Tag Archives: upper deck 2009

NFL, University of Texas

Williams, Roy “The Legend”

adr11 rwilliams wrsco09 r williams wrud09 roy williams WRpoff09 rwilliams wrdo09 rwilliams wrto08 rwilliams wrmem11 rwilliams wr

Cards: Upper Deck 2009, Score 2009, Adrenalyn 2009, Playoff Prestige 2009, Donruss Threads 2009, Topps 2006, Photograph Memorabilia
Acquired: IP 2013, GMC NFL Texas Tour October

It really surprised me that Roy didn’t have a UT Upper Deck card, so initially I was put into a scramble to find some cards for him. Since I had only started collecting cards again in minutia in 2009, I was short on many of Roy’s great cards. I took the rides at the GMC event and stocked up on autograph passes. Each drive entitled you to one autograph from a player and I intended to carry my surplus into the Sunday event, but that did not come to fruition, as I was later informed by staff that the passes were only good for that day. Undaunted I went ahead and had Roy sign the 6 cards I had with me.  I kept kicking myself for not staying around longer though as apparently Roy sat down and played some Madden with fans after he got done signing.  I later also gave the extra Longhorn photo that I got from this event to one of my friends.

The November attempt for Roy turned out to be a dud. With a much larger crowd than expected and Roy showing up early to start signing, the timing of the event was completely off. Roy’s queue closed 2 minutes after it opened at 2pm, because he wanted to get to the UT game. This left myself, who had been doing test drives dutifully to try to acquire autographs, standing on the outside. It was not a well handled situation, and while Roy looked genuinely sad that he had to leave us standing out looking in, I believe that I will probably be able to grab him at another event again. There was one positive out of the situation, and that was because we had organized a line behind the queue, we formed the basis of the line for the next person coming up- DeMarcus Ware.

Roy was a monster at the University of Texas who had the complete package for the Longhorns. In 47 games Roy finished as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (241), receiving yards (3866), and receiving touchdowns(36). He also rushed 16 times for 243 yards and 3 TDs. Roy earned the Cotton Bowl Classic MVP in 2003, after catching 4 balls for 142 yards and a TD, and carrying the ball 1 time for 39 yards and another.

Drafted by the Lions in 2004, Roy was the 2nd of 4 monster receivers that the Lions used their high first round pick on during the Matt Millen administration. Initially fans were unhappy with the pick, but Williams wasted no time establishing himself as the team’s #1 threat, recording 817 yards on 54 receptions, and 8 TDs. After a subpar 2005, Williams earned Pro Bowl honors for his monstrous injury free 2006 campaign. In it he recorded career highs with 82 receptions for 1310 yards and 7 touchdowns, while averaging some 81.9 yards a game. As bigger things were expected with Williams’ emergence, 2007 came as a let down to many as Roy only played in 12 games. Still he managed again to post 838 yards and 5 TDs, including a career high 91 yarder.  In 2008, Roy was traded to the right before the deadline to the Cowboys, as the Lions were confident in the arrival of new receiver Calvin Johnson. While the trade was hailed with much fanfare, the Cowboys in the long run were fleeced by the Lions (for once) to the tune of a 1st and 3rd round pick as Roy received a very lucrative extension.  He played the next 2 seasons there with Dallas playing along side Terrell Owens, but probably what really cost Williams his job was the emergence of Miles Austin after Roy sustained a rib injury. Roy was just never able to reestablish that trust as a go to guy between him and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The Cowboys released Roy in 2011, and he ended up signing with the Chicago Bears. After a season there, Roy decided to retire for good from the league in 2012. When I asked Roy,  “If he could suit up right now what team he’d most likely play for?”, He paused for what seemed like 15 seconds, and then said he’d do it all over again with the Cowboys. Playing alongside Terrell Owens and catching a few balls from Romo were some great memories.

