Tag Archives: New York Jets

NFL

McNeil, Freeman

Cards: Fleer 1990, ProSet 1989
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 10/19 Received: 11/17 (29 days)

Freeman McNeil was one of these players that rarely, if ever signed. I had pencilled him in for a paid signing with a stiff fee last year, but forgot about the event. Then a new event was cancelled due to the pandemic. Fast forward to mid-September 2020, and I saw a response for him come across SCN, so I quickly popped these two cards in the mail. As the successes slowly trickled in, mine showed up after about 30 days of waiting. Considering that up to this year Freeman was a career 1 for 30 type of guy, I was pretty happy to add him to the collection on these beautiful cards.

Freeman’s career was already on the back nine when I became familiar with him as a kid through trading cards and Starting Lineup figurines. He was a solid back and very productive, but injuries derailed what could’ve been a hall of fame career. – And back in the 80s when you needed to have a knee or ankle procedure? Something like that could end your career. Freeman was the epitome of the walking wounded. When he was a rookie in 81 his season ended due to a sprained foot. In 1983, he landed badly and separated his shoulder and then in 84, he broke some ribs… 1986 saw Freeman dislocate his elbow… and in 87 he got lucky and just pulled his hammy very, very badly. It’d be in 1989, McNeil ripped his knee ligaments. All in all, over 12 seasons, Freeman only played 2 full 16 game slates.

Freeman played for the UCLA Bruins from 1977-1980. He had 1,396 yards rushing in 1979, and 1,105 yards in 1980. He’d be the second runningback selected in the 1981 NFL Draft, with the 3rd overall pick by the New York Jets. He ran for 623 yards his rookie year in 6 starts in his debut NFL season. In 1982, Freeman ran for 786 yards on 151 carries in 9 strike shortened games. His 786 yards and 5.2 yards per carry led the league. (It is notably the only time in NFL history that a Jets runningback has led the league in rushing.) He’d earn his first Pro Bowl and only All Pro nomination for that season.

The Jets were a team during that period that ran the ball heavily. Once Johnny Hector was brought on board, the offense was referred to as a ‘two headed monster’. In 1984 Freeman broke the 1,000 yard barrier for the first time, rushing for 1,070 on 229 carries. Then in 1985, McNeil rushed for a career high 1,331 yards on 294 carries. – Again, all the more impressive as he and Hector were splitting time in the backfield.

Although Freeman didn’t break the 1,000 yard barrier again throughout the remainder of his career, he managed to put together campaigns in 1986 (856 yards) and 1988 (944 yards) that put him close enough. By 1990, Freeman began passing the torch to the next man up, which by that point was Blair Thomas and Brad Baxter. McNeil retired after the 1992 season as the franchise’s all time leading rusher with 8,074 yards, (since surpassed by Curtis Martin).

He has been inducted into the Jets Ring of Honor and the Nassau County (NY) Hall of Fame.

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144/97179880744.53869
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NFL

Edwards, Braylon

Cards: Score 2009, Score 2009 Franchise, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Gold Patch
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 6/15 Received: 7/10 (25 days)

Braylon was a phenom at Michigan playing WR for the Wolverines from 2001 to 2004. He’d cross over the 1,000 yard barrier in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He’d post 97 receptions for 1,330 yards and 15 TDs in his Senior campaign as he won the Bilitnikoff award as the nation’s best receiver. With great speed and hands, Edwards was considered a top flight blue chip prospect

Braylon was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the 3rd overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. After a rough rookie debut thanks to a brief holdout and a staph infection, Braylon took about half the season to break into the starting lineup. He posted 512 yards on 32 catches, 3 TDs, including an 80 yard bomb. In 2006, Braylon’s production began to ramp up with 884 yards and 6 TDs. His most impressive season came in 2007 when he rolled up 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 TDs earning a Pro Bowl nod. After a very difficult 2008 season in which Braylon saw his production drop to 873 yards on 55 receptions, he’d be traded 5 games into the 2009 season to the New York Jets. Braylon’s 2010 season saw him barely miss the 1,000 yard mark for the second time in his career with 53 catches for 904 yards and 7 TDs.

He then spent the next 3 years bouncing around the league, playing for the 49ers, Seahawks and Jets before retiring. Braylon was an exciting talent in the league, and that was evidenced in his statistics. In six of his 10 seasons, he had long catches of 65 or greater.

I had gotten the Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 Gold patch and these Score cards of Braylon way back in 2012 or 2013 during Christmastime. I loved the Donruss card but was ultimately disappointed that I did not pull an autograph from the hobby box. I thought there was no chance I’d ever get it signed. So I was very surprised to see Braylon Edwards signing through the mail in 2020, but I was sorta slow footed getting these cards out the door. After a few nail biting weeks, he signed all three of these beautiful cards.

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AAF, NFL, XFL

Gwacham, Obum

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: IP 2020, Houston Roughnecks/ Tampa Vipers Joint Practice

As the Tampa Vipers sauntered off the field from the joint practice, I caught Reggie Northup and got his autograph. He was kind enough to flag down Obum Gwacham for me. Then Reggie ribbed Obum saying to him, “I didn’t even know you had a card or played for the Hotshots!”, As they both laughed heartily. Obum played 2020 for the Tampa Vipers. After battling through injuries early on, he posted 7 tackles and a sack.

Originally a 6th round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2015, Obum saw stints with New Orleans (2015-2016), the Cardinals and Jets (2017), and Colts (2019). He played in 2019 for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football, posting 16 total tackles and 2 sacks in 8 games.