Tag Archives: new orleans saints

College Football HoF, NFL

Collins, Kerry

Score 2009, #286
Donruss Rookies and Stars 2009, #96

CARDS: Score 2009, Donruss Rookies & Stars 2009
ACQUIRED: TTM 2020, C/o Home
SENT: 6/6/20 RECEIVED: 6/18/20 (12 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Kerry Collins played QB at Penn State from 1991-’94.
  • Over his college career his stats increased across the board.
  • In his Senior campaign in 1994, he completed 176/264 passes for 2,679 yards, 21 TDs to