Colt McCoy Talks NFL and Trading Cards

Every year in May the best of the best NFL draft picks are invited to Los Angeles to participate in the NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere. The event was created for the NFL-licensed football card companies to photograph the rookies in their NFL uniforms. Thousands of autographs are also gathered at the Premiere to use throughout that year's football card products.

Upper Deck was on hand making the most of the company's exclusive Collegiate Licensing Company license. Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley signed several autographs for upcoming card programs.

"Both Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley will have a heavy presence in all of our upcoming CLC releases beginning with 2010 Sweet Spot Football in August," says Upper Deck spokesman Chris Carlin. "Additionally, we had each player sing their college fight songs at the NFL PLAYERS Rookie Premiere event, which was very entertaining."

Beckett.com was at this year's Premiere and interviewed McCoy about entering the NFL and having his own trading cards. The good folks at Beckett were kind enough to share their interview with BurntOrangeNation.com.

Beckett Football: When was the first time you were asked for your autograph?

Colt McCoy: In high school.

BF: What was your reaction to that?

CM: I was blown away. We played a game on Friday night in a town that was way out in West Texas; Coahoma, Texas, to be exact. I had played really good and after the game, the coach's kids - who were ball boys on the other team - came over and asked me for my autograph. That was the first time anyone ever asked me.

BF: Why are you so methodical with your autograph?

CM: I want people to be able to see my name. When they get an autograph from me, I want them to know they got an autograph from me. I want people to be able to read my name.

BF: Can you remember the first time you asked for an autograph?

CM: I can remember the first time I asked for an autograph. It was last year. Kobe Bryant. The reason I got it is he's my fiancée's favorite player; she loves the Lakers. I took her to a Lakers game for her birthday in San Antonio and after the game I had gotten down below and he spent about 10 minutes talking and hanging out. He loves football, loves Texas.

They'd lost. They got beat at the buzzer in San Antonio and he was mad, but he came down and I talked to him for about 10 minutes. He held the bus up so we could just sit there and talk.

BF: How excited was your fiancée?

CM: She was so excited. She just loves the Lakers.

BF: What does it mean to you to have your own trading card?

CM: It's neat. For me, anytime you can sign an autograph, make somebody smile, take a picture with them, whatever, that's what it's all about. If the least I can do is sign an autograph for somebody and they enjoy it and they like it and they cherish it, that's special to me.

BF: Did you collect trading cards at all growing up?

CM: You know, I really didn't. I have some still. I have like [Brett] Favre and Troy Aikman and Steve Young. Those are my three guys. I still have them somewhere. I have a few baseball cards. I used to be big into baseball. Nolan Ryan.

BF: What does it mean to you to have your own NFL trading card?

CM: It's really cool. To me it signifies how hard you've worked to earn something. Even though I haven't played a snap in the NFL, I know that I have an opportunity. And to have a card is pretty special.

BF: Do you remember your reaction when you saw your card for the first time?

CM: I was happy. I was excited. I was shocked a little bit. I didn't know what to expect. I know that God's got a big future ahead of me and I'm just excited to see what happens.

BF: Who's the one guy other than Kobe that you'd ask for an autograph if you could?

CM: Brett Favre. He's the one guy I want to meet.

BF: If you had to collect one 2010 rookie other than Colt McCoy, who would it be?

CM: I'd probably say Sam [Bradford]. He's the first pick, he's a great friend and he's kind of going into the same situation I am. He's kind of going into a situation where the team hasn't won many games [recently]; the organization is trying to turn it around and trying to get back on its feet and win some games.  

BF: What factoid, nugget or other interesting piece of information should appear on the back of the ideal Colt McCoy card?

CM: I'd probably like to put my motto, kind of what I live by, on the back. Actually, there are two things I'd like to put on there. One is my favorite Bible verse, Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as if you're working for the Lord." That's kind of what I try to live by every day, so I'd like to put that on there.

And if I could have one more I'd put "Earn the right." I just feel like in everything that you do, you have to earn everything that you get. That's just kind of the way I grew up, working on the farm. You had to earn everything. I like that. It kind of fits going into the NFL. Nothing is going to be given to you. You have to earn everything that you get.

BF: For collectors out there who might be undecided on who to collect in 2010, tell them why they should collect Colt McCoy.

CM: I'm not good at selling myself, but I just feel like I'm in a great situation. I've got great staff and personnel around me at Cleveland. No one's going to out-work me and no one's going to be more prepared. Whether that's getting to play this year, whatever happens, we're going to turn it around and we're going to win a lot of football games - just like we did at Texas.

Check out more photos from the Rookie Premiere here.