G/Gs  115/94     Rec  393      Yds  5715       Avg  14.5       Td 44     Lg   91t

 

 

NFL

Williams, Ricky “Little Earl” (3)

adr11 rwilliamspoff01 rwilliamssco09 R williamsSP99 R Williams
Cards: Score 2009, Upper Deck 2006, SP 1999, Adrenalyn 2009, Playoff Contenders 2001, Power Deck 2006.
Acquired: 2/6/13, IP Legends Luncheon, 11/17/13 – GMC Texas Tour.
See Also: Ricky Williams, Ricky Williams (2)

Just when I thought I was going to write a post about how I’m running out of things to say about Ricky, he has a luncheon where he agrees to do an honest question and answer session with all the fans in the lunchroom audience. He discussed his foundation work (Ricky Williams Foundation), and a wide range of topics covering his life growing up as a latchkey kid. Ricky was very forthcoming about his travels, and that he had actually contemplated retirement as early as his second year in the NFL. Ultimately Williams made the decision in his last season in Baltimore to retire, after a brief conversation with Bill Parcells.

Ricky enjoyed playing the game because it was a game to him. It was fun. He talked about the growing problem of players confusing sportsmanship with competitiveness.  Williams also talked about how he was even keel when the team won or when the team lost. He really just didn’t let it get to him, and this made him sometimes
appear weird to his teammates.

UD09 R williamsWhen I got up to him he signed all three of my cards. At this point, he recognizes me when I come up, and I gave him his Starting Lineup figure as a humorous gift- which I think he got a kick out of. I asked him jokingly if he had ever used the deer antler spray, and he very candidly told me his answer… He clarified that the greater issue is that at some point we are talking about substances that people put in their body, much of it naturally that is already used or ingested in other cultures. He really didn’t tell me firmly if it worked, however Ricky pointed out the greatest problem that the NFL faces in drug testing is the use of HGH (Human Growth Hormone), and that the problem is rampant, since the league’s testing isn’t able to completely sniff it out.

ud98pd rwilliamsRicky lives in Austin and I pretty much stop whatever I am doing to go to his events. I heard about this event on 1300 The Zone (The Longhorn Station), about a week before and decided to take a crack at the event. I had previously met Ricky on two other occasions, and he had signed a total of 4 cards between the events for me. Still there seems to be a never ending supply of cards or items I’d love to get the former Heisman winner to sign for my collection including these gems. I very much enjoy his refreshing, incredibly intelligent, and unique view on the world and always look forward to the events he speaks at. If there was ever a player that I’d refer to as a shaman, I’d pretty much put Ricky in that category.

rickyagainIn November, Ricky once again appeared, this time at the GMC Texas Tour. I stocked up on autograph vouchers and then camped out in line. After asserting my spot as the first person in line over poachers who hovered near the gate or put their gear down and walked off, I waited patiently for Ricky to arrive. Williams had signed to work with Coach Larry Kennan at Incarnate Word out of San Antonio as a runningback coach, and he came in wearing their colors. As the only fan that recognized him, Ricky thought he was going to get away with his stunt, but I caught him when he walked by. When they finally opened up the queue for autographs we were limited to just one per person, so I walked up and got my autograph and just talked to Ricky about his experience at IW.  It was a rough start when I asked him to sign with the bronze colored marker, but because his face frowned, I immediately backpedaled and said that I’d be happy with whatever marker he’d like. His face lit up then when we talked about the WLAF and Kennan’s days with the Monarchs, but before you knew it, a handler came over and shooed me off. I then told Ricky I’d return and when I got to the front of the line, he’d know he had gone through the whole line at least once. I waited patiently and returned to the front. The pretty line keeper  (who comped me a Roy Williams autographed photo) helped me pass the time for a few minutes, and before I knew it, I was back at the table talking to Ricky. He enjoyed talking to me so much, he volunteered and literally grabbed my cards and signed all the extras I had with me before I left the table. He told me about Kennan’s coaching style and we joked about what the “Hook ‘Em” sign would be for Incarnate Word.

tnt13g rwilliamsAgain, like Priest Holmes, I created a custom card for Ricky based on the ‘Long Tom’ design of the GameDay cards more recently of the 90s. I was really happy with the results, but continue to struggle with the paper thickness as 20lb is not a universal weight. Still the ink absorbed well into the card and it does look legitimate enough that he did take pause to look impressively at it.

