Tag Archives: upper deck 2008

NFL, University of Texas

Johnson, Derrick ‘DJ’ (4)

CARDS: Panini UT 2016 Honors, Score 2018, UT Upper Deck 2011 HACK, Upper Deck 2008, Panini Select 2014, Donruss 2018, SP 2008,
ACQUIRED: In Person, 2024

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

NOTES:

Well I had run into DJ at the food court when I was getting Bo Jackson at Barton Creek a few years ago, and got pants down without any cards. I hadn’t done a hard target search of cards for him that I liked up to that point, and then the idea came to me to just expand and turn the Upper Deck UT 2011 set into a ‘living set’. Afterwards I found a few cards that I liked, and waited for the next in person signing. Eventually the wait paid off, and my friend Mark G came through with a stack of extras when the event came up.

A local Cadillac dealer held an in person event in late August. It was a very nice little event. Both Mark and Jeff and his family came out. The regulars were in force, but it wasn’t too awkward or overwhelming. DJ came in early and just started signing. He also answered a lot of questions.

On being a Raider? He smiled and said it was a cash grab, and that they were seeing if there was still anything left in the tank. He also talked about LaDanian Tomlinson being the most difficult player for him to tackle, and that he just had this clever combination of size, speed and power- and he loved to talk smack to DJ since they were both from Waco. I shared my connection to DJ and he was surprised that he knew the street that my Grandparents lived on and I visited. All in all it was a very good event. Everyone left with everything they wanted signed.

I got 14 cards. So why aren’t there 14 cards pictured here? Simple: I gave half of them away. Why? Because I like sharing in the joy I have for this hobby. I run a very small, tight knit, autograph group. It’s unique and different than the other groups on Facebook and to those who participate and make it unique- I want to pay it forward.

NFL

Branch, Alan

UD08p BranchCard: Upper Deck 2007 (43/99)
Acquired: 2014, Target Autographed Memorabilia

A dominating run defender in college for the Wolverines, that clocked in at a space eating 6’6″, 325, -Alan Branch was a second round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2007.  Coveted for his positional flexibility, Branch could play defensive tackle, nose, or defensive end (in a 3-4 alignment). In 35 games for Michigan, Alan had 56 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, a pick and 3 forced fumbles.

Branch had trouble cracking the Cardinals starting lineup, and did not see very much starting time until his final season with the team in 2010. During that year, Alan started 3 games and posted 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 27 tackles. In 2011, Alan signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and moved into the starting rotation for the squad.  His stop with the team yielded his best 2 seasons of his career, as he posted 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 37 tackles, for Seattle as a defensive tackle. He’d sign a contract with the Bills and kick out to defensive end, collecting 21 tackles in 13 starts. He re-upped with the team for 2014 but was arrested for DUI. As many teams in the NFL have taken a very hard line approach to any transgressions, the Bills immediately cut Branch. Alan found a home with the New England Patriots later that year and looks to assume a greater role in the defense in 2015 with the departure of Vince Wolfork.