Tag Archives: Tennessee Titans

NFL

Murray, DeMarco

Score 2017, #257

CARDS: Score 2017, Score 2012 Hot Card
ACQUIRED: TTM 2019, C/o Work
SENT: 3/4 RECEIVED: 4/1 (28 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played RB for the Oklahoma Sooners from 2007-10.
  • Shared backfield throughout most of his career with moments of stardom.
  • Had breakout year in 2010, rushing for 1200+ yards, 594 receiving yards and 20 total TDs.
  • In 40 college games had 759 carries for 3685 yards and 50 rushing TDs.
  • Selected in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.
  • Was 3rd on the depth chart behind Felix Jones and Tashard Choice, but due to injuries, eventually found himself gaining the lion’s share of carries.
  • Ran for 253 yards against the Rams that year, breaking multiple club records held by Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.
  • In first full 16 game season during 2014, ran for a career high 1845 yards, on 392 carries, along with 13 TDs.
  • Signed with Eagles in 2015, but in a snakebitten season for both Murray and Philadelphia- only ran for 702 yards.
  • Rejuvenated career in 2016 playing for the Tennessee Titans, rushing for 1287 yards and 9 TDs.
  • Passed the torch splitting time with rookie Derrick Henry in 2017.
  • Injured near the end of the season, and retired in early 2018.
  • Has dabbled in broadcasting, quickly finding a home coaching RBs first at Arizona State and then later at Oklahoma.

ACCOLADES:

  • NFL Offensive Player of the Year 2014
  • NFL rushing yards leader 2014
  • NFL rushing attempts leader 2014
  • NFL rushing TDs leader 2014
2011 Score Hot Rookies, #11

NOTES:

I got these autographs now… sometime ago. DeMarco always reminded me of my once best friend from college. Murray had his breakout game against the Rams, and that day I was picking my best friend up from the airport. We were close then and her friendship meant the world to me.

Over the next few years, we grew apart. A lot of factors figured into it. Untapped resentment… distance… bowing under pressure from family to cultural superstition… new friends and boyfriends… A lot of things. I sensed we were losing touch. It went from near daily calls, to weekly calls, to monthly calls- to no calls at all. No more Left for Dead. No more Red Trolley Beer.

Our conversations became increasingly about just what was wrong in my life, and if she didn’t get that out of me- I felt like I had to talk about that because she was pressuring me to do so.

I was in a bad place. My father had died and I needed her council. I was under intense pressure all around. I believe that when you are stressed out- the worst of your personality emerges if you don’t keep it in check. The worst of me came to roost. Our last call was awkward. I talked about personal things, but she failed to tell me she had me on speaker phone.

The way the conversation went, I felt like… like it was goodbye- to me, my wife, my daughter, and our friendship. It was painful. I said stupid things.
A few months later, she deleted me from Facebook and then later my wife… I guess trying to wipe out those memories as well. I responded to her and she blocked me.

And that was it. That was it. I’ve tried hard not to deal with it, but I fully understand now if she blames me, or sees the ending of our friendship as my fault. Sometimes you pull the band-aid off and sometimes you yank it off.

She’s gotten married and moved on- and I am happy for her. In a way, I held her back. In a way she held me back from being a better husband and father.

I’ve given it my best to move on. Initially it was hard. I was angry and embarrassed. Over time, I’ve decided it best to just leave it alone. There’s nothing to go back to. No reason to fight for anything. Just like a vague, numb understanding- a resigned feeling of gulped blame and responsibility.

It’s helped me move on and let go myself as much as I’d like to reach back out and re-establish contact. It is… what it is.

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NFL

Hasselbeck, Matt ‘Mr. August’

Panini Gridiron 2012, #191

Cards: Gridiron 2012, Panini Rookies & Stars 2010
Acquired: TTM 2010, C/o The Tennessee Titans
Sent: 12/22/2011 Received: 6/15/2020 (3098 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Played QB for Boston College from 1994-97.
  • Threw for 4,548 yards and 22 TDs over college career.
  • While numbers weren’t spectacular, did enough to get noticed by pro scouts.
  • Selected by the Green Bay Packers in 1998 during the 6th round of the NFL Draft.
  • Toiled away on the practice squad and primarily as Brett Favre’s little seen backup for first two seasons.
  • Traded for by Seattle, following former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Holmgren.
  • After unseating Trent Dilfer at starting QB in 2003, went on to have a productive NFL career in Seattle.
  • Had most productive season in 2007, throwing for 3,966 yards and 28 TDs.
  • Fan favorite who had a heartbreaking departure from Seattle after the 2011 NFL Lockout.
  • Began Journeyman phase of career with the Tennessee Titans playing 2011 and 2012 with the franchise.
  • Had a solid 2011, throwing for 3,571 yards and 18 TDs.
  • Joined Indianapolis Colts in 2013, playing sparingly initially, backing Andrew Luck.
  • As injuries piled up on Luck- especially near the end of 2015, pressed back into emergency action leading team to 5-3 mark in his absence.
  • Retired after the 2015 season.
  • As of 2022, is currently an on air personality for Sunday Night Countdown on ESPN.

ACCOLADES:

  • ProBowl 2003, 05, 07
  • Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor
  • Seattle Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team
Panini Rookies & Stars 2010, #134

NOTES:

I really respected Matt. -He always had the Texans number. I wrote Matt right at the end of the 2012 season, after he said that he was very good with fan mail. I tossed these two cards in, because I couldn’t find the Score 2009 or the Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009 I wanted to send.I never knew what a journey it’d be for these cards…

It took roughly 8.5 years to get these back. In that time, I got a job, got married, moved 3 times, and had a kid. I never thought I’d see these again, but Matt now represents the longest wait I’ve had for any TTM ever, besting Santana Dotson by… 2 and a half years or so.

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NFL

Orakpo, Brian, (3)

Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009, #128

CARDS: Upper Deck First Edition 2009, Donruss Rookies and Stars 2009, Score 2012, Bowman 2009 Superlatives, Upper Deck 2009 Football Heroes, Adrenalyn 2009, Photo memorabilia
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2021

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

Photo memorabilia Upper Deck First Edition 2009, #184

NOTES:

Never in my wildest dreams after seeing Ricky Williams during Spring Break of 2020, would I believe that I wouldn’t see another in person signing until September of 2021, but that is exactly what happened due to COVID. My work (at the time) sent us home- telling us they’d see us in a week or two. Our stay was extended indefinitely, eventually to a point where I never stepped foot in the office again.

Orakpo was hosting an event for a new business he was working on, Restore Wellness. I decided to have some fun and got a treatment trying out cryotherapy. It completely got rid of my joints cracking for a few days.

Bowman 2009 Draft Picks Superlatives, #S2 Upper Deck 2009 Heroes. #184

Adrenalyn 2009, #389 Score 2011, #293

We watched the UT game against TCU, and I gave a pretty accurate score. Brian signed anything and everything. I grabbed a few signed photos on my way out the door, and gave them to a few friends. I am quickly running out of cards of his. A lot of these represented set needs and likes, as the Donruss Rookies & Stars 09, and the Adrenalyn always stuck out in my mind.