Tag Archives: New England Patriots

NFL

Green, Gerri

Sage 2019, #A67 Black

Card: Sage 2019
Acquired: 2019, Box Breaker

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Gerri Green played LB for Miss State from 2015-18.
  • Recorded 160 total tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 3 picks for 84 yards and a TD, 6 pass deflections and 2 fumble recoveries.
  • Selected in the 6th round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
  • Waived at the end of camp, briefly spent time with the Patriots before rejoining the Colts.
  • Signed by the Redskins in 2020, and then was on and off the Roster of the Raiders through 2022, where he currently is a practice squad member of the Titans.

NOTES:

I knew I was pretty much done with Sage at this time. 2019 was when the bottom started really dropping out of the market for me. The design of the Sage 2019 set (especially inserts and base) is atrocious and the members of their autograph hits were so-so.

NFL, University of Texas

Atessis, Bill

CARD: University of Texas Upper Deck 2011
ACQUIRED: 2020, EBay
FAILURE: TTM 2019, C/o Home

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Bill played defensive end from 1968-70 and was considered one of the most dominant DL of the SWC during that era.
  • Selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round of the 1971 NFL Draft.
  • Injured and later cut by the Colts, joining the Patriots later that season.
  • Converted to LB, seeing action in 5 contests.
  • Traded to Cardinals in 1972, and moved to the OL.
  • Converted back to DL by the Jets in ’73 but was cut before the season began.

ACCOLADES:

  • UT Ring of Honor
  • All-time UT team

NOTES:

After failing on Bill back in 2019, I just figured I’d grab him on his certified card instead.

AAF, NFL, XFL

Farrow II, Kenneth

Panini Contenders 2016, #264
Topps AAF 2019, #AU-KF

Card: Topps AAF Now 2.17.19 , Topps AAF 2019, Topps AAF 2019 Certified, Panini Contenders 2016, Topps AAF Now 3.2.19, Topps XFL 2020
Acquired: IP 2019, SA Commanders Team Signing Dick’s Sporting Goods at The Rim, IP 2023, SA Brahmas v Arlington Renegades
Failure: TTM 2019, C/o The Miami Dolphins

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kenneth Farrow II played college ball for The University of Houston from 2012-15.
  • His best collegiate season came in 2014, rushing for 1042 yards on 186 carries- scoring 14 TDs.
  • Over Farrow’s college career he had 560 carries for 2980 yards and 34 TDs rushing, to go along with 74 catches for 546 yards and 3 TDs- in 48 contests.
  • Signed with San Diego following the 2016 NFL Draft.
  • Fought his way onto the roster and was 3rd on the depth chart at RB for the Chargers.
  • Dressed for 13 contests, starting 2, rushing for 192 yards on 60 carries.
  • Spent the end of 2016, and all of 2017 on IR.
  • Waived by team in 2018, and joined the Patriots for about a month during the regular season.
  • Subsequently signed with the AAF, joining the San Antonio Commanders.
  • The clear cut starting back for the Commanders ground game, Farrow ran for 106 times for 372 yards and 4 TDs in 8 games.
  • He ran for a league high 142 yards against the Birmingham Iron‘s top ranked defense in a 12-11 win during Week 4.
  • After the AAF folded, Kenneth briefly signed with the Miami Dolphins.
  • In 2020, Kenneth joined the XFL 2.0 as a member of the Seattle Dragons.
  • He ran for 156 yards on 38 carries, scoring 1 TD before the league folded due to COVID after 5 games.
  • Farrow returned again for the XFL 2023, joining the Arlington Renegades.
  • He saw action against the Brahmas- but tore his ACL late in the game ending his season.
  • See also San Antonio Commanders Autograph Souvenir
Topps Now AAF 2019, #12

ACCOLADES:

  • Week 4 AAF Offensive Player of the Week
  • AAF Record- Most yards rushing in one game (142)
Topps NOW AAF 2019, #22

NOTES:

Kenneth has a lot of great Spring football cards, and I wanted him on all of them. As I love my runningbacks, he was one of my favorite Commanders. When the league folded I ran out to a Chinese version of EBay and got a bunch of custom Commanders jerseys made. I was very excited to add Kenneth’s jersey to my collection (see photo). The problem was that it didn’t have the ‘II’ on the back- even though I requested it. It’s the effort that counts though.

Topps AAF 2019, #152
Topps XFL 2020, #8

I had been following Kenneth since his days with the Commanders, and I did this piece of art for him. He liked it so much, he promised me he’d give me his autograph at an event in the future- if he ever made it back around to this area. I bode my time.

Eventually he returned to the XFL 3.0 with the Arlington Renegades. When the team cut him before the season, I thought to myself, “Oh well,” But lo and behold two weeks before the Brahmas meeting with the Renegades, Arlington resigned him. I knew this was my best shot.

I look like a crazy person but Kenneth’s got it goin’ on.

I gave him a gentle nudge on Twitter with the picture, then took some photos of myself in my jersey. He liked it before the game, so I knew I had a good shot. When I got to the stadium, I snuck around to the visitors side of the stadium, eventually settling in where I was in view of him near the front of the visitors entrance stands.

Boom! He caught a pass and came rumbling over. “I see you! Thank-you for being a fan! I’ll get you after warm ups and sign anything you want!” Then he rolled off again. Everyone around me was pretty floored.

True to his word he came back after warm-ups concluded. He signed all the remaining cards I needed of him, and I gave him the art I made of him. We reminisced about the best of times with the Commanders briefly, before Brian Folkerts came over and De’Vante Bausby piped in about how classy my jersey was. It was great! Like a mini reunion. I was so elated. I felt so appreciated and I know the feeling was mutual.

Even though the Brahmas lost the game, I felt like a big winner that day.

Unfortunately during a play where Kenneth was plowing ahead for a big gain, he was tackled and injured. At some point enough is enough and with the injuries he’s sustained over the years, he’s lucky to still have it. After his surgical procedure he announced his very well earned retirement from the sport. Onward and upward!

Kenneth is a founding member of the UFPA (United Football Players Association)- An advisory board of players that specializes in helping players and unions outside the NFL and CFL negotiate union contracts with their leagues.