Eric Pinkins was a hybrid DB/LB at San Diego State from 2009-’13.
He finished with 172 total tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 5 pass deflections, and 3 interceptions for 70 yards and a TD over 4 years with the Aztecs.
6th round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.
After 2 seasons with the Seahawks, he joined the Giants for 2016.
Waived by the Giants in mid-2017, Eric signed with the Cowboys in 2018, but did not make the squad.
He started 6 of 8 contests, posting 29 total tackles and .5 sacks.
After the AAF ended, Pinkins was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL in 2020.
He’d finish the season on the roster of ‘Team 9’ before the COVID abbreviated season ended.
NOTES:
After the AAF collapsed, I rushed out a few cards to players that I could readily find through the mail. Eric was in that first batch, and then proceeded to get lost in the shuffle of all my returns that year. There is no discoloration in the Topps AAF base card he autographed. It looks like he started in purple and realized it wouldn’t take as well as blue. I really appreciate his effort there though.
Jude stepped up for the Fleet as an ambassador after his injury, even doing an AMA on Reddit. He got in what he could during that first game against the Commanders, making a pick, and then taunting SA fans from the Fleet bench- though later in his AMA he admitted he very much enjoyed playing at the Alamodome.
Finished with 80 total tackles and 7 sacks over 3 years.
Went undrafted in 2018, and spent time in the camp of the Oakland Raiders.
Joined the AAF in 2019, playing for the San Diego Fleet.
Notched 7.5 tackles and .5 sacks over 8 contests.
Spent the remainder of the year in the CFL with the BC Lions, and then later the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In 2022, signed with the Vegas Knight Hawks of the IFL.
NOTES:
Pretty happy to get this certified, but with an underwhelming autograph, I couldn’t help but be disappointed that Meffy didn’t spell out his entire name- though I don’t blame him. Later I pulled a second certified autograph of his that was fully spelled out.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.