Tag Archives: toronto argonauts

NFL, ufl

Parker, Samie

CARDS: Topps 2004, Score 2007, TNT UFL 2011
ACQUIRED: TTM 2025, C/o Work
SENT: 8/25 RECEIVED: 9/29 (35 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Samie Parker played college ball at Oregon from 2000-’03.
  • His yards and catches increased in every year with the Ducks.
  • In 2003 Parker posted 77 receptions for 1088 yards and 7 TDs.
  • 105th overall selection (4th round) of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Played from 2004-’07 for the Chiefs.
  • Best season came in ’06 when Samie caught 41 passes for 561 yards and a TD.
  • Was signed by the Broncos in 2008 but was cut before the season began.
  • Over the next year was on and off the rosters of the Panthers, Seahawks and Raiders.
  • Signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL in 2009.
  • He caught 10 passes for 124 yards and a TD.
  • In 2010 he played for the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League.
  • Caught 78 passes for 1,135 yards and 11 TDs.
  • Rejoined the Locos in 2010 and caught 22 passes for 283 yards and a 68 yard TD.
  • Signed with the Argos in 2012 but was released a few months later.
  • Has gone into coaching at the college level, and as of 2025 is coaching WR at Delaware State.

NOTES:

Samie hadn’t signed in a while so I took a shot in the dark at his workplace. I like his autograph. The ‘S’ in his first name loops into the ‘P’ on his last name. Slick.

CFL, NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Ricky (7) ‘Little Earl’

CARDS: Adrenalyn 2009 Extra, Adrenalyn 2010, Bowman’s Best 2000, Bowman’s Best 2001, Collectors Edge 2000, Donruss Classic 2004, Donruss Classic 2006, Donruss Elite 2004, Donruss Elite 2009 Chain Reaction Black, Fleer Showcase 2003, Leaf 2000, Panini Phoenix 2018 Adrenalin, Panini Classics 2016 Monday Night Moves, Playoff Contenders 2003, Donruss Gridiron Gear 2009, Panini Threads 2009, Panini Ultra 2016, Panini Vanguard 2000, Playoff Prestige 2004, Playoff Signatures 2002, Playoff 2006, Score 2001, Skybox Dominion 2000, SP 2001, SPx 2004 Winning Materials, SPx 2003, Topps Heritage 2003, Upper Deck 2000 Piece of History, Upper Deck 2001 Vintage, SPx 1999 Authentic, Upper Deck 2000 Ionix, Upper Deck 2002 MVP
ACQUIRED: IP, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well after a long wait, Ricky appeared again in… 2023- but I missed him. I didn’t realize he showed up early- and pretty much was leaving as I came in, again putting my cards on hold. I kicked myself over it, but really, is that what it’s about?

Fast forward to 2025. I finally got a last second notification of an event he was appearing at, and I was not going to miss it. He was promoting a mocktail and they were giving away samples at an HEB, so I packed my stuff, sent out the notifications to all the friends who would be interested and went.

Mark G contacted me and had me stop by his house. I picked up his cards along the way and met him there. I was the first person in line and Ricky was pretty happy to see me. We talked for a bit and caught up. When the gatekeeper came over and asked me to move along after 10 or so autographs, Ricky said, “It’s no big deal. I’m not going anywhere.” I got back into line and went through multiple times- and we just kept chatting. I ended up giving him one of my trading cards with my contact information, and told him if he just wanted to hang out to HMU.

In total Ricky signed 65 cards for me. The lines were not long and by the time I got to him for the 4th or 5th time, there was almost nobody in line. Now… You’re looking at this and saying, “Wait a minute… There’s not 60 cards here!” -That’s true. I cleared out ALL the favors and SHiLs I had over the years, and gave away almost half of them to members of my Facebook group.

I’ve always said to share the wealth, but the best gift you can get- is one that you do not expect. Thanks again Ricky! I’m reloading already!

CFL, NFL, XFL

Trestman, Marc

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020
ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home
SENT: 5/4 RECEIVED: 7/12 (69 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Marc Trestman is considered one of football’s great minds when it comes to QB whispering as he has played a hand in many a great QB’s ascensions or been on the coaching staff as of their rise.
  • After being unable to wrest the starting QB job at Minnesota, Marc Trestman transferred to Minnesota State University-Moorhead.
  • Unsigned, he spent camp with the Vikings in ’79 and ’80 as a defensive back but didn’t crack the lineup.
  • He began his college coaching career at Miami (FL) in 1981, and by ’83 was serving as the team’s QB coach.
  • Then in 1985, Trestman embarked on a series of stops as a positional coach and offensive coordinator in the NFL (Vikings, Browns, 49ers, Lions, Cardinals, Raiders, and Dolphins).
  • After a brief stop at NC State in 2005-’06, Trestman returned to the NFL as a consultant with the New Orleans Saints in 2007.
  • It’d be in late 2007 that Marc really carved out a name for himself as he was hired as HC of the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.
  • Paired with GM Jim Popp, Marc’s Alouette teams won back to back CFL Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010.
  • By 2012, Trestman was garnering NFL attention, and in 2013 he was hired as the Chicago Bears head coach.
  • Trestman was the first coach since Bud Grant to jump from the CFL to the NFL.
  • He’d finish his rookie head coaching season 8-8 as the Bears would break multiple offensive team records.
  • Unfortunately he’d not see the same success in 2014, as the team slid to 5-11.
  • After a stop in Baltimore as their OC in 205/’16, Marc returned to the CFL where he had the most success.
  • Reunited with Jim Popp – this time in Toronto, where the Argos pulled off a worst to first, winning the Great Cup in 2017.
  • He’d be fired after the 2018 season.
  • Marc hopped on over to the XFL 2020, where he coached the Tampa Bay Vipers to a 1-4 record before COVID took down the league.
  • After a long hiatus, Trestman was hired by Jim Harbaugh to be an assistant with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.

ACCOLADES:

  • CFL Coach of the Year 2009, ’17

NOTES:

I was interested in learning more about Marc and I thought the best way to do so was to see his offensive mind at work, so I asked him to diagram up a play with his autograph. He. Did. Not. Instead I got a note, which I thought was a bit snarky, wishing me luck with whatever I do with the autograph, or something like that. Okay dude.