Tag Archives: New York Jets

Arena, NFL, NFLE, University of Texas, XFL

Humphrey, Aaron

CARD: UT Upper Deck 2011 HACK
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Home
SENT: 10/17 RECEIVED: 11/10 (24 DAYS)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Aaron Humphrey played DL/LB for the Texas Longhorns from 1996-’99.
  • Led the Big-12 in sacks in both his junior and senior campaigns.
  • Over his playing career he started 45 of 48 games, posted 330 career tackles, and 10 forced fumbles.
  • Finished second on UT’s all-time tackles for loss list with 50, and 8th in sacks with 24.
  • In perhaps his finest moment for the Burnt Orange playing the season opener against Rutgers in 1997, Aaron dropped back and picked off THREE passes (almost 4) against the Scarlet Knights.
  • After going undrafted he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2000, but did not make the squad.
  • Played for the Chicago Enforcers of the XFL 2001.
  • Used all over the field at ILB and DE that season, Humphrey posted 53 total tackles and 3 sacks.
  • Once the league folded, he was signed by the New York Jets, but was released before the season.
  • Signed by the Rhein Fire of the NFLE in 2002.
  • Posted 27 total tackles, 1 forced fumble and 5 pass deflections.
  • Signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars after his stint in the NFLE, Aaron was on and off the practice squad.
  • Spent his final three years back in Austin, as a member of the Arena Football League’s Austin Wranglers from 2004-’06.
  • Tallied 48 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 5 pass blocks, 8 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and a 6 yard interception for a TD.
  • Also saw time as a willing receiver, posting 5 receptions for 47 yards and 2 TDs.

ACCOLADES:

  • Texas MVP and Defensive Player of the Year 1999

NOTES:

Aaron was one of the players that when I got the UT Upper Deck 2011 set I was surprised that he wasn’t included. I thought based on his unique football journey and accomplishments that he’d be a shoe in for it.

That being said the opening allowed for me to slip in with a custom card for him taking down Josh Heupel. The card itself came out perfectly and I was very pleased with the results.

I tracked down Aaron through Facebook surprisingly quick and he responded to me in no time flat. He was very excited to have his own card and to share it with his kids.

Knowing that I was a big fan and also of the Austin Wranglers, he also sent me a signed jersey from his days with the team!

Here is the jersey Aaron said he was going to send me. 🙂
NFL

Harvin, Percy

CARD: Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Dress for Success Certified Materials, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Freshman Orientation Certified Materials
ACQUIRED: 2026, eBay

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Percy Harvin played college ball at Florida from 2006-2008.
  • The do it all receiver accounted for 3,781 yards and 22 TDs over his college career.
  • He rushed for 1852 on 194 carries (19 TDs), and caught 133 passes for 1929 yards (13 TDs).
  • Also a track man, Percy was once clocked an astounding 4.32 40.
  • First round choice of the Minnesota Vikings (22 overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft.
  • Went on to have an outstanding rookie season catching 60 passes for 790 yards and 6 TDs, rushing for an additional 135 more, and kick returing 42 times for 1156 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Started a career high 14 games in 2011, catching 87 passes for 967 yards and 6 TDs.
  • He also rushed for a season career high 345 yards on 52 carries scoring 2 times.
  • Over career returned 5 kickoffs for TDs, including 3 over 100 (101, 104, 105).
  • Traded to Seahawks in 2013 for a first round and a bevvy of other picks.
  • Due to injury, didn’t make his debut until late in November that season.
  • Still he helped the Seahawks win their first Super Bowl title by returning the second half kickoff 87 yards for a TD.
  • Traded to the Jets midway through the 2014 season and recorded over 1K yards from scrimmage.
  • Signed with the Bills in 2015.
  • Retired in 2016- citing injury issues, but returned mid-season to play for the Bills.
  • During the 2017 NFL off-season, Percy announced his final retirement from the sport.

ACCOLADES:

  • 2009 NFL Rookie of the Year
  • Pro Bowl 2009
  • NFL Special Teams Player of the Week 2010 (Week 6)
  • NFC Special Teams Player of the Month 2012 (September)

NOTES:

I have been seeing weakness in the certified mid tier/ ‘hall of very good’ autograph market on eBay and really pounced to get this one. Percy Harvin, while never a Hall of Famer, was memorable enough that his cards have really maintained their value in the market. I tend to snipe with one bid at the end of the auction. That’s it. When I bid, I always put my max bid and add two to three cents to it- and that’s how I won this one.

If there was a Percy Harvin autograph I wanted these were them. Not only are they from subsets I really like, one of them is a rare tricolor patch.

Later I added this really nice Freshman Orientation patch auto from that same Donruss set too. I made an offer to the seller and they went for it. I think if I need anything else of Percy it’d just be his Score 2009 auto and that’d be it for the trifecta.

Harvin was injury plagued and that definitely shortened his career. He frequently suffered from debilitating migraines that kept him out of games. Whether or not that contributed to his locker room issues and general attitude remains to be seen.

NFL

Clifton, Kyle

CARDS: Skybox 1992, Gameday 1992, Action Packed 1991, Action Packed 1990
ACQUIRED: TTM 2021, C/o Home
SENT: 12/13/21 RECEIVED: 12/20/21 (7 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kyle Clifton played college ball at TCU from 1980-’83.
  • Upon arriving at TCU Clifton was a quarterback, but by his Sophomore season had fully converted to the rigors of linebacker- playing both inside and outside ‘backer.
  • Broke the school’s single season tackle record in ’83, posting 189 total stops.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the ’84 draft by the New York Jets.
  • After Bob Crable went down with an injury in the middle of the defense, Kyle stepped in.
  • Finished with 113 tackles in his rookie campaign.
  • He’d lead the squad in 1985 with 160 while chipping in 3 picks.
  • In 1988, Kyle had a banner campaign with 162 total tackles, and 4 forced fumbles.
  • He quickly broke the 1k tackle barrier in 1990, posting a career high 199 tackles that year.
  • Kyle continued to be a force in the middle, leading the team in tackles over 5 straight seasons.
  • In 1994, Kyle blew out his knee, ending his streak at 6 seasons with 130+ tackles.
  • And that was that- as in 1995 he came in off the bench and seldom saw playtime, retiring after the ’96 campaign and 204 contests.
  • At the time of his retirement, he was the Jets’ career leading tackler with 1,484 stops, and second all-time in league history (since surpassed).

NOTES:

Over Kyle’s quiet career in New York, you’d think that he’d have garnered more attention based on his incredible run stopping prowess, leading the league in 1985, ’86 and ’88. He also ranked in the top 10 in solo tackles seven times. Kyle is a great example of a run stopping tackle monster not getting their due. Despite his resume, the Jets have yet to induct Clifton into their Ring of Honor, as of the time of this post.

Kyle had a lot of cards that fit my set needs so I was lucky enough that he’d sign 4 for me.