf Draft 2014
Acquired: BB 2018, Walmart Autographed Memorabilia

Defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles played college ball for the Gamecocks of South Carolina from 2011-2013. He posted 66 solo tackles, 39 assists, 23.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 1 pass defended, and 1 fumble recovery over his time at the school.  He was expected to be drafted somewhere around round 5 or 6, but fell out of the draft entirely and became a priority free agent.

Signing with the Giants after the 2014 Draft, he’d be claimed off of waivers by the Patriots and placed on their practice squad. The Colts signed Kelcy from the Patriots- but found himself on and off the regular roster the remainder of the season. He’d be waived in 2015 and returned to the Patriots practice squad later in the year. Then he’d be cut, and returned again to the Colts, where he played the rest of the season. Although he did not make the final roster of the squad in 2016, he’d be on and off the practice squad throughout the rest of the year.  In his brief NFL career, Kelcy played in 2 games making 1 tackle, 1 sack, and a pass defended.

Quick rant. So I went into Walmart, and they had these great little hangar packs called ‘Walmart Autographed Memorabilia’. Like the Target cousin, I’m not expecting much. I get 5 packs of cards and an autograph AND a patch card. For 15 bucks- yeah okay- it works, but when it is hanging on the $9.99 rack: Two please! That’s what led me to my problem. They weren’t hanging there because they were priced at $9.99 each. They were there because somebody ignorantly hung them there. Needless to say the store manager refused to give me the $9.99 price point, so I refused to buy any of them out of principle. Later I came back to the store and found them hanging again on the $9.99 rack.

NFL

Munson, Calvin

Card: Panini Contenders 2017
Acquired: 2017, Box Breaker

A multi-sport athlete (selected by the St. Louis Cardinals) Calvin Munson elected to follow his passion into football over baseball. An aggressive linebacker for the San Diego St Spartans, Munson had 301 total tackles, 18 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 5 pass defensed, and 7 interceptions for 244 yards and a whopping 3 touchdowns. Munson was considered a sleeper going into the 2017 NFL draft, with scouts criticizing his intangibles and lack of finesse.  He’d go unselected but catch on with the New York Giants.

Munson got a lot of looks during the preseason with their linebacker corps so banged up, and he made an impression on special teams. He’d be added to the team’s practice squad and then quickly promoted to the regular roster,  starting week 2 at middle linebacker. Calvin played hard and finished his rookie season with 60 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble. 

He’d be cut and added back to the practice squad for 2018, but as of the date of this post is currently a free agent.