Tag Archives: cleveland browns

McCoy, Colt (3) ‘The Real McCoy’

Cards: Donruss Rookies & Stars 2010 Dressed for Success, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2010 Freshman Orientation, Score 2010, Score 2011, Playoff Contenders 2011*, Panini UT 2016.
Acquired: IP 2/10/18, Texas Meet Eat & Greet Bastrop, Tx
See Also: Colt McCoy, Colt McCoy (2)

About two weeks before the event Colt put up a flyer on his Facebook feed for the Texas Meet Eat & Greet, taking place at Texas Boot Company in Bastrop, Tx. This was literally 15 minutes from me so it made a lot of sense to go to. I arranged for time off from the wife and baby. (It was occurring on the same day we were celebrating our baby’s first birthday, but honestly I had earned the time off after taking care of both of them when they came down with sickness the previous week.) I got there at about 15 minutes late, because the party ran a little long, but that’s okay. I was able to find a spot on the grass and got a place in line inside.

I had a lot of cards I wanted Colt to sign, and as we know, in person events can be pretty dicey with making multiple requests, so instead of being greedy and asking for 10 or 12 autographs, I cherry picked out my favorite 6 and just rolled the dice. Previous experience had led me to believe that Colt wouldn’t have a problem and luckily I was correct. While the line was long, the event was pretty informal once you got to the front. Fans were taking their time talking to the players so I figured I had a good shot. It couldn’t have worked out better.

I opened with talking about Dunkin’ Donuts. I knew he owned a couple of shops. I was just shocked he owned the one right next door to us! I told him that I got donuts there on a pretty regular basis and they did a good job. He just wished that the could raise the sign a bit or get it above the Factory Mattress Warehouse they shared the lot with. It was a good chuckle. I told him that I knew 6 cards was a tall order, but did he mind signing them for me? He pawed through them and said sure. It was then that I almost blew it.

My friend Deadhorse, was a big old fan of McCoy’s. In fact he owned his jersey. When he found out that I was going to the event, he asked me if there was anyway I could get Colt for him. I said sure and I’d give it a shot. When I was talking to Colt I told him that my friend up in Ohio was a really big fan of his, and I wanted to get one for him. Colt looked at me and sarcastically responded, “Man, I don’t have any fans left in Cleveland.” It was actually a good laugh. I steered the conversation quickly, reminding him that, “Dude you beat New England, with the BROWNS. That amounts to something. I thought you got a bad wrap there in Cleveland.” He laughed and said true, and then we talked about the continuing failures of the franchise since then.

Later in the conversation we talked about how I had hoped that when he was a free agent that he signed with the Texans, but I was happy for him nonetheless in Washington.

Colt’s time in Washington has been pretty quiet since Kirk Cousins cemented the starting role at QB for the Redskins. He got in briefly during one game in 2015, going 7 for 11 for 128 yards and a TD, but outside of that he hasn’t seen any playing time whatsoever.

Cousins’ continuing contract debacle though will have a rippling effect through the league however. The Redskins started making moves in the off-season immediately trading for Chiefs QB Alex Smith and then sat on Cousins. Speculation arose as to if the Redskins were going to franchise Cousins an unheard of third time and then trade him away. In the end Washington went ahead and let him walk. Cousins signed with the Vikings, and McCoy continues to back up new incumbent starter Alex Smith.

Matthews, Mike

Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

At 6’2″, 290, Texas A&M Center Mike Matthews was simply just not big enough to be considered one of the top centers in the 2016 NFL Draft. Scouts loved his tenacity, bloodlines (son of Bruce Matthews and brother of Jake Matthews), technique, and football IQ. He was expected to be a free agent- sign and stash/ long term project, to see what a team could develop out of him with a few years in the weight room.

Mike signed with the Cleveland Browns after the draft, and was listed as the 3rd center on the team behind Cam Ewing and Garth Gerhart. He was a late cut in 2016, but in February 2017 Mike signed with Pittsburgh- unfortunately an injury late in training camp ended his season. Mike kept at it however, and in May of 2018, he signed with the Miami Dolphins who were looking for depth on the offensive line.

Mallett, Martell

Card: Sage 2009
Acquired: 2017, Walmart Autographed Memorabilia

Martell Mallet has led a very interesting football career.  Admittedly there really wasn’t much to go on for scouts when it came to Martell. He played at Arkansas Pine Bluff and only saw action in 2007 and 2008. His body of experience was limited, With a bit over 170 touches and a little over 1000 yards to his resume, it is easy to see why the big back went undrafted in 2009.

Mallet still wanted to play, so he signed with the CFL joining the British Columbia Lions that year. He’d have a pretty sensational rookie year finishing with over 1400 yards rushing, setting the single game franchise rushing record (213 yards), and earning the CFL equivalent of Rookie of the Year.  After the season he’d join the Eagles in early 2010 and spent much of the early portion of the year on and off the squad. After a brief stay on the Browns practice squad during that year and a return to the Eagles in 2011, Mallett again was on the move to the New York Giants. An injury prevented him from suiting up, and he was given an injury settlement.

Martell decided to try his hand again with the CFL signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2012. He got injured in camp and was on IR the entire year. During 2013 he’d be released and then in 2014 Martell signed with the Calgary Stampeders. At this point, Martell had gone roughly 4 years without playing in a game. He came in for the Stamps in a pinch and ran for 163 yards on 27 carries. His efforts helped the Stamps win the Grey Cup. After the season, he retired from football.

CFL  37     RUSH  241    YDS 1403     AVG 5.8     TD 6    LG 57
REC 50     YDS 414   AVG 8.3    TD 2   LG  26