Tag Archives: tampa bay buccaneers

NFL

Sims, Charles

Card: Panini Certified 2014 (412/699)
Acquired: 2020, Panini Points Redemption

Charles Sims played runningback from 2009-2012 for the Houston Cougars. He ran for 2370 yards on 384 carries scoring 29 TDs, and displayed soft hands, catching 158 passes for 1707 yards and 8 TDs. An academic redshirt in 2010, Charles opted to use his last year of eligibility in 2013 with the West Virginia Mountaineers. He had a solid Senior campaign, boosting his draft stock, rushing for 1095 yards (208 carries) and 11 TDs, while catching another 45 passes for 401 yards and 3 TDs.

Sims was a 3rd round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was supposed to be a compliment to incumbent runningback Doug Martin, but was used primarily as a passing down back. He played in 8 games his rookie year and ran for 185 yards and a TD, while catching 19 passes. A sneaky Fantasy Football pickup in 2015, Charles had his best year as a pro, with 529 yards on 107 carries, and 51 catches for 561 yards and 4 TDs.

Over the next two seasons, Charles was oft injured, but still managed to catch 59 passes for 439 yards and 2 TDs. He was released in 2018 with an injury settlement.

A great image of Charles on a tri-color patch, it was a no brainer to select this card as one of my Reward Points Redemptions.

I had built up a stack of points from Panini breaking open packs of College Contenders in 2018/2019. I just didn’t find anything I liked and I was looking for the right time. When the COVID pandemic hit, I decided to go ahead and spend my points. It seemed like a strong possibility that even mail could be infected by the virus- so I wanted to get it done. I found 3 cards I really liked the design of and felt that there was a nice value in and placed an order.

Unfortunately 2 days after I placed the order, the state essentially went into lockdown for over a month. Not to be a Karen- but Panini did absolutely no footwork on their end to notify anybody that they were going to be shut down. I had to contact them directly to get an update- while all the while the company continued to do give outs and promotions on their end.

I got an apology, but throughout the entire crisis, Panini never put any notification on their site- nor did the offer to compensate me for my trouble, such as refund me my shipping.

NFL, University of Texas

Lowry, Alan

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck 2011 National Champs
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 10/3/19 Received: 4/18/20 (196 days)

Alan Lowry played for the Longhorns from 1970 to 1972 as a quarterback, punter, and defensive back. Initially a defensive back and punter when he arrived, Lowry had 3 picks in 1970, and then followed it up in 1971 with 5 interceptions for 121 yards and 2 TDs (single season school record since tied) earning him All-SWC honors. As a punter in both years Alan had 53 punts for 2,032 yards (38.3) in 1970, and 49 punts for 1,878 yards (38.3)- respectively in 1970 and 1971. His 82 yard punt, still stands as a school record.

In 1972 Alan switched to quarterback, where at the time the Longhorns were using a modified version of the Houston Veer. He rushed for 661 yards on 168 yards scoring 11 times while passing for 766 yards and a TD on 46 completions (39.3 completion percentage). Again he’d be named to the All-SWC team- but at a second position, which is a rarity even in college football.

Alan was drafted in the 13th round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, but before he even played a down, he was diagnosed with blood clots from a strained tendon in his arm. The injury was serious enough to end his pro football career before it even began.

Lowry went right into coaching at Texas, with the Longhorns as a graduate assistant and then later, Wyoming and West Virginia, and later returning to Texas with the Dallas Cowboys organization. He has embarked on a long and storied career as a positional and special teams coach throughout the NFL since the early 80s, with the Cowboys, Buccaneers, 49ers, Oilers, and Titans. He is perhaps most quietly known as the architect behind the ‘Music City Miracle’ play. Lowry was with the Titans organization through 2013, and still resides in Tennessee to this day.

NFL, WLAF

Bax, Carl

Card: Wild Card World League 1992
Acquired: TTM 2020, C/o Home
Sent: 5/4 Received: 5/15 (11 days)

Carl Bax played college ball at Missouri from 1985-1988. The 6’4″, 290 lb guard blocked up front for runningbacks Tommie Stowers and Robert Delpino. Carl was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1989 during the 8th round. He played two seasons for the franchise.

In 1991, Carl was selected by the Barcelona Dragons of the World League of American Football. He’d block up front at Tackle for the Barcelona Dragons. Right before the 1992 season began however, he’d be traded stateside, where he played for the Birmingham Fire.

Carl is the founder of Premiere Orthopedic and lives in Tampa, Florida. Carl was a pretty easy find for me, thanks to his unique name, and he signed his Wild Card for me in a short amount of time, writing best wishes to me on the card.