Tag Archives: score 2009

NFL

Johnson, Derrick (2) ‘DJ’

udi08 der johnsonCards: Upper Deck Icons 2008, Score 2009, Score 2012, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2012
Acquired: IP 12/6/2014, Total Athlete ATX Grand Opening
See Also: Derrick Johnson

Got a tip from a fellow collector (Nathanlg) about Derrick tweeting about a grand opening he was appearing at in Austin. Nathan and I go way, way back, however we hadn’t spoken in some 20 years, but we had been kicking the can for sometime about covering an autograph event together, since we are both avid collectors. We hit the Total Athlete grand opening a few minutes after it started. I was really surprised that the location was the former maintenance hangar of the Pflugerville Municipal Airport.  For many, many years, I’d drive by the airport on Howard Lane when I was younger. I don’t think it’d ever strike me that I’d ever go there one day for an autograph signing. Makes me think again about how small the world is physically, spatially, and socially.

Derrick was not only in attendance, – the whole building wasdors12 der johnson decked out inside with amazing full size banners of him. The facility itself specialized in resistance training. It had a few weights, but the majority of it was built towards strength and conditioning, with half of the surface covered in synthetic turf. There were a few local vendors there, and a few former UT personalities showed up including Lee Jackson, Brian Orapko, and Tim Crowder.   I even ran into a former San Antonio Talon who is a trainer there. Again- small world.

It took me a while to get around to Derrick with Nathan. I think we both didn’t want to just walk in and crash his grand opening for autographs right off the bat. While Nathan had this really nice custom replica UT helmet he made signed, I was able to slip in afterwards for a few signatures on these cards. I brought up the 2005 draft with him and how he was almost a member of the Houston Texans, not once, but twice. He almost sounded like he had a chip on his shoulder about it, and recited to me with a chuckle, how the Texans took Travis Johnson instead. I lamented to him about what could’ve been the combination of Derrick Johnson and De’Meco Ryans the Texans might have had. He grabbed all 4sco09 der johnson cards out of my hand and signed each one without blinking an eye. It was very nice of him.

Score 2009 is one of my favorite sets of the past ten years or so. I really like the distinctive design and splatter art effect. It’s just very stylish. I do go out of my way to get cards autographed from this set when the opportunity presents itself, so I was really pleased to get this one. The rest are a mishmosh of different cards from different sets that I had acquired or wanted to study. I do like this Upper Deck Icons card. Again, a really well thought out design. I like how the figure breaks the plane of the design, and the red streaks slice up the metallic border.

On the other hand, the 2012 sets are a really bad let down. I thought that the Donruss Rookies & Stars 2012 set would be as good as their 2011 and 2010 offerings but sadly it evolved into this flat and boring design. I should’ve just trusted my instincts since there was no preview of the card on the outside of the box. Likewise, Score went the same direction with their 2012 offering which I yawned at.
sco12 der johnsonIt’s just so- boxy. Very trite.

After the 2013 season, Johnson engineered another ProBowl appearance. He earned Defensive Player of the Game Honors for Team Rice notching 9 tackles and a pass block. Derrick afterwards was off to a fast start during Week 1 in 2014, if not for a torn Achilles he suffered against the Tennessee Titans, eraisng his entire campaign. In 10 seasons playing inside at linebacker with the Chiefs, Johnson’s 981 tackles rank third in team history.

 

NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Roy “The Legend”

adr11 rwilliams wrsco09 r williams wrud09 roy williams WRpoff09 rwilliams wrdo09 rwilliams wrto08 rwilliams wrmem11 rwilliams wr

Cards: Upper Deck 2009, Score 2009, Adrenalyn 2009, Playoff Prestige 2009, Donruss Threads 2009, Topps 2006, Photograph Memorabilia
Acquired: IP 2013, GMC NFL Texas Tour October

It really surprised me that Roy didn’t have a UT Upper Deck card, so initially I was put into a scramble to find some cards for him. Since I had only started collecting cards again in minutia in 2009, I was short on many of Roy’s great cards. I took the rides at the GMC event and stocked up on autograph passes. Each drive entitled you to one autograph from a player and I intended to carry my surplus into the Sunday event, but that did not come to fruition, as I was later informed by staff that the passes were only good for that day. Undaunted I went ahead and had Roy sign the 6 cards I had with me.  I kept kicking myself for not staying around longer though as apparently Roy sat down and played some Madden with fans after he got done signing.  I later also gave the extra Longhorn photo that I got from this event to one of my friends.

The November attempt for Roy turned out to be a dud. With a much larger crowd than expected and Roy showing up early to start signing, the timing of the event was completely off. Roy’s queue closed 2 minutes after it opened at 2pm, because he wanted to get to the UT game. This left myself, who had been doing test drives dutifully to try to acquire autographs, standing on the outside. It was not a well handled situation, and while Roy looked genuinely sad that he had to leave us standing out looking in, I believe that I will probably be able to grab him at another event again. There was one positive out of the situation, and that was because we had organized a line behind the queue, we formed the basis of the line for the next person coming up- DeMarcus Ware.

Roy was a monster at the University of Texas who had the complete package for the Longhorns. In 47 games Roy finished as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (241), receiving yards (3866), and receiving touchdowns(36). He also rushed 16 times for 243 yards and 3 TDs. Roy earned the Cotton Bowl Classic MVP in 2003, after catching 4 balls for 142 yards and a TD, and carrying the ball 1 time for 39 yards and another.

Drafted by the Lions in 2004, Roy was the 2nd of 4 monster receivers that the Lions used their high first round pick on during the Matt Millen administration. Initially fans were unhappy with the pick, but Williams wasted no time establishing himself as the team’s #1 threat, recording 817 yards on 54 receptions, and 8 TDs. After a subpar 2005, Williams earned Pro Bowl honors for his monstrous injury free 2006 campaign. In it he recorded career highs with 82 receptions for 1310 yards and 7 touchdowns, while averaging some 81.9 yards a game. As bigger things were expected with Williams’ emergence, 2007 came as a let down to many as Roy only played in 12 games. Still he managed again to post 838 yards and 5 TDs, including a career high 91 yarder.  In 2008, Roy was traded to the right before the deadline to the Cowboys, as the Lions were confident in the arrival of new receiver Calvin Johnson. While the trade was hailed with much fanfare, the Cowboys in the long run were fleeced by the Lions (for once) to the tune of a 1st and 3rd round pick as Roy received a very lucrative extension.  He played the next 2 seasons there with Dallas playing along side Terrell Owens, but probably what really cost Williams his job was the emergence of Miles Austin after Roy sustained a rib injury. Roy was just never able to reestablish that trust as a go to guy between him and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The Cowboys released Roy in 2011, and he ended up signing with the Chicago Bears. After a season there, Roy decided to retire for good from the league in 2012. When I asked Roy,  “If he could suit up right now what team he’d most likely play for?”, He paused for what seemed like 15 seconds, and then said he’d do it all over again with the Cowboys. Playing alongside Terrell Owens and catching a few balls from Romo were some great memories.

G/Gs  115/94     Rec  393      Yds  5715       Avg  14.5       Td 44     Lg   91t

 

 

NFL

Brown, Kris

sco09 kbrownCard: Score Inscriptions 2009
Acquired: 2014, Albany Acquisition

Kris Brown is best known as the Texans first placekicker, and at this time is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. Originally drafted by Pittsburgh in 1999 out of Nebraska, Kris had a strong leg and some impressive kicks for the Steelers.  When the expansion Texans arrived in 2002, they poached the protected Brown off of the Steelers roster for a mere 7th round pick. It worked out pretty well for both sides. Brown returned home to Texas, got a nice raise, and the Texans got an experienced and proven kicker for the price that they’d normally pay for somebody fresh out of college.

Brown for most of his time with the franchise had a stellar career. He tied an NFL record making 3 field goals of 54+ yards in one game, and between the Capers and early on into the Kubiak years, he was leaned upon heavily to put points on the board for the offense. He’d earn an AP nomination in 2007. When 2009 rolled around Brown’s accuracy waned, and the pressure mounted for the team to get rid of him. He’d lose out a training camp battle to venerable Neil Rackers in 2010. Kris Brown was the last player of the ‘original’ franchise when he was cut, and he had a good run.

Brown joined the San Diego Chargers as a mid-season injury replacement for Nate Kaeding, helping them beat the Texans. He’d be cut with the return of Kaeding to the lineup. Kris signed with the Dallas Cowboys at the end of the year, but was cut in July of 2011. He’s embraced retirement and owns a chain of Dunkin’ Donuts franchises.

G 179         XPA 362      XMP 355      PCT 98.1%            FGA  331     FGM 256        PCT 77.3%       PTS  1123