Tag Archives: st louis rams

Arena, NFL, NFLE, Super Bowl MVP

Warner, Kurt

Proset 1990 Super Bowl MVP HACK, #34

CARD: Pro Set 1990 Super Bowl Insert HACK
ACQUIRED: 2023, Consignment

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kurt Warner is the true rags to riches story of football history.
  • Played college ball at tiny University of Northern Iowa.
  • Didn’t see any significant playing time until senior season in ’93, posting for 2,982 yards and 17 TDs.
  • Undrafted in ’94, was a camp arm for the Green Bay Packers.
  • Out of football as a grocery stocker, decided to join the Arena Football League, playing for the Iowa Barnstormers in ’95.
  • After setting numerous records for the Barnstormers, signed with the St. Louis Rams in 1997 and allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFLE for play in ’98.
  • After leading the NFLE in passing, Warner returned stateside and spent the NFL season riding the bench.
  • It’d be in ’99 that fate happened Kurt’s way.
  • With backup QB Steve Bono departing in free agency and starting QB Trent Green injured, Kurt Warner found himself atop the team depth chart.
  • He’d finish 325 of 499 for 4353 yards and 41 TDs leading the Rams to a Super Bowl win against the Tennesee Titans.
  • In 2000, Warner led the Rams back to the playoffs, but the Greatest Show on Turf lost to the Saints.
  • 2001 saw Warner lead the NFL in multiple passing categories and the Rams to a 14-2 record, but the team lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.
  • Warner went into a slump in 2002, that continued into 2003.
  • In 2004, Kurt was cut by the Rams and then joined the New York Giants.
  • It was a tough year for Warner, as lingering issues and injuries, taking their toll, along with numerous sacks.
  • He then packed his bags to play for the Arizona Cardinals for the 2006 season.
  • By this time fans thought of Warner as being washed up, but he saved the best for last.
  • The age was showing on Warner, and he’d have to constantly look over his shoulder as first round pick Matt Leinart was expected to pick up the reins soon.
  • After a great start, Leinart replaced Warner at QB in week 4 for most of the remainder of the ’06 season.
  • With Leinart the starter, Warner replaced him off the bench in week 4 after an injury ended Matt’s season.
  • Warner threw for a career high 484 yards in a loss to the ‘9ers that year.
  • This culminated in him again winning the starting QB job for the Cardinals in ’08.
  • Kurt would lead the Cardinals to an improbable Super Bowl appearance- their first in the modern Super Bowl era.
  • Finished the season with 4,583 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and completed 67.1% of his passes.
  • Lost Super Bowl XLIII to the Pittsburgh Steelers last minute heroics 27-23.
  • Threw for 377 yards in the loss, and compiled a 112.3 QB rating in the game.
  • In 2009 became the first QB to throw for 14,000+ yards for two separate teams, and the second to throw 100+ TDs for two different teams.
  • Cardinals lost in the divisional round to the New Orleans Saints that year, as Warner sustained an injury.
  • He’d retire after the post season concluded.
  • Kurt has spent a lot of time catching up with his kids since retirement while going into coaching.
  • He’s also been a commentator for Spring Leagues, notably the Arena Football League and the AAF.

ACCOLADES:

  • NFL MVP 1999, 2001
  • Super Bowl XXXIX MVP
  • All-Arena 1996-97
  • Iowa Barnstomers Hall of Fame
  • Iowa Barnstormers #13 retired
  • Bert Bell Award 1999
  • Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor
  • Walter Payton Man of the Year 2008
  • Bart Starr Award 2010

NOTES:

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d secure Kurt Warner at such a friendly price point, but after biting my nails, the consignment came through- and it looks glorious. While Kurt does sign through the mail, he only signs a testament card- which is nice, but leaves collectors in the dust on their own set needs.

I was eager to get him, not only on this beautiful card I created of him, but also because he’s the greatest testament to what Spring Football such as the Arena League and the NFLE can do for a player. In Kurt’s case, he needed to get more experience, confidence, and faith to face what he’d encounter in the NFL. Eventually it ‘all slowed down for him’ and he surpassed all expectations, making 3 Super Bowl appearances.