At the time of Ricky’s retirement he was the 26th member of the 10,000 yard club. While occasional rumblings talk about inducting him into the Pro Football HoF, his legacy will need to be redefined elsewhere, as old timers will look at Ricky’s rampant disregard of NFL policies as blemishes on his career. Also with guys like Ottis Anderson (slightly more yards and an MVP honor) still waiting in line, Williams getting in would be seen as a major coup. In the meantime Ricky is finding a new life in football coaching runningbacks for Incarnate Word and dabbling in recruiting.

NFL, University of Texas

Young, Vince “VY”

utud11 youngCards: UT Upper Deck 2011, UT Upper Deck 2011 Memorable Moments x3, UT Upper Deck 2011 ATA, Score 2009, Pacific 2009, Upper Deck 2009
Acquired: In Person 2013, GMC NFL Texas Event
See Also: Vince Young (2)

You pretty much have to live in Texas to understand the mystique of Vince Young. An electrifying player for the Longhorns who shattered USC’s chokehold on the National Championship, Young had this ability to come alive and just control games when it counted most.  Already a deadly scrambler Vince battled Chance Mock early on for playing time before taking the reins over fulltime for UT in 2004. VY utud11 young MM05rushed for 998 yards and 11 TDs that year, while throwing for 1,155 yards and 6 TDs. He’d earn Rose Bowl Player of the Game Honors for his heroics against Michigan. In his breathtaking 2005 season Young threw for 3,036 yards and 26 TDs. Again, he missed the 1,000 yard plateau rushing with 993 yards and 12 TDs, leading Texas to an 11-0 record. He’d be rightfully robbed of the Heisman honor, – that went to Reggie Bush, who later admitted to taking funds and favors from potential agents. Young in the meantime beat Bush and Leinart in the National Championship that year earning Rose Bowl player of the game honors, with 200 yards rushing and 267 yards passing. He’s one of a select few utud11 young MM05RR players to win 2 Rose Bowl Player of the Game Honors. His 30-2 record was the best in UT history (leaving the offense in capable hands of his protege Colt McCoy who broke his record). At the time of his departure Vince held many other offensive and combined offense National and Texas records.

VY declared for the draft after his Junior season. The 2006 draft was considered one of the richest of the Modern Era since 1986. With new head coach Gary Kubiak putting David Carr on an incredibly short leash, the city of Houston and the Young family hoped that the Texans would exercise the first pick of the draft on Vince. Although respectfullyutud11 young MM06 considered by the franchise, the team in the end chose North Carolina defensive end Mario Williams over Vince Young and Reggie Bush. The city erupted with anger at the pick, as New Orleans ran to the podium to snag Bush with the second choice, but the nightmare had just begun. With the 3rd pick of the NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans (that former team referred to as the HOUSTON Oilers) drafted Vince Young. It was the worst case scenario for the Houston Texans.

In the meantime, Young settled into his new role playing for the Titans. Immediately controversy brewed as the Titans traded starter Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens, while beneath the surface a mem youngrift over control began to fester between owner Bud Adams and head coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher didn’t want Young, but Adams made the call. Still Young steadied the ship, and improved the fares of the Titans, while the Texans appeared to be lost at sea.  He’d make the Texans pay for not drafting him and be named Rookie of the Year after breaking the NFL rookie QB rushing record with 552 yards, and leading the Titans to wins in two 14 point comebacks and a Pro Bowl appearance. Around Houston Adams was making new converts of the Houston masses, both new and old. Even in Austin where the Cowboys were losing grasp of an ever wavering fan base and the Texans were making little ground, the local affiliates ceased carrying Texans games to show Vinceutud11 young ATA in Tennessee. It was truly dark days for Texans fans.

In 2007 some of the tension began to mount between Fisher and Vince. Vince was benched during the preseason for breaching an undisclosed team rule. (It turned out later he slipped out of the team hotel and went to his house to sleep before the game.) A slow start statistically to his season, combined with nicks and tears along the way, it was even more surprising that Young led the upstart Titans into the playoffs that season. The team however would lose in the first round.

Early into 2008, VY injured his knee, which opened the door to journeyman QB Kerry Collins (who had the hot hand at the time) to take over. Rightfully so the Titans finished at 12-4 and Young was decidedly backing up Collins. This caused Vince much distress as fans were merciless with him. He briefly went missing as other rumors were also tossed around. Eventually he was found with the help of Coach Fisher, but things were about to go from bad to worse for Vince.

ud09 youngAs 2009 rolled around, Jeff Fisher was quoted as saying that, “Vince would have to earn the backup job.”  You see there was a knock on VY and UT players going all the way back to their Austin days, that they were coddled by the media and team there. Furthermore in college more teams customized their offense to the players’ skill sets, as opposed to the pros where it was the other way around,- especially for quarterbacks. Things however backfired on Fisher, and the Titans stumbled out of the gate. Before the team could blink they were 0-6. Facing tremendous pressure, Fisher finally put Young back in to play. VY immediately rattled off 5 wins in a row. He’d earn the Comeback Player of the Year Award from one sporting publication, but was largely overshadowed by both Tom Brady and Carnell Williams. VY again went to the Pro Bowl.

Vince and Fisher were again living as ‘The Odd Couple’. Fisher said horrible things behind VY’s back that’d get leaked somehow publicly, and Young would just go out and prove him wrong. The 2010 season finally proved to be the breaking point between the two. Hovering at about .500, Young threw his football pads into thesco09 young stands after a frustrating performance against the Washington Redskins, where he was yanked from the game with a broken thumb. After fighting with Fish in the locker room, -it was over and Young was benched for the remainder of the season. The Titans attempted to shop Young, but no team stepped up to trade for him, knowing that Tennessee would just have to jettison him. That they did, as the former Golden Boy from Texas with a 30-17 record for the Titans was kicked to the curb in early 2011.

VY floated around for a few months. Fans in Houston again briefly clamored for the Texans to sign him, but with the Texans riding high on their first division championship and Matt Schaub‘s play, there was no need to bring a former starter in to put pressure on Matt.  In mid July Young signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, who had been making savvy moves in free agency and through the draft. It seemed to be the perfect landing spot for him, as he’d be learning the ropes from quarterback guru and head coach Andy Reid, while supporting starting quarterback Michael Vick. VY then made some casual comments, which were then channeled into the mainstreampac09 young media. All of a sudden, Vince’s ‘Dream Team’ talk, made the Eagles bulletin board material for every team every week. The Eagles, stumbled, and Vick got injured. Young stepped in and led the team to a 1-2 record, but at the end of the season, he was not retained by the team.  The Eagles were rebuilding.

Young signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2012, but did not make the final cut. The Cardinals briefly considered signing him during the regular season, but due to fan clamor against the signing, VY was not pursued. VY sat out the whole 2012 season before getting his wish to play again. The Green Bay Packers signed him in 2013, but again he’d not make the final roster. While there are plenty of burnouts and free agents out there who somehow make squads every year, Vince rarely is called. VY though remains an internet rumor lightning rod for teams looking for a quarterback to spice up their lineups or as a team’s starting quarterback injury replacement. The Alouettes claimed his rights, but Vince only kicked the tires on joining the CFL, – a league I think he could excel and refine his skills in. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he’s approached by the Newyoung USFL for the Texas franchise, if that ever gets off the ground.

I was really, really surprised to see VY’s name at the GMC Texas NFL autograph signing. I was even more surprised to get there in line about an hour early and still be 8th or 9th in line, but as the event began and Vince walked in, the queue blew out of the tent. I had test driven 8 cars that day just so that I could get as many autographs from Vince that I could. I split the 8 into 4 and handed them to my fiancee so that the signing was a more acceptable number. Calling me ‘big man’, he signed everything for both of us, much to my glee. Vince also had never seen his Red River Shootout Upper Deck card which he really liked. Vince called his agent over and he acted like he was going to run with it. We talked for a moment about his Houston Astros hat, and about his love of the HOUSTON Oilers, that he grew up on. He also loved this insane looking photo that I took with him. VY seemed upbeat. I hope that things like this make him happy and give him some closure (if he needs it) on his experience in the NFL.

Vince also recently went back to UT to complete his degree. He’s been quoted as saying (and I paraphrase), “That going back and finishing up his degree at UT gave him an even better feeling than winning the National Championship.

G/Gs 60/50    Att  1304   Comp 755   Yds 8964    Pct 57.9     Td 46   Int 51    Rat 74.4
Rush 282     Yds 1459    Avg 5.2    Td 12     lg 44