Long returned in time for the 2015 season, but was released in a cost saving move by the Rams.
He signed a one year contract with the Falcons.
In 2016, Jake briefly flirted with Baltimore, but ended up in Minnesota.
He’d tear his Achilles in week 10 ending his season.
Long retired during the 2017 offseason.
NOTES:
I had been meaning to get back to Jake for a while after getting a freebee back in 2014. I think I’d been kicking the tires on him for 3 to 4 years, so it makes sense he’s the first calendar success of 2023.
These Upper Deck cards- meh- they’re okay, but they were better than the junk that was designed for the ’08 season. The Score ’09 was definitely a set need, while the Topps 2014 was the slow evolution of the product from I think 2011. The design started resembling more of a fender, but eh I’m sorta okay with that. I thought it’d be nice to get one of him in his Rams attire- even if it is St. Louis.
Played college ball at Illinois State University from 2003-06.
Set school single season records as a Junior catching 86 passes for 1465 yards and 12 TDs.
At the time of his departure from the school in 07, owned multiple career receiving records (192 catches, 3007 yards, and 29 receiving TDs).
Selected in the 3rd round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons
As a rookie caught 37 passes for 437 yards and a TD.
After a disappointing season in 2008, the Falcons traded Laurent to the St. Louis Rams for a 5th and 6th round pick.
In 2010 had 34 receptions for 344 yards and 2 TDs.
Signed with the Chargers for the 2011 season but was cut in camp.
Immediately picked up by the Cowboys and went on to notch career highs with 54 receptions for 858 receiving yards and 11 TDs.
Signed with the Jaguars in 2012 for a big payday, but injuries- primarily concussions ended his career.
NOTES:
Some great looking cards here of Laurent. I mean I guess he’s best remembered for his brief time in Dallas. One wonders how it would’ve turned out if he stayed put with the Cowboys.
Yes! At long last another retry reply in Jessie Hester. Jessie was one of my very first failures from way back in 2010. I thought that I had sent to him multiple times in between 2010 and 2022, but apparently I had not. He had some great cards that I appealed to, especially the classic shot of him from Pro Set’s 1990 Update. (An Action Packed 1992 and Pro Set 1991 were sacrificed to the mail gods in the previous attempt.) The Gameday and the Skybox cards over the year became particular set needs and all of them are welcome additions to the collection.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
