Tag Archives: topps aaf 2019

AAF, NFL

Washington, Shaan ‘Big Hit’

Card: Topps Now 2019
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim. Future Considerations 2019. TTM 2019, C/o Home.
Sent: 5/28 Received: 12/30 ( 216 days)

Shaan Washington played linebacker for the Texas A&M Aggies from 2013-2016 seeing action as early as a true Freshman. His tackles increased every year with him finishing with 104 combined tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 6 pass deflections, and 2 forced fumbles. Shaan’s 59 assisted tackles led the SEC.

He’d be signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, and spent time on and off the roster of the team through 2018, and saw no playing time.

In 2019, Shaan signed with the fledgling Alliance of American Football, and be territorially allocated to the San Antonio Commanders. and quickly established himself as a key starter in San Antonio’s aggressive defense.

Shaan’s big moment came on the AAF’s opening night against the San Diego Fleet. With the Fleet driving into SA territory, San Diego QB Mike Bercovici took the snap, but didn’t check down Washington, who came across Bercovici’s blindside and blasted him. The hit was so hard, not only did Mike fumble the ball, his helmet went flying across the field. The play made Shaan the poster boy for the AAF and became the master highlight for the brief history of the league. He finished the 8 game season with 20 total tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection.

Although Shaan was invited to the XFL Summer Showcase in St. Louis- inexplicably he’d not be selected in the XFL Draft.

AAF, NFL

Mauger, Quincy

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o Home
Sent: 7/6 Received: 7/29 (23 days)

Quincy played for the Bulldogs of Georgia from 2013-2016. He tallied 186 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, .5 sacks, 12 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble, and 7 interceptions for 32 yards. After not being selected in the 2017 NFL Draft, he’d sign on with the Atlanta Falcons where they tried him out at safety. After spending a year on IR, Quincy joined the Oakland Raiders in 2018, but did not make the squad. He’d be allocated to the Atlanta Legends of the AAF in 2018 and moved back to cornerback. Quincy had a decent preseason, but was injured during the opening week of the season after making 1 tackle. He signed this card for me very quickly and wrote a nice note on the outside of the envelope thanking me for being a fan.

AAF, NFL, XFL

Johnson, Steven (LB)

Card: Topps AAF 2019
Acquired: 2019, EBay

Looks like Steven was getting a bit tired of signing cards at this point. The autograph looks a bit shortened- but I’ll take it!

Steven Johnson is a great football story- as he’s managed to succeed against all odds. He didn’t receive any college opportunities out of high school, and after playing both ways at Wyoming Seminary, he suffered a devastating knee injury that tore it essentially from the socket. After rehabbing, he walked-on at Kansas and fought his way up the depth chart. By his Junior year he was an entrenched starter at linebacker. He finished his college career with 225 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 pass deflections and an interception in 35 games.

Undrafted, Steven signed with the Denver Broncos in 2012 and managed to make the 52 man roster playing primarily on special teams. He started 7 games in 2014 at middle linebacker, posting 39 total tackles, .5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. He’d then embark on a series on stops with the Titans (2015), Steelers (2016), Steelers and Ravens (2017).

He’d join the Alliance of American Football for the 2019 season and be assigned to the Arizona Hotshots. Steven had a banner season for the Hotshots. He’d lead the team in interceptions with 3, and finish 3rd on the team in combined tackles with 48.

After the AAF folded suddenly, Johnson was selected by the Seattle Dragons of the XFL 2020. Over the course of the 5 game season, Steven posted 48 tackles to lead all players in the league. Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus outbreak- the XFL cancelled the remainder of the season