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Upper Deck Captures 2009 NFL Rookies Shaking Their Booties!
Broncos’ rookie running back Knowshon Moreno has all the right moves to capture trading card company’s inaugural touchdown dance challenge!
Las Vegas, NV (May 28, 2009) – The event started promptly at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 16. Each of the 34 gridiron rookies participating in the 2009 NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was pumped and ready to get down to business.
Seven Upper Deck photo/film stations were decorated across the western half of the coliseum's football field, each created to deliver the players in various poses and moods that could be used in upcoming Upper Deck football card products. The event represents the first time Upper Deck can photograph the recently drafted players in their new professional uniforms. Station No. 6 would quickly become the most anticipated station of them all, as players were asked to perform their very own "Touchdown Dance" celebrations on video. Go to http://upperdecksports.tv to see the best of the best when it comes to this year’s rookie touchdown dances.
As added incentive to get the players involved, Upper Deck offered up a Michael Jordan-signed red Chicago Bulls jersey that would go to the winner (suggested retail price: $1,699.99)!
Appropriately enough, No. 1 overall draft pick Matt Stafford (QB, Georgia) batted leadoff at Station 6, sporting his brand new, baby blue Detroit Lions uniform. He was joined by his two new Lions rookie teammates: Brandon Pettigrew (TE, Oklahoma State) and Derrick Williams (WR, Penn State). A personable, congenial rookie, Stafford provided a six-minute interview while his teammates joked to see who would perform their touchdown dance first. Williams got the nod and quickly impressed a small group of onlookers who started to converge. Pettigrew followed and included the “lawnmower pull" as part of his repertoire.
Stafford then obliged Upper Deck's video crew with his own interpretation of a touchdown dance, one in which he blew up the goal post using an end zone pylon as his detonator.
"I gave it my best shot," he said with a smile.
A total of seven groups of players would pass through Upper Deck's gauntlet of photo stations during the morning session (8 a.m. to 12 noon). Another seven groups would partake during the afternoon session (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.). But it was the touchdown dance competition that kept people talking. When informed the night before about Upper Deck's Touchdown Dance contest, New York Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez responded: "I don't dance. What am I gonna do?" When told a Michael Jordan-signed jersey was at stake, he said: "Hmmm, maybe.”
The remainder of the day would hold lots of laughs and original renditions performed by more than 30 of the players. As hip-hop music blared, rookies like the Eagles LeSean McCoy (RB, Pittsburgh), Hakeem Nicks (WR, North Carolina) and Ramses Barden (WR, Cal Poly) of the Giants, and even 310-pound Jason Smith (OT, Baylor) of the Rams all strutted their best dance moves. Titans’ rookie Javon Ringer (RB, Michigan State) even managed a back flip, while Cowboys freshman Stephen McGee (QB, Texas A&M) did his best interpretation of the “robot.” And another Giants rookie, Andre Brown (RB, NC State), actually performed CPR-like, life-saving moves on a football during his turn.
But once all the dust (and grass) had settled, it was Denver Broncos gregarious new recruit Knowshon Moreno (RB, Georgia) who walked away as Upper Deck's Touchdown Dance Champion. Utilizing bits and pieces of what could have been four separate videos Moreno was awarded top honors, which included a beautiful, laser-engraved crystallized trophy to go along with the coveted Jordan-signed jersey. He not only simulated cutting down a goal post using a football as his chainsaw, but he also managed to poke fun at Stafford, his former Georgia teammate, by striking a Statue of Liberty-like quarterback pose while donning a Stafford jersey.
“I just want to thank Upper Deck,” said Moreno, moments after slipping on his newly earned Jordan jersey. “It’s been great; it’s been a pleasure to be here. And I will be back next year to judge it. All day, baby.”
