https://www.ebay.com/itm/336558113863?mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&mkcid=1&campid=5338657992&toolid=10001&customid=&mkevt=1

I recently acquired this game-used jersey of former NFL player Margus Hunt.

Hunt had a ridiculous path to the NFL. He was born in Soviet-era Estonia and was a standout track and field athlete. He enrolled at SMU to further that career but by the time he arrived on campus, SMU shut down their track program. So what’s an athletic giant to do? Play football, of course.

Hunt began playing football for SMU and earned the nickname “The Eastern Block” due to his talent for blocking kicks. His size and ability was put on display at the NFL Combine, where he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and bench pressed 38 reps at 225 lbs. Worth mentioning that he did all this at 6’8” and 277 lbs. The Bengals nabbed him in the 2nd round of the 2013 draft.

This jersey is from Hunt’s best season, which was 2018 with the Colts. He started 15 games and the jersey has battle scars from four of them. In this jersey he sacked Andy Dalton twice and Deshaun Watson once, also stuffing Joe Mixon and Leonard Fournette. Very happy to have the Eastern Block in my collection.

9/9/18 vs Cincinnati Bengals

2 sacks, 3 tackles

Photomatch: Getty Image 1030867028

9/30/18 vs Houston Texans

1 sack, 3 tackles

Photomatch: Getty Image 1043889922

10/21/18 vs Buffalo Bills

1 tackle

Photomatch: Getty Image 1052751794

11/11/18 vs Jacksonville Jaguars

2 tackles

Photomatch: Getty Image 1060924750

So hard to find game worn stuff. First letter. No comps on any (eagles) letters that I can find. Reebok logo from flawless /9 went for $455. Personally think this is better.

I recently acquired this 2013 Atlanta Falcons game-used jersey of offensive lineman Ryan Schraeder.

I normally don’t collect gamers of offensive linemen, primarily because their on-field experiences aren’t as eye catching as a running back or wide receiver, but this one tells a fun story. Schraeder started his first NFL game in this jersey, which was played in Toronto against the Bills. During that game, Schraeder blew open a huge hole that enabled Steven Jackson to score completely untouched from 27 yards out. The Falcons went on to win in overtime and Schraeder built an impressive career in the years to come.

Ryan’s career trajectory also makes this one noteworthy. He played 0 high school football games, which means my year of freshman football gives me more high school experience than a multi-year NFL player (and for the record, I started all 7 games and logged 1 reception). Ryan was busy playing baseball and basketball through high school, plus he wasn’t that big. Luckily for him, he grew a foot after high school and got into football while at Butler Community College. He bulked up to bring his weight in line with his height, and his Wikipedia page states that he once “put a Valdosta IHOP on a temporary hiatus because of how many pancakes he was able to consume on ‘National Free Pancake Day’ in 2013.”

Lord, please don’t let that be lowbrow Wiki vandalism.

This jersey represents an unconventional rise to the pros and several years of hard work (and pancake consumption). Glad to have it in my collection.

Photomatch

Getty Image # 453940217

2011 Panini Crown Royals Royalty Dan Marino Game-worn Material

I saw this at a card show in a bin and knew I wanted it when I saw it was Dan Marino and game worn. Game worn, at least to me, seems so scarce, I rarely see them.