Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Coates, Ben ‘Winter’

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.

NFL, The Spring League, ufl, XFL

Sexton, Mathew

CARD: TNT XFL 2023
ACQUIRED: IP, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Mathew played WR at Eastern Michigan from 2016-’20.
  • He caught 100 passes for 1335 yards and 9 TDs in 43 contests.
  • Undrafted he’d play in The Spring League in 2020.
  • Signed with the Steelers but didn’t make the squad.
  • Signed with the Chiefs in 2022, but was later placed on IR.
  • In 2023 Mathew played for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL 23.
  • Caught 23 passes for 326 yards in 8 contests.
  • Signed with the Falcons and later Patriots in 2023 but was released.
  • Saw time in camp in 2024 with the Dolphins but didn’t make the squad.
  • After the merger of the USFL and XFL, Mathew signed with the San Antonio Brahmas.
  • Played in 4 contests, catching 3 passes for 15 yards.
  • That season he scored on a punt return to beat the eventual UFL Champion DC Defenders and help the Brahmas win their only contest of the season.
  • Sexton had 8 punt returns for 154 yards and a TD on the season.

NOTES:

Just coasted in for the win on this one. When Matt joined the Brahmas I knew they’d put him to work. His signing was a footnote- but being aware of his history as a dependable receiver on a not so hot Vegas team, that played in a terrible stadium, I knew he’d be money. I went to work creating his card with the idea just maybe I’d get it signed.

After he returned his first punt and almost broke loose, I quipped to him on Instagram that he was one step away from breaking one loose. He liked that comment and the image of his card I put up. The next week he broke loose for that TD on the PR, and the rest was history.

It seemed to line up perfectly. After the Brahmas advertised and told me that an event in SA was going to have players- I was pretty annoyed when they backed out of it. I kept the receipts and asked my ticket manager what happened. When I showed him the emails we exchanged about it, he offered me a free after game autograph signing. -I jumped on it.

After the Brahmas got trounced by the Roughnecks, I got piled into a line and shuffled down below. I was excited to see who was going to be there. 8 chairs! 8 chairs of players! -Well no. Not at all. Instead it was 3 players, hastily called over as they walked off the field. Two other players came over. They didn’t have cards, and the team didn’t provide the autograph postcard they promised in another email. Thankfully Mathew was in the group and I got his autograph on this card.

I gave him the extra I had. Clanked the plastic holder there and said, “This is for you.” He seemed very happy to have his own card and thanked me for my effort. Sometimes the expense is completely worth it for the quality, as I heard him like many players who are in shock about having their own card: “Wow, it looks so real.”

NFL

Perryman, Bob (1964-2023) ‘BP’

CARD: Fleer 1990
ACQUIRED: Ebay, 2025

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • A stout and bruising runningback, Bob Perryman played for Michigan from 1983-86.
  • In his Senior campaign he rushed 112 times for 529 yards and 8 TDs.
  • 79th overall pick (3rd round) of the New England Patriots in 1987, the Patriots would employ him mainly as a fullback.
  • In 1988, he ran for 448 yards on 146 carries, scoring 6 times, while also catching 17 passes for 134 yards.
  • His 1989 campaign was arguably his best in the NFL, rushing for 562 yards on 152 carries, while catching 29 balls out of the backfield.
  • Released during the 1990 season, due to a locker room controversy.
  • Signed with the Dallas Cowboys, but didn’t see any action during the remainder of the season.
  • Released and played for the Broncos, starting 8 games over the 1991 and 1992 campaigns.
  • Over Patriots career he rushed 393 times for 1338 yards and 9 TDs.
  • Frighteningly effective in short yardage situations, he averaged a 46.3 success rate on 3rd down conversions.

NOTES:

After he retired he continued to reside in New England, and enjoyed his time working as an assistant coach in the Independent Women’s Football League for the Boston Militia. He became a probation officer and enjoyed refereeing football games and working with the United Way.

Before his passing Bob had moved to a short list of players I was interested in writing. I really liked this card and heard he was decent TTM. Unfortunately I had to settle for an eBay find.

EPITAPH:

2/23/23- Robert passed away in Snellville, GA after a rapid decline due in part to dementia. He was only 58.