The First Football Cards ever 1894 Mayo

      The first set ever to feature only football players was in 1894 by the brand P. H. Mayo tobacco company. The set of 35 cards had only the "Big 3" schools of Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. The cards were 1 5/8 x 2 7/8. On the card it shows an image of the player. At the bottom of the card it has the player's last name, the name of the college the player goes to, the Mayo logo, and a"for chewing and smoking" slogan with a black frame around the card. The card was also half the size of cards today.The cards were not numbered a certain number on it. One of the cards didn't identify the player who was on the card. Later people found out that the player was John Dunlap of Harvard.
     
         More than 100 years later in 2002 a newer card brand Donruss Grindon Kings brought back Mayo cards except they had many differences. First off the players were different, the original Mayo logo was changed the NFL team logo, and the name of the NFL player had both first and last name instead of just their last name. Another difference was the slogan, instead of the original slogan "for chewing and smoking" it was changed to "for trading and collecting and trading". Also instead of the college name they had the position of the player on the card plays.
       
                Six years later in 2008 Topps did the same thing except there weren't as many changes this time. The Mayo logo was the same. The name of the player was the same because they only have there last name. The slogan was different from "for chewing and smoking" it was changed to "for collecting and trading". Instead of having the college name at the bottom of the card they had the NFL team name at the bottom of the card. The cards also came in the regular size of the card or the 1894 card size.

        So the very first  football cards ever made was by the company Mayo. I can't believe that football came as early as 1894. Basically football cards has been here from 1894 - 2013 and probably will go longer. Football cards have been here for 119 years.

John Dunlap 1894 Mayo card without the name.

Dick Butkus 2002 Donruss Gridon Kings card. 

Lendale White 2008 Topps football cards.

Source First and Goal

Dave Casper

Dave Casper was a double Hall of Famer.  He made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Hall of Fame. He was a Tight End for the Oakland Raiders (1974 - 1980), the Houston Oilers from
(1980 - 1983), the Minnesota Vikings in 1983, and the L. A. Raiders in 1984. Casper's nickname was "The Ghost" and "The Ghost" wore number 87. "The Ghost" made it to 5 straight pro bowls from 1976 - 1980. Casper went to St. Edward Central Catholic High School for his first 3 years and for his last year he went Chilton High School where he played football at. "The Ghost's" college he went to Notre Dame. "The Ghost" was drafted round 2 pick 45. Casper was in one of the greatest plays of all time "The Holy Roller". The date was September 10, 1978. The Raiders were losing to the Chargers with 10 seconds left in the game. The Raiders were in the red zone. When Quarter Back Ken Stabler took the snap the defense was coming toward him. He was about to get sacked when he flicked the ball toward the end zone when Running Back Pete Banaszak luckily recovered the ball at the 12 yard line but then dropped it again and the ball rolled into the end zone. Casper was there to recover it, tying the game 20 - 20. The extra point won the game 21 - 20.  At the end of his career he had 378 receptions, 5,216 yards, and 52 touchdowns. Casper is now known as one of the best Tight Ends of all time.    

Emlen Tennell

          Emlen Tennell was a defensive back and a Punt Returner. Tennell wore number 45 playing for the New York Giants from (1948 - 1958) and for the Green Bay Packers from (1959 - 1961). He was also an Assistant Coach. Tennell was drafted to the army for two years in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. After he was done fighting in the war went to University of Iowa. That is where he played football for the Hawkeyes. Tennell was a Quarterback and a Halfback. In the season of 1946 he led the Hawkeyes in passing and in the season of 1947 he led the Hawkeyes in receiving. Tennell stopped playing college football so he could play in the NFL. Most teams of the NFL thought that Emlen Tennell would stay in college for a third year so he was not drafted in to the NFL in 1948.  Tennell was a free agent instead and the New York Giants offered him a contract. Tennell played 11 years with the New York Giants and 3 with the Green Bay Packers. Emlen became an Assistant Coach for the New York Giants. One day when Tennell was coaching during a practice session in 1975 he died because of a heart attack. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame He was the first African American to play for the New York Giants and to make it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Tennell made 9 pro-bowls out of 14 seasons. At the end of his career he had 7 interceptions, 1282 yards, and 4 touchdowns on defense. When he was punt returning he had 2217 yards, 262 punt returns, and 5 touchdowns.            