A devout Christian, some pundits slammed him for thanking Jesus Christ for helping him win his Super Bowl MVP, but myself, personally I found it refreshing that he’d do such a thing. Now it seems commonplace for players to wear their faith on their shoulder after winning a big game.

On occasion when I was attending AAF contests of the Commanders, Kurt gave commentary from a mobile studio on the sidelines very close by. I didn’t have anything then but it was still nice to see him show his skills and support Spring Football as well.

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ARENA
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NFLE
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NFL
Arena, CFL, NFL, NFLE

Brown, Jonathan

CARD: Playoff Contenders 2000 European Ticket
ACQUIRED: 2021, Future Considerations

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Defensive lineman Jonathan Brown played collegially at Tennessee where he helped the Vols win the SEC title in ’97.
  • In that season he had a career high 13.5 sacks- good for second on the school’s all-time list.
  • Over his 4 years at Tennessee, Brown notched 27.5 sacks.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 1998 draft by the Green Bay Packers.
  • Released during roster cuts in ’99, and finished the season on the active roster of the Broncos that year.
  • Joined the Berlin Thunder in 2000, recording 10 sacks, 30 tackles and 2 forced fumbles.
  • Played for the St. Louis Rams in 2001.
  • Returned to the NFLE in 2003, as a selection of the Amsterdam Admirals.
  • Posted 6.5 sacks and 26 tackles.
  • Took his game to the Arena Football League playing for the Indiana Firebirds.
  • In 2004, Jonathan played for the CFL Argonauts, becoming a fixture at DE for the next 6 seasons.
  • He’d accumulate 50 sacks over his time in Toronto with dual 13 sack seasons in 2005, and 2007.
  • Retired after a final season in BC with the Lions, adding another 4 sacks to his career CFL number.

ACCOLADES:

  • NFLE Defensive MVP 2000
  • All-NFL Europe 2000, ’03
  • CFL All-Star 2005- ’07

NOTES:

Cool looking card here of Jonathan. The green actually works. He’s also got a great autograph for a big man. He really backdoored into a pretty solid career playing in the CFL there.

NFLE

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ARENA

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CFL

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AAF, CFL, NFL

Stacy, Zac

Topps AAF 2019 Certified, #AU-ZS

Card: Topps AAF Certified 2019
Acquired: 2019, EBay
Failure: TTM 2020, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Zac Stacy played RB at Vanderbilt from 2009-2012
  • Had back to back 1,000 yard seasons in 2011 and 2012.
  • Over 4 years at Vandy, ran for 3,143 yards on 581 carries scoring 30 TDs and caught 46 passes for 415 yards.
  • 5th round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2013.
  • Had a solid NFL debut in 2013, rushing for 973 yards and 7 TDs on 250 carries.
  • Buried on the depth chart in 2014, and suffered a nagging leg calf strain.
  • When Rams drafted Todd Gurley, requested a trade.
  • Traded to New York Jets in 2015, but broke his ankle during the season.
  • Failed physical in 2016 and subsequently retired.
  • Decided to return to football in 2018 playing for the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the preseason.
  • Stacy went on to become one of the higher profile signees of the Alliance of American Football, allocated to the Memphis Express in 2019.
  • Ran for 101 yards against the Arizona Hotshots.
  • Placed on IR in early April of 2019.
  • Ran for 317 yards on 100 carries, scoring 3 TDs, to go along with 18 catches for 138 yards and another TD.

ACCOLADES:

  • First 100 yard rusher in AAF history.

NOTES:

I tried to get Zac’s autograph on his two remaining cards (Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF NOW 2019) but at this point they’re basically flushed.

On the now defunct AAF website, soon before it shut down, the league touted Zac Stacy as one of their up and coming stars and had a feature on him and his brother, who has down syndrome.

In 2022, Stacy was caught on tape gruesomely attacking his ex-girlfriend in the presence of his child. He maintains that his ex manipulated and entrapped him into behaving that way.

In general, everything about Zac’s rise and fall makes me extremely sad.

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