If You Build It, They Will Come

 What wonders a collector's brain can come up with when left with boxes of commons and nothing but time.  That's what happened to me during the years of Covid home work time and boxes of commons that I went through over and over again. I grew up rooting for the Vikings since my dad grew up in Minnesota, and my brother started collecting Buffalo Bills because Thurman Thomas was awesome when we were kids.  We still collect these teams today, maybe a little less so, but still have decent collections.   Decent collections lead to lots of duplicates.  Decent collections lead to look at weird things like other players on cards.  Even on other team cards.  This Mike Singletary card seems to have him tackling Darrin Nelson, do I add this card to the Darrin Nelson collection? Then one day, you look at a card and think, "I wonder what game this was?"  Then the trouble question crosses your mind.  "I wonder if I can a card with a photo from EVERY g...

 Here's how the teams rosters were filled with Iowa Connections this season: Coaches in italics C.J. Beathard 7 - Jacksonville :  C.J. Beathard  / Mekhi Sargent / Coy Cronk (Iowa),  Darrell Bevell,  Brian Schneider  (ISU),  Chris Ash  (Drake),  Anthony Schlegel  (Cedar Rapids) 7 - Denver :  Noah Fant  / Josey Jewell / Michael Ojemudia / Shaun Beyer / Barrington Wade (Iowa), Eric Saubert (Drake), Rico Gafford (Iowa Western) 6 - Buffalo : Ike Boettger /  AJ Epenesa  / Micah Hyde (Iowa), AJ Klein (ISU), Spencer Brown (UNI), Matt Haack (W. Des Moines) 6 - Green Bay :  Jerry Montgomery,  Jack Heflin (Iowa), Allen Lazard / Steven Wirtel (ISU),  Ryan Mahaffey  (UNI), Dominique Dafney (W. Des Moines ) 6 - Kansas City : Austin Blythe / Ben Niemann / Anthony Hitchens/Josh Jackson (Iowa),  Brendan Daly  (Drake), Daurice Fountain (UNI) 5 - Detroit :      T.J. Hockenson / ...

 Yesterday I posted the start of the season NFL Iowa Connections for players and coaches.  Today I have the practice squads and front office personnel.  Lighter amounts for both here, but there is less to start with.  At the end, I total each team's Iowa Connection score (2 points for roster/coaches and 1 point for practice and front office).  Currently (teams are welcome to add players throughout the season) our rooting interest lies with....the Buffalo Bills!   Note: Front office in  italics Update 1: Mike Daniels signed with Cincinnati and Jaleel Johnson signed with New Orleans practice squads.  All NFC teams now have an Iowa Connection. Update 2: Jaleel Johnson plucked from the Saints practice squad by the Houston Texans Update 3: Cole Banwart signed to the practice squad by the New York Giants 2 - Philadelphia : Ross Pierschbacher (Cedar Falls), Matt Leo (ISU) 2 - Denver :  Shaun Beyer / Barrington Wade (Iowa) 1 - New England :...

        Profile Ronnie Harman was a running back who played 12 seasons in the NFL, mostly for Buffalo and San Diego.  Buffalo took him with the 16th pick of the 1986 NFL Draft*.  He was one of the first pass catching running backs, in fact he only rushed for more yard than receiving only once in his career.  He played for San Diego when they reached the Super Bowl**.  Ronnie was from the University of Iowa and was one of their best running backs ever. * Iowa Connections in 1986 NFL Draft: Chuck Long (1st UofI), Harmon (1st UofI), Mike Haight (1st UofI), Hugh Millen (3rd Des Moines), Devon Mitchell (4th UofI), Bill Lewis (7th Sioux City), Jim Luebbers (9th ISU), Larry Station (11th UofI) ** Iowa Connections in this Super Bowl: Chargers - Harmon (UofI) and Dennis Gibson (ISU)     49ers - George Seifert (UofI), Merton Hanks (UofI) Personal Notes Ronnie is one of the best running backs at Iowa, a school rich with running back succe...

         Profile A.J. Epenesa is a defensive lineman for the Buffalo Bills playing his first year in the NFL after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft *.  A.J. played college at Iowa and was the highest rated recruit** to play for the Hawkeyes. * Iowa players from the 2020 Draft (Hawkeyes: Tristin Wirfs, A.J. Epenesa, Michael Ojemudia, Geno Stone, Nate Stanley) ** Other highly rated recuits: Kyle Williams, Tony Moeaki, Blake Larsen and Matt Roth Personal Notes So the big thing I thought about with Epenesa was the fact that he was such a highest rated recruit coming to Iowa.  Iowa is not exactly known for getting 5 star recruits, but for taking 2 star recruits and making them the best version of them.  A short list of 2 Stars: Bob Sanders Robert Gallery Josey Jewell Chad Greenway Shonn Greene Nate Kaeding Jonathan Babineaux Joshua Jackson Micah Hyde Anthony Hitchens A.J. had a good career, but looking at the top recruits ever, two name...

 If your NFL team is out, it's nice to have a team to root for.  Below are the teams ranked by the thing that matters to this blog: the number of Iowa Connections.  TLDR Go Buffalo!  Boo New Orleans! Iowa Playoff Connections 2 - Tampa Bay : Tristan Wirfs / Anthony Nelson (Iowa) 4 - Buffalo : Ike Boettger /  AJ Epenesa  / Micah Hyde (Iowa), AJ Klein (ISU) 4 - Green Bay : Christian Kirksey / Josh Jackson (Iowa), Allen Lazard (ISU), Dominique Dafney (W. Des Moines) 3 - Kansas City : Ben Niemann / Anthony Hitchens (Iowa), Kelechi Osemele (ISU) 3 - Tennessee : Parker Hesse/ Desmond King / Amani Hooker (Iowa) 2 - Washington : Ross Pierschbacher (Cedar Falls), Brandon Scherff (Iowa) 2 - Los Angeles Rams : Austin Blythe / Jake Gervase (Iowa) 2 - Baltimore : LJ Fort (UNI), Kristian Welch (Iowa) 2 - Cleveland : Adrian Clayborn / Derrick Willies (Iowa) 2 - Chicago : David Montgomery (ISU), James Da...