Tag Archives: topps 2014

NFL

Keenum, Case (2)

Topps 2014, #224
Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012, #67

CARDS: Topps 2014, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o The Houston Texans
SENT: 6/8/23 RECEIVED: 8/19/23 (73 days)
FAILURE: TTM 2013, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Case Keenum
  • Case had career marks in a variety of passing categories during 2018.
  • He went 365/586 for 3,890 yards starting all 16 games for the Broncos.
  • In 2019, Case played for the Redskins, starting 8 contests, throwing for 1707 yards and 11 TDs to 4 interceptions.
  • This led to a two year stint as backup for the Cleveland Browns in 2020 and 2021, followed by the Bills in 2022.
  • Proof positive that you can go home, Case signed with the Houston Texans in 2023.
  • Expected to mentor the Texans quarterback room and perform duties as an emergency QB behind CJ Stroud and Davis Mills, Case suited up for 2 contests.
  • In the game against the Titans, Case went 23/36 for 229 yards and a TD in a surprising 19-16 win.

NOTES:

In bad taste, the Titans decided to wear their ‘throwback’ Oilers uniforms against Houston in Nashville. Furthermore the game was tabbed as a homecoming game for former players, and then head coach Mike Vrabel strolls out wearing a white Stetson- ALA former HOUSTON Oilers head coach Bum Phillips- for the game. (Bum Phillips notoriously didn’t back the Tennessee Titans, Bud Adams, or the Tennessee Oilers. He was HOUSTON through and through.)

Things lined up for the Titans too, as the Texans limped into the contest with injuries across the board to their starting lineup, including Nico Collins and CJ Stroud. Enter Case Keenum.

Keenum helped guide the Texans to the win over the Titans, making Tennessee the butt of all backfired jokes, and contributed to Mike Vrabel getting fired, by leading Houston to the upset- cementing Case’s legacy and place in Houston football lore.

As Case’s playing career enters its twilight, it’s believed that there will be no shortage of teams wanting to help him transition into the coaching ranks.

I really like Case, and when he resigned with Houston, I thought I’d try him again TTM. I was juiced to get him on these two cards. On top of that he’s a big time HOUSTON Oilers and Houston Texans fan, and thinks the colors should come home.

NFL

Long, Jake (2)

Upper Deck Football Heroes 2008, #151
Upper Deck Football Heroes 2008, #152
Score 2009, #157
Topps 2014, #64

CARDS: Score 2009, Upper Deck College Heroes 2008 x2, Topps 2014
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 1/3/23 RECEIVED: 1/17/23 (days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Jake Long
  • 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.

NFL

Reed, Ed

Card: Topps 2014
Acquired: 2017, Future Considerations

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to know my buddy Lance, the Louisiana Connection, we’ve built a good rapport and I’ve been fortunate to call him my friend, we’ve exchanged autographs back and forth and attended events together. Our ‘future consideration’ exchanges are completely spontaneous and come with no strings attached.  He decided to take a shot on the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame dinner, and hit pay dirt with both Ed Reed and Eddie Kennison who were at the event.  They both signed a few cards for Lance, and he was kind enough to package them up and send them to me. I can not emphasize enough that one of the greatest unsaid rewards of this hobby is the friends and the connections you make with other likeminded and selfless collectors.

Ed Reed is one of the greatest safeties of all time and there is definitely a first ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket waiting for him.  The 24th overall selection of the 2002 draft, Ed played the majority of his career in Baltimore anchoring down the free safety position.  An instinctive and intelligent ballhawk, with all the intangibles and soft hands,  Ed was actually the second ranked safety off the board, (Roy Williams -DAL)  and Baltimore honestly wasn’t jumping up and down when he was selected, but the leader of the Miami Hurricane defense went out and proved them wrong. Over 11 seasons, Ed started 169 games and recorded a whopping stat line: 61 interceptions for 1541 yards and 7 TDs. Along the way he led the league in interceptions 3 times, yards twice, and had a 106 yard TD and a 107 yard TD. He earned All-Pro Honors 8 times, and Pro Bowl nominations in 9 seasons.  Like many greats, Ed Reed faced a conumdrum after the 2012 season. The Ravens hot off their latest Super Bowl appearance couldn’t pay Ed Reed to stay. He decided to test the free agent waters. Enter the Houston Texans.

The Texans had a habit of swinging for the fences on free agent pickups, typically dubbing them as ‘the final piece’ to a championship run by the front office brass- and then deeply overspending for them. With up and coming reasonably priced Glover Quin bolting in free agency for Detroit, the Texans brought up the Brinks truck to Ed Reed’s house and dumped the cash. Reed signed a 3 year contract in 2013, and then underwent arthroscopic surgery- surprising many in the Texans camp. Ed made a late debut in the Texans defense, but the team was already spiraling out of control.  While Ed was a vocal leader of the defense, and was to mentor young safety DJ Swearinger, he had zero impact on the defense. In  7 games he appeared in, Ed had 16 total tackles.  The Texans had enough of the Ed Reed show and cut him. He’d be picked up by the Jets and finish his season with the team. During his short stint in NY, Reed added another 3 interceptions to his resume, retiring after the conclusion of the 2013 season. While the ending of Ed’s career was not what anybody wanted, the volume of his production in Baltimore can not be overstated.

Beggars can not be choosers, and I value this gift that Lance gave me. Ed Reed in a Jets card looks odd though. I would’ve accepted a Texans card just the same, but Ed is iconic in his Baltimore regalia. Topps went through a slow evolution during this period, making minor tweaks to their design each year. It’s not a bad look, but it really feels like the front end of a car I’m looking at. The design is pretty embellished nicely, if not a bit too much.  It’s a decent but not really a memorable set, although in the future it maybe regarded as something typical of this era.

G/GP   174/169         TAC 643          SAC 6.0            FUM 13
INT 64          YDS 1590           AVG  24.8         TD  7          LG 107t