#45 Elmen Tennell 

   

Elmen Tennell football card

                                                                   Source: Wikipedia

Warren Sapp

     Warren Sapp was inducted to the pro-football Hall of Fame in 2013. Sapp made it to 7 straight pro-bowls in the years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 . He was a defensive tackle wearing number 99. Sapp played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1995 - 2003 and for the Oakland Raiders from 2004 - 2007. Sapp weighs 300 pounds and is 6-2. 
       
       Warren Sapp went to Apopka high school. During the late 80's Sapp was a spectacular football player at his high school as linebacker, tight end, place kicker and punter. Sapp still holds records at that school such as most sacks and longest field goal. Warren Sapp also played baseball. His position was third base. He broke a school record of 24 home runs in his junior year. Sapp delivered a hit on an MLB player John Damon. 

       Warren's college was Miami where he had terrific years of football, but his best year was in 1994. Sapp won many awards that year. He won the  Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Rotary Lombardi Award, Bill Willis, Outland Trophy finalist, and the Big East Defensive Player of the year.  
   

         Sapp was drafted round 1 pick 12 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Warren Sapp's 40-yard dash was the fastest time ran by a defensive tackle, recording 4.69. Sapp was a great rookie. He finished his rookie season with 27 tackles and one interception. In 1999 Sapp was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. During the 2002 post season Sapp had five tackles and two sacks. In 2002 Sapp earned his first Superbowl ring against the Oakland Raiders. Later in Sapp's career (2004) Sapp got a contract with the Oakland Raiders for $36.6 million. The team that Sapp had defeated a few years earlier in the Superbowl wants him to play for them. In 2007 Warren Sapp retired. Sapp finished his career with amazing stats. His stats were so good that he made it to the pro-football hall of fame. Sapp was the Buc's sack leader with 96.5sack. Sapp also had 297 tackles, 8 fumble forces, 4 interceptions, and 1 touch down.  Sapp later joined NFL Network for NFL GameDay Morning. 

#99 Warren Sapp

                            

 Warren Sapp in NFL Network
Source: Wikipidia 

Brian Urlacher

     Everybody knows #54 the beast, Brian Urlacher! He has been the best middle line backer of his generation. Brian has been a Bear for 13 straight years. Now he is a free agent. Urlacher was born May 25, 1978 in Pasco, Washington.
 
    When Brian was growing up he was really interested in basketball, football, and table tennis. Brian's high school was Lovington where he played football at. When Brian Urlacher was a teenager he spent most of his time playing sports for Lovington high school and training in weight rooms. In high school he played on offense, defense, and special teams. He played as a Running Back, a Wide Receiver, a defensive back, and a kick/punt returner. He led the Lovington Wildcats to a great undefeated season with the record being 14 - 0.  He finished his high school season with 12 touchdown receptions, 2 rushing touchdowns and 6 touchdown returns.

      He graduated from lovington highschool in 1996 and wanted to attend Texas University, but the school didn't offer him an athletic scholarship. So he went to New Mexico instead. He played for the New Mexico Lobos. The Lobos head coach, Dennis Franchione, converted Brian to linebacker. Besides football Brian got a major in criminology, but Urlacher went on with football. He finished his college career with 442 tackles,11 sacks, 11 fumble forces, 5kick returns for a touchdown, and caught 6 touchdown passes.

        Brian's 40 yard dash took him 4.57. He got drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2000 in the first round pick 9. Brian was the rookie of the year in 2000.  He made it to 8 pro-bowls and was the defensive player of the year in 2005. Brian lost the 2006 Superbowl to the Indianapolis Colts. He is 6 ft 4in and weighs 258 pounds.He has 10 fumble forces 1,294, 41.5 sacks, 21 interceptions, 278 yards, and 1 touchdown. Hopefully Brian Urlacher will get signed this year so his career won't end.

Photo from www.oddjack.com

Source: Wikipedia

Orlando Pace

Orlando Pace was an offensive linemen drafted as the #1 over all draft pick in 1997. Pace got drafted from the St. Louis Rams wearing number 76. Pace's hometown was Ohio also where he played college at Ohio State. Pace played for the St. Louis Rams from 1997 - 2008 then he got traded to the Chicago Bears. Orlando Pace blocked for NFL MVP's in Marshall Faulk and Kurt Warner. He played in Superbowl XXXIV earning his first Superbowl ring. Pace made five straight pro bowls in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.He played 169 games and started 165 of them. Pace recovered seven fumbles his whole career.  Pace might be a possible hall of famer in 2014.

