Tag Archives: ttm autograph

NFL, University of Texas

Shearer, Brad

Cards: UT Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck 2011 All-Time Alumni
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent: 9/17     Received:  10/26  (39 days)

Brad Shearer played college football at the University of Texas from 1974 to 1977. His best year came as a Senior in 1977 when he averaged over 10 tackles a game and won the Outland Trophy as the best defensive lineman in the country. He was later named to the SWC All-1970s team as well. Brad’s 11 career forced fumbles at the time ranked 3rd all-time at the school. He was selected in the 3rd round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.  Brad suited up for 34 games over the next 4 seasons, starting 2. Injuries derailed his promising career, primarily 1979 to which he lost the entire season to. 

He lives quietly now in Austin. I was able to get him on these two cards of his and he wrote a really nice note. A Westlake HS graduate, Brad went there before they put the astroturf in the stadium, and players still went both ways.

I am glad I had him sign these cards. The certified sticker is very small and here you can see how a large autograph really done right, compliments the canvas. 

G/GSTACSACFUMINTYDSAVGTDLG
34/2N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A-.-N/AN/A

AAF, NFL

Stewart, Orion

Cards: Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified
Acquired: TTM 2019, C/o The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, EBay 2019
Sent: 4/11 Received: 5/3 (22 days)

When the different AAF groups were talking about what players they were impressed by, I was surprised that they brought up the lumber laying Orion Stewart. He was apparently really impressing in camp for the Commanders. He quickly proved to me during that first game what a force he was for SA in the secondary, laying down the law against the Fleet. In that first game he hauled in a pick, deflected two passes, and made 6 tackles. At the end of the game, he and a gaggle of players came over to the visitor’s endzone and mugged my sister and me for hugs… well primarily my sister- but still it was a great memory to make- and Stewart became one of my favorite players.

Orion was a 3 time All-Big 12 safety at Baylor, playing in 49 games while starting 36 of them. He recorded 12 interceptions over his time playing for the Bears, and ended up third on the school charts with 227 career interception return yards.

Stewart was not selected in the 2016 NFL Draft- and saw brief stops with the Broncos, Redskins, Giants, and Bills. In 2018 he signed with the Commanders and he and Derron Smith made the most fearsome safety duo in the league. He also came up with a nickname for the secondary (- which was one of the league leaders in creating turnovers), calling their group “Area 51”. In fact at the last game, I brandished a homemade sign with it on there as well.

After the league collapsed, Orion signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. He signed his base card in 22 days- which was a day after his certified arrived in the mail. I got an incredible deal on the certified autograph. I got 4 for about half the price of a hobby box, and a hobby box typically comes with 3 autographs, so you do the math.

AAF G/GSTACSACFUM
7/72500
PDINTYDSAVGTDLG
329045.0068
University of Texas

Cotten, Mike

Card: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011
Acquired: TTM 2018, C/o Home
Sent:  9/19   Received: 9/24    (5 days)
Failure: 2018, C/o Work

Mike Cotten played quarterback for the Texas Longhorns from 1959 to 1961. He and I shared a lot of commonalities in our lives which is really cool so I thought I should go and reach out. A large player for that era (6’10”, 190), Mike was not only hard to take down in the backfield, but also a calculated and patient thrower. In 1961 he threw for 500 yards (44/77) with 7 TDs to only 2 interceptions. Mike also rushed 64 times for 150 yards and 3 TDs. A perpetual thorn in the side of rivals Texas A&M and Oklahoma- Cotten never lost a game to either school during his 3 years as QB for the Longhorns. He set numerous records for the school and pioneered a few modern offensive formations under the tutelage of Darrell Royal.

Mike was not selected in the 1962 NFL Draft.  After serving a tour in Vietnam, he returned to Austin and became a lawyer. As of 2019 Mike lives in the Central Texas Area.