Tag Archives: St. Louis Rams

NFL

Green, Aaron (TCU)

Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Gunderson Acquisition

Aaron Green played at TCU and while he set the NCAA on fire with 7.1 YPC on 129 carries and earned Second Team All Big 12 in 2014. His numbers increased to 1,272 yards on 244 carries, but because of a bevy or RB talent in the conference, he only received Honorable Mention.  Considered undersized at 5’10, 203, scouts were not impressed with Green, and he went undrafted. Aaron signed with the St. Louis Rams after the 2016 NFL draft.

He made the squad in part to his hard running during the preseason. With Todd Gurley resting, Green logged 23 carries for 111 yards and a TD.  He also displayed some handiness in the passing game catching 9 receptions for 76 receiving yards and another TD in only 3 preseason games.  Aaron was released during final cuts, but quickly assigned to the practice squad.

With a loggerjam at runningback heading into the 2017 season, Aaron was released in May.  Currently he’s a free agent.

NFL

Pead, Isaiah

Card: Topps Strata Clear Cut 2012
Acquired: 2017, EBay

A playmaker for the Bearcats of Cincinnati, Isaiah Pead had over 1000 yards from scrimmage in three out of four years.  A shifty runner with soft hands,  Pead had career highs every year he played at the college. In 2010 he rushed for 1029 yards on 157 carries and 6 TDs. He’d eclipse those numbers in 2011 with 1259 yards, and 319 yards receiving (39 receptions).  Isaiah did everything the scouts wanted and more at the combine. He was the combine leader in the 3 cone drill at 6.95 seconds, and his 40 was a respectable 4.47 seconds.  At 5’10”, 197, Pead was all muscle and flash, but criticized for his lack of blocking.  Isaiah was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams liked Pead a lot, and hoped he’d help spell ageless wonder Steven Jackson on 3rd down.  Isaiah spent his rookie year on special teams, while rushing for 54 yards on 10 carries.  He’d get swallowed up in the runningback competition after the departure of Jackson the following year behind Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham. Pead got to show his skill as a gunner on special teams and the Rams floated him for a trade during the 2014 NFL draft. During the 2014 preseason, he blew out his ACL and was lost for the season.

After the selection of Todd Gurley in the 2015 NFL Draft the writing was on the wall for Isaiah. He’d be cut in late September. He later worked out for the Jets and then signed with the Steelers as an injury replacement for Le’Veon Bell. Within a month Pead was cut. In 2016 Isaiah found a home with the Miami Dolphins. He’d impress during the preseason behind Arian Foster and Jay Ajayi, but a hamstring injury during the preseason sidelined him. He was cut during the first month of the season.

Tragically in November of 2016, Isaiah was almost killed when his Cadillac CTS careened off the highway and down a 40 foot embankment. His left leg was severed and his right one was badly mangled. He survived and after some 8 surgeries, has made an amazing transformation in his life. Isaiah has a vehicle moving service called Stampede Trucking and also wants to be an inspiration to those who have suffered a physical calamity in their lives.

Great card of Isaiah here punctuated by his solid autograph. The patch on this card is really nice. Even though I do not like the fact that resellers retail two and three color patches at a premium, I can understand why especially when you look at this solid card.

G/Gs 30/1    Rush 27      Yds 100    Avg 3.7      Td 0     Lg 19
Rec  15           Yds 100      Avg 6.7      Td 0           Lg 14
KR  18             Yds 413     Avg 22.9      Td 0         Lg 32

Arena, IFL, NFL

Solomon, Clinton

Card: TNT AFL 2014
Acquired: TTM 2017, C/o Home
Sent: 2/22    Received: 4/19    (56 days)

Clinton played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2002, 2004, and 2005. He piled up 1864 yards on 118 receptions and 14 TDs over his 3 years there. His best season came as a Junior when he logged 58 receptions for 905 yards and 6 TDs- earning him 2nd Team All-Big Ten Honors.

Going undrafted, Solomon signed with the St Louis Rams in 2006. Afterwards he was on the rosters of the Titans and Bears in 2007. He signed with the Arena Chicago Rush in 2008, and finally found his home with the Wichita Wild of the IFL in 2009, where he was named 1st team All-IFL after posting 22 TDs and 1,008 yards receiving.  He again earned All-IFL selections in 2010 and 2011. Clinton spent then next two seasons with the Sioux Falls Storm, and briefly played for the Kansas City Renegades.

In 2014 Clinton joined the Texas Revolution.  Soon thereafter he’d be signed by the snake bitten San Antonio Riders of the AFL. After the season the Talons were contracted, but he was assigned to the Las Vegas Outlaws. After the Outlaws were also contracted, Solomon returned to the Texas Revolution in 2016 reuniting with former Talon Brett Reece.  Clinton finished the season as the team leader with 63 receptions for 793 yards and 25 TDs.

A few years ago I had started tracking down members of the Talons who I had made cards of. I attempted to friend Clinton on Facebook, but he did not respond to me for over a year. I reached out to him when he did and he agreed to do a signing for me. Apparently he was more excited than I intially thought, because after he signed the card, he also inscribed the back of the envelope thanking me for the trading cards.