My All - pro Team NFL

Position  Name                    Team(s)
QB         Joe Montana          San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs
QB         Brett Farve            Atlanta Falcons, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

RB        Jim Brown             Cleveland Browns
RB        Waltor Payton       Chicago Bears

WR       Jerry Rice             San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders
WR       Don Hutson         Green Bay Packers

TE        Tony Gonzelez     Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons
TE        Ozzie Newsome   Cleveland Browns

T         Anthony Munoz     Cincinnati  Bengals
T         John Hannah          New England Patriots

G         Mike Muchak        Houston Oilers
G        Bruce Matthews     Houston Oilers

C        Mike Webster        Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs

OLB  Lawrence Taylor   New York Giants
OLB  Ray Nitschke         Green Bay Packers

ILB   Ray Lewis            Baltimore Ravens
ILB   Dick Butkus          Chicago Bears

S      Mel  Blount            Pittsburgh Steelers  
S      Ronnie Lott            San Francisco 49ers

DT   Mean Joe Green    Pittsburgh Steelers

NT  Reggie White        Philadelphia Eagles

CB   Deion Sanders, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins 
CB Rod Woodson      Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders

DE Bruce Smith         Buffalo Bills

P Ray Guy                  Oakland Raiders

K Sebastian Jankowski Oakland Raiders

PR Jack Christiansen   Detroit Lions

KR Devin Hester        Chicago Bears

Jack Christiansen

Jack Christiansen (John Leroy Christiansen) was a defensive back and punt/kick returner for the Detroit  Lions.  Jack played in 1951 - 1958. In college Jack did not play football instead played on a track team at Colorado State. When he was a sophomore he decided to play football. On his very first game he was amazing. He was 6-1 and 162 pounds which made people doubt that he would make it to the NFL.
 But the Detroit Lions didn't because in 1951 the Lions drafted him.

   In his rookie season as punt returner he had 343 yards and 4 touchdowns. As a defensive back he had 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, and 105 yards. He took the Lions to 3 World Championships. Jack went to 5 pro bowls out of 8 seasons. Soon the Lions defensive backfield was known as the "Chris Crew" because of Jacks defensive skill and his last name. In 1953 Jack had 12 interceptions. Jack was born in 1928 and died in 1986. He was inducted into the pro football hall of fame in 1970.

Top Ten Players 2012 - 2013

 Player     Team     Position 


10. Tony Gonzalez    Atlanta Falcons          TE
9.  Matt Ryan             Atlanta Falcons          QB
8. Aaron Rodgers    Green Bay Packers       QB
7. J. J. Watt              Houston Texans           DE
6. Victor Cruz         New York Giants         WR
5. Calvin Johnson      Detroit Lions              WR
4. A. J. Green          Cincinnati Bengals       WR
3. Tom Brady         New England Patriots    QB
2. Peyton Manning       Denver Broncos       QB
1. Adrian Peterson     Minnesoda Vikings     RB

J.J. Watt

   J. J. means Justin James. He was born March 22 1989. He attended Central Michigan University. He played there as a tight end. He said he wanted to make it to the NFL and was playing  tight end he only got eight passes. That wouldn't get him to the NFL. So he left school and got a job at Pizza Hut. He asked his parents if he could transfer. His parents could only afford Wisconsin. J. J. was fine with it. One day J. J.was delivering pizza. He knocked on the door a ten year old boy answered the door. J. J. could tell he was a little football fan. Mom J. J. Watt's here. J. J. said "I got your pizza hut."The kid got all exited and asked his mom "Why is J. J. delivering our pizza, he's the guy on T.V." After that day     J. J. figured out that he wanted to play football again and get back to the top. After that he trained and practiced so hard everything fitted into place. He can now jump fifty-five inches without a running start.       He left a secure job as a tight end at Central Michigan University to be a Wisconsin Badger defensive end. He got drafted in the 2011 draft by the Houston Texans. In 2012 the Texans has been undefeated for the first five games. Now with Brian Cushing out it is up to J. J. Watt to lead the defense.

                                                J. J. Watts Defensive College Stats                     

    

      SACKS            TKL         SOLO           INT          YDS        FUM         REC        TD 

            11.5              106                 74                1              15               3                4            0 

NFL Prediction All-Pro Team 2013

                    OFFENSE

    PLAYER                                       TEAM 

QB  Peyton Manning                                    Denver Broncos

WR Brandon Marshall                                   Chicago Bears 

WR Calvin Johnson                                        Detroit Lions  

TE Rob Gronkowski                                  New England Patriots 

TE  Heath Miller                                          Pittsburgh Steelers

RB Adrian Peterson                                     Minnesota Vikings 

RB Marshawn Lynch                                   Seattle Seahawks

G Logan Makins                                         New England Patriots                            

G Carl Nicks                                                New Orleans Saints 

T Joe Thomas                                               Cleveland Browns 

T Jake Long                                                   Miami Dolphins
C Maurkise Pouncey                                    Pittsburgh Steelers

                     DEFENSE  

NT  Casey Hampton                                      Pittsburgh Steelers
DT  Haloti Ngata                                            Baltimore Ravens
DE  J. J. Watt                                                   Houston Texans
OLB Clay Mathews                                       Green Bay Packers
ILB  Patrick Willis                                         San Fransisco 49ers  
ILB DeMarcus Ware                                        Dallas Cowboys                      

OLB Terrell Suggs                                           Baltimore Ravens
CB Champ Bailey                                             Denver Broncos
CB Asante Samuel                                             Atlanta Falcons
S Ed Reed                                                          Baltimore Ravens
S Tim Jennings                                                    Chicago Bears

                   SPECIAL TEAMS  

K Sebastian Jankowski                                        Oakland Raiders 

P Andy Lee                                                        San Fransisco 49ers 

PR/KR  Devin Hester                                              Chicago Bears

NFL standings prediction

American Conference                                                           National Conference

North                                                                                         East

1. Baltimore                                                                                N.Y. Giants

2. Cincinnati                                                                               Dallas

3. Cleveland                                                                               Washington

4. Pittsburgh                                                                               Philadelphia

East                                                                                            South

1. New England                                                                          Atlanta

2.  Buffalo                                                                                   Carolina              

3.  Miami                                                                                    New Orleans

4.  N.Y. Jets                                                                               Tampa Bay 

South                                                                                          North                            

1. Houston                                                                                   Green Bay 

2. Tennessee                                                                                Chicago

3. Jacksonville                                                                             Minnesota                                                                        

4. Indianapolis                                                                             Detroit

West                                                                                            West

1. Denver                                                                                     San Francisco 

2. San Diego                                                                                Seattle

3. Oakland                                                                                   Arizona 

4. Kansas City                                                                             St. Louis

                                                  Wild Card 

 New England vs Denver                                                         N.Y.Giants vs San Francisco                                                            

 Cincinnati vs Buffalo                                                                    Dallas vs Chicago             

                                           Divisional Playoff Games                                                                                                                          New England vs Baltimore                                                         Chicago vs San Francisco
Cincinnati vs  Houston                                                                Green Bay vs Atlanta

                                     AFC and NFC Championship Game 

New England vs Houston                                                                San Francisco vs  Atlanta
                                                   Super Bowl 
                                               Houston vs Atlanta
                                                      Houston
                                                

Top 10 Best Running Backs

10.  Ladainian Tomlinson

9. Marshall Faulk

8. Eric Dickerson

7. Gale Sayers

6. Emmitt Smith

5. O.J. Simpson

4. Earl Campbell

3. Barry Sanders

2. Walter Payton

 1. Jim Brown

My All-Pros list [NFL] 2012

OFFENSE  

Position                              TEAM

QB-Aaron Rogers                     Green bay Packers
WR-Calvin Jonson                       Detroit Lions
WR-Larry Fitzgerald                 Arizona Cardinals  
RB- Adrian Peterson                 Minnesota Vikings
RB-Matt Forte                             Chicago Bears
TE-Antonio Gates                     San Diego Chargers
TE-Tony Gonzalez                      Atlanta Falcons
T-Joe Thomas                           Cleveland Browns
G-Logan Manks                      New England Patriots                
C-Maurkice Pouncy                  Pittsburgh Steelers                       
G-Carl Nicks                            New Orleans Saints
T-Joe Staley                            San  Francisco  49ers

                                  DEFENSE 

DE-Jason Pierre-Paul                 New York Giants
DT-Ndamukong Suh                     Detroit Lions  

NG-Haloti Ngata                        Baltimore Ravens
ILB-Patrick Willis                        San Fransisco 49ers
Mid LB- Raw Lewis                  Baltimore Ravens
OLB-Clay Matthews                 Green Bay Packers
OLB-DeClamaris Ware                  Dallas Cowboys
CB-Champ Bailey                      Denver Broncos
CB- Darell Revis                         New York Jets
Safety-Troy Polamalu                 Pittsburgh Steelers
Safety- Ed Reed                          Baltimore Ravens
Punter-Andy Lee                       San Francisco 49ers
Kicker-David Akers                  San Francisco 49ers
Kick Returner- Devin Hester        Chicago Bears

  

Joe Namath

Joe Namath played professional football from 1965-1977. He was number 12 and a fantastic quarterback. He played for the New York Jets. His Nickname was Broadway Joe because he was an entertainer in Broadway and some stared in some commercials. In one he shaved his legs for something called beauty mist. He played in the 3rd Superbowl against the Baltimore Colts.  Broadway Joe Vs Johnny U. Broadway Joe for the first time in the AFC history guaranteed that they would win super bowl III. Broadway Joe was nominated number 100 of NFL top 100 best players of all time. He just made the list. The first time in football history all receivers and their quarterback (Joe Namath) has ever made it to the pro bowl was done by the Jets.    
                                     1 2 3 4    
                       nyj         0 7 6 3 
                       bal         0 0 0 7 
Sixteen to 7 Joe didn't let his team down. He was made Superbowl MVP of the year. Looks like  Broadway Joe made the Super III guarantee. Eight years later he got traded to the Los Angeles Rams, that was his last year playing. Lots of people were thinking he should have been nicknamed no Kneed Joe or Late hit Joe because the defense use to always come up and sack Joe after the play so he aways had busted knees. Especially the Raiders defense. There were rules made because of there late hits.

Matt Gauntners Halloween Costumes

Year                 age                costume
2001                 4 months        frog
2002                     1                fire man
2003                     2                skeleton
2004                     3                spider man
2005                     4                police man
2006                     5                Scooby Doo
2007                     6                skeleton gladiator    
2008                     7                wolverine
2009                     8                astronaut
2010                     9                football player
2011                    10               slash /
2012                    11               Troy Polamalu
2013                    12               Si Robertson (Duck Dynasty)

More of Snow

On December first it began to snow,
Santa made an early stop crying Ho! Ho! Ho!
That was the day it snowed the most,
I even got a visit from a Christmas ghost.
There was to much snow to much white,
It was almost everywhere in sight.
On December 24th it was Christmas Eve,
Santa will only come if you believe.
In the houses people drink hot cocoa.
Santa will come to every place including James Town and Tokyo.
The man's name who's watching you is Chris Kringle,
He has his very own bells that jingle.
The weather is below zero,
But that won't stop people from doing a Christmas carol.

By. Matthew Gauntner

Best Prank Call Ever Sister Aggnniss

When I was at school, my uncle Mike thought of doing a prank call. So he did. He was going to do it on a family member. And we have a big, huge family. So he could pick easily. And out of everyone he picked us. Here goes the prank.                  

My sister Bella, my brother Michael, and, I were at school. My mom was at home. Then the phone rang.  My mom answered. The person said "Hello can I speak to the mother".
 "This is she."
"Hello this is Sister Aggnniss I'm Subbing at St. Sebastian School and I'm having trouble with one of your kids
"Uh O who."
"Bella."
"O my gosh I'm so sorry sister."
"By the sound of voice I can see that you have had trouble with her before."
"It doesn't surprise me. "What did she do."
"She changed my name to a bad word." "She called me Sister Aggnniss."
"Okay I'll have  to talk to her."
"I  explained to her that if she calls me that again she'll burn in hell." "And maybe if you didn't have so many kids you wouldn't have had this problem!!"

After that she finally figured out it was a prank call.
"Okay who is this." She said  
  "It's Mike."


Remember if you ever need to do a prank call, call my Uncle Mike.

Captain America

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Buy the movie Captain America. It is one of my most favorite movies I've ever seen. If you liked the     movies Transformers and Thor you will love Captain America. The movie's about America going to     fight   Germany. But Steve (Captain America) got declined because he came from a sick family and they thought he wouldn't be strong enough to join the army. So thats when a scientist built a machine that would turn Steve into a super soldier. Thats how he became Captain America. If you wonna know more get the movie Captain America.                                                                                                                   
___________________                                                                                                                                
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photo from here

Here We Go Pittsburgh Here We Go Ooo Ooo

My two favorite sport teams, the Penguins (hockey) and the Steelers (football), are both in first place of their section. Pens are rocking this year. So far they have 8 wins and 3 loses. The Steelers are in first of their section. They have 6 wins and 2 loses.
                                  
  Also my school football team, that's in the post before this,
made it to the playoffs. If we win we're in the championship. In the playoffs we're playing St. Barts.  Which is kind of weird because that was the first game we played and we beat them so bad that I thought      they would have lost every other game. But they made it to the playoffs.        

 If your wondering why the Pirates aren't on my list heres my answer "the Pirates suck". And your hearing that from a pittsburgher. So for baseball I root for the New York Yankees. So I hate the Ravens, the Redwings, and, the Redsox. Any team that starts with R.