Card: Topps AAF 2019 Acquired: IP 2019, San Antonio Commanders v Arizona Hotshots
Wow. The Commanders got their butt kicked at home badly by the Hotshots. After the game, the Commanders went to the locker room while the Hotshots reveled in all their glory with fans on the visitors’ sideline. Bundy was talking to fans when I reached over and asked him to sign his card. At first he said I must have the wrong guy, but when he and his friends saw his card, he jumped up and down with excitement. Like most players, he was unaware that Topps had made a card of him. He signed it gleefully and then thanked me for the extra I gave him.
Marquis played for the New Mexico Lobos from 2012-2015. He put together 31 catches for 395 yards and 2 TDs over his time at the school. Bundy did not see much playing time as a receiver in the run first Lobos offense- so his draft stock really suffered. He’d go unselected in 2016.
Bundy was picked up by the Cardinals, and was on and off the roster through 2017. The Giants then took a year to look at Marquis but did not make the roster in 2018.
Marquis signed with the Hotshots in 2019, and saw his most productive outing against the Commanders in Week 5 catching 3 passes for 49 yards, and over the course of the season he also converted 2 2 point conversions. He’d see 4 starts (in 8 games) catching 13 passes for 178 yards (13.6 YPC), including a 22 yard long.
After the league folded, Marquis landed on the practice squad of the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.
A breathtaking track man coming out of tiny Heidelberg college, Donteea Dye was reputed to run a 4.39 40 during the NFL Scouting Combine. In 2015, he posted 28 receptions for 701 yards (25 yards per catch) and 8 TDs for the Knights. He’d be signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the draft.
Donteea saw action in 10 games (starting 6) for the Bucs his rookie year. He caught 11 passes for 132 yards- which included his first catch that went for a TD. He’d spend the remainder of his career on and off the franchise’s practice squad. Unfortunately he is best remembered for catching a 44 yard bomb that he began to celebrate over, before realizing that the play was still live- resulting in him fumbling the ball.
After being released in 2018, Donteea signed with the Orlando Apollos for their upcoming 2019 season. He’d post 7 receptions for 133 yards and 2 TDs. His best game came in the final contest when he caught a 65 yard TD against the Memphis Express. Perhaps the final missing piece or secret weapon to the Apollos offense, Donteea’s role had been slowly increasing over the past few contests before the AAF shut down.
In October of 2019, Donteea was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL.
Card: Topps AAF 2019 Acquired: IP 2019, San Antonio Commanders v The Arizona Hotshots
Lost in the JUCO shuffle to SMU, cornerback Sterling Moore went undrafted in the 2011 NFL Draft.
He’d sign with the Oakland Raiders, and then end up on the roster of the Patriots that year. Called up to active play from the practice squad, Sterling helped New England in a pinch make the Super Bowl that year. Sterling returned to the practice squad in 2012, but was snapped up by the Dallas Cowboys. Sterling again saw some emergency time over the next year or so before earning a role as the team’s nickelback. In 2015, Moore signed with the Bucs, and saw a mix of playing time starting at corner and also as the nickelback, starting 8 contests. After a quick pitstop with the Bills, Sterling spent the next year and a half with the New Orleans Saints. He’d start a career high 12 games, recording 2 picks, 56 total tackles, and 13 pass deflections in 2016. Sterling signed with the Detroit Lions in 2018, but did not make the squad.
Moore joined the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance in early 2019. He’d record 7 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 23 total tackles in 8 starts.
Sterling came over during warmups when he realized I had a card and signed this one for me. After the Commanders game ended, I gave him one to keep which he really appreciated.
That’d be the last game in AAF history, but Sterling was later selected in the 2019 XFL draft by the Seattle Dragons during the defensive back portion, with their final overall pick.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
