CARD: Pro Set 1993 ACQUIRED: TTM 2022, C/o Home SENT: 4/11/22 RECEIVED: 7/5/22 (85 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Ben Coates played TE at Livingstone College from 1987-’90.
He had 103 receptions for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns over his college career.
5th round pick of the New England Patriots in 1991.
Career took off in 1993 with the arrival of rookie Drew Bledsoe.
Caught 53 passes for 659 yards and 8 TDs that season.
In 1994 had a career high 96 receptions for 1174 yards and 7 TDs.
And in 1995 had another 84 catches for 915 yards and 6 TDs.
Had a career high 9 TD receptions on 62 receptions in 1996.
Coates then had two back to back 65+ catch seasons in ’97 and ’98.
After a subpar 1999- Ben played one final season in Baltimore.
Returned to his alma mater as a coach for Livingstone College from 2000-’04.
From there he hopped over to the NFLE working with the Frankfurt Galaxy’s TEs that year.
Worked with Browns TEs from ’05-’07.
Assistant head coach and OC for Central State from 2009-’12.
And then Saint Augustine’s from 2013-’14.
ACCOLADES:
All Pro 1994, ’95, ’98
NFL All-Decade Team 1990’s
Pro Bowl 1994-’98
Black College Football Hall of Fame
Patriots Hall of Fame
Patriots 50th Anniversary Team
Patriots All-90’s team
NOTES:
Ugh! Ben was so gracious to me. I accidentally sent him I think a card of Daniel Graham too! He was kind enough to sign this one and put a note on the other letting me know that it wasn’t him. Not my finest moment.
Coates gets little traction outside of the AFC East and the Patriots for Hall of Fame consideration. He’s got a lot of great skills to do it all and was considered the freak of his day at the position. Greatly overshadowed by Shannon Sharpe out of Denver, Coates could block and catch with ease.
He really should be in the HoF. At the time of his retirement Ben was ranked 4th in receptions among tight ends trailing only Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe, and Kellen Winslow.
Kyle Boller played QB for California from 1999-2002.
In his Senior campaign Kyle completed 225 of 421 passes for 2815 yards and 28 TDs.
Over his college career he completed 622 of 1301 passes for 7980 yards and 64 TDs to 48 interceptions.
Kyle was the second quarterback off the board in 2003 and was quickly named starter for the Ravens that season.
He completed 116 of 224 passes for 1260 yards with 7 TDs to 9 picks in an injury plagued rookie campaign.
Boller’s best season came the following year in 2004, when he passed for 2559 yards and 13 TDs (11 interceptions) on 258 of 464 throws.
He’d also start 16 games for the only time in his career, and finish with a career high 9-7 record.
Boller’s career from there was a frustrating one, battling quarterbacks and injury along the way.
After sitting out the entire 2008 season with an injury, Kyle played with the Rams in 2009.
He’d move on to Oakland in 2010, finishing out his career the following year.
NOTES:
I don’t often get members of the Baltimore Ravens through he mail, so I was pretty happy to get Kyle’s autograph on a couple of cards.
Kyle carried a huge burden being thrown out there into the fire by the Ravens. I wonder how his career would’ve planned out if he rode the bench for a season, and hadn’t had so much pressure hoisted on him.
CARDS: Panini Prestige 2015, Upper Deck Star Rookies 2012 ACQUIRED: TTM 2024, C/o Home SENT: 8/1/24 RECEIVED: 10/27/25 (452 days)
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Michael Floyd played WR for Notre Dame from 2008-’12.
In his first game, he became the first ever Freshman to score the first points of the season for the Fightin’ Irish.
His first year numbers of 48 catches for 719 yards and 7 TDs were all school records for a Freshman receiver in 2008.
In 2011 he caught 100 passes for 1147 yards and 9 TDs.
His career school totals included 271 receptions for 3686 yards and 37 TDs- including an 88 yard barn burner.
Both his 100 receptions in 2011, and his 37 career receiving TDs were school record marks.
Selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Drew rave reviews as the heir apparent to longtime Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Had raw yet efficient rookie season, catching 45 passes for 562 yards and 2 TDs.
Blossomed in second season catching 65 passes for 1041 yards and 5 TDs including a career high 91 yarder.
Had a streak of 4 straight games with TD catches in 2015.
Following a DUI arrest in 2016, Floyd was released by the team, and began the journeyman phase of his career.
Signed late in the season by the Patriots, and the following year played for the Vikings in 2017.
Saw action in 13 contests for the Redskins in 2018.
Released by the Baltimore Ravens during final roster cuts in 2019.
NOTES:
I like Michael, and I think he got a bad wrap. It’s hard dealing with addictions, especially alcohol since it is so prevalent and easy to get. The Cardinals after his DUI incident, cut his promising career short, and although he went on to play for other teams, I think Floyd could’ve wrapped up a spectacular career with the right kind of help.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
