Gary Barnidge is in the midst of a career year with the Cleveland Browns — and he might be the team’s only weapon on offense considering the craziness that is the quarterback spot for that 2-10 disaster.
The tight end is eight years into his NFL career — he was a fifth-round pick out of Louisville in 2008 — and has 60 catches for 817 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Before this year? Just 44 receptions for 603.
He signed a new contract with the team today, but there are two things he can’t buy with that new cash.
He can’t buy a game-used jersey card or a certified autograph (you know, if Mom wanted one) because he simply doesn’t have any. In fact, other than a potential cameo on this Panini Brothers in Arms insert card from last year and its seven parallels, No. 82 doesn’t even have a single football card as a Cleveland Brown. (He’s played there three years!)
In fact, other than the eight different versions of the card above — and if it’s even him — he hasn’t had a single football card appearance since his rookie season of 2008 when he was a member of the Carolina Panthers.
That year, Barnidge appeared on 33 cards. Seven of those are Rookie Cards — Bowman, Bowman Chrome, two version of Donruss Threads and Rookies & Stars and an SP Authentic card. That’s it.
Sure, he’s been a player off the radar for years — and even better players have seen less cardboard in that time — but it sure seems surprising to see so few cards. Collectors who have dug his 2008 cards out of storage aren’t getting rich, but they might be able to get a cheap lunch after selling them. Right now, a Browns card would sell — custom creations have.
Something tells Buzz that this will all change at some point since the Browns as a team have just 20 rushing/receiving touchdowns. Other than Johnny Manziel, somebody has to appear from the Browns in sets from Topps and Panini America.
Right?
Follow Buzz on Twitter @BlowoutBuzz or send email to BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.
>> Click here to shop for 2015 football boxes on BlowoutCards.com.
BlowoutBuzz.com 
Last time I checked Gary Barnidge was a big white dude, that’s probably #92 on that Panini card.
LikeLike