Tag Archives: Seattle Seahawks

College Football HoF, NFL

Friesz, John ‘Deep Freeze’ (2)

Cards: Score 1990, ProSet 1991, Topps Stadium Club Members Choice 1992, GameDay 1992, SkyBox 1992
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent: 10/10   Received: 10/29    (19 days)
See Also: John Friesz 

I had gotten John way, way back through the Chargers back in 1992, and always had hoped to come back around and get these remaining cards signed by him. He had some really nice and unique images and canvases to work with over the years, and he had a bunch of them. 

His GameDay card was something I didn’t even know that really existed. I bought a box of the set in 2017, and was really charmed by this card. It was really what set me into action to go ahead and seek him out for a second pass at some autographs. It’s a pretty well framed shot, despite the slight blur on his left hand.

For some reason, his Score 1990 rookie was somewhat of a rare find initially. I think between myself and my friend Josh we opened 2 or 3 boxes and I just ran across one of these cards. So few players can get away with wearing yellow like this, but John looks pretty solid in that action shot, which represented his earliest rookie card. John’s Stadium Club and Pro Set cards make me feel like I should understand why he won the starting QB job over Billy Joe Tolliver in SD. They both seem to convey this sense of leadership that he has on his almost strained face.

I wasn’t too big a fan of Topps Stadium Club. Their 1991 set had a soft entry into the market, but they really played it up for 1992, and while I sparingly get them autographed, I really liked this card- even the hokey ‘Members Choice’ banner. It’s a really clear, high resolution image, and even John barking out an audible at the line of scrimmage looks impressive.

His Pro Set 1991 card was a part of the update set that was done later, and back then I was just too nervous to risk sending out his ProSet rookie card- little less from the 1991 update set. It’s a great picture, even if Friesz’s throwing motion looks a bit awkward in this image.

As a set I really liked Skybox 1992. It was a well designed and exciting foray into an already burgeoning football card market. (Skybox was able to weather the market longer, and was later purchased by Marvel if I’m correct, and then eventually dissolved when the market completely came apart.) This was one of the few Skybox cards however that didn’t really excite me. The framing of John just seems too perfect while the image itself at just the right distance. Note that neither of his hands or feet are visible, making this shot somewhat unappealing.

John turned around my greedy request in less than 30 days. A friend to the TTM community, John is a solid responder through the mail from Idaho, and graciously signed these 5 cards for me.

NFL

Hill, Khalid ‘The hammering panda’

Card: Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2018
Acquired: 2019, Box Breaker

Khalid Hill played tight end and fullback for Michigan from 2014-2017. In 2016, Hill made the switch to FB fulltime and was used in short yardage goal line situations. He scored 10 touchdowns on 25 carries, and 3 touchdowns on 16 receptions- leading the Wolverines. Like many fullbacks in the NFL these days- Khalid went undrafted in 2018. He was signed as an free agent by the Seattle Seahawks, but a nagging injury ended his season with the team.

Khalid has been spotted a few times around Ann Arbor, working out and preparing for another shot with an NFL team. He’s also rooting for the Wolverines and has been taking in practice when he can.

AAF, CFL, NFL

Daniels, BJ

Card: Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: 2019, EBay

BJ Daniels has always been an intriguing dual threat quarterback prospect. Playing for the University of South Florida Daniels played for the college from 2008-2012. He took over the starting job for the team in 2009, passing for almost 2000 yards and 14 TDs while rushing for 772 yards and 9 TDs. He averaged 8.7 yards per completion that year. His best year came in 2011, when BJ threw for 2,604 yards and 13 TDs, while rushing for 601 and 6 TDs. Daniels was selected during the 7th round (237th pick) of the 2013 draft by the San Fransisco 49ers.

After being cut by the 49ers, Daniels was claimed by the Seattle Seahawks 2013. He’d spend time on and off their practice squad, and then moved to wide receiver by 2015. Cut again, the Houston Texans claimed Daniels and placed him on their practice squad. With the Texans having issues at QB due to injury, Daniels was able to get into a game near the end of the season in Wildcat situations. He’d run for 6 yards, and pass for 7.

In 2016, BJ was signed by the Giants, but later found himself on the roster of the Bears. He did not make the final cut. Late in 2016, BJ was claimed by the Falcons, who then tried to convert him to runningback. Again he’d find himself cut in 2017.

BJ decided to try his hand at Canadian Football in 2018, signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but was cut.

He’d be assigned to the Orlando Apollos of the AAF, however BJ was selected in the second round of the AAF QB draft by the Salt Lake City Stallions. With a strong camp it looked like BJ might get the starting nod going into the regular season, but a freak injury during the preseason contest against Memphis ended his AAF season. He was 5/9 for 40 yards and a TD before the injury.

Daniels was placed on IR, and attended a few team away viewing parties for Stallions fans during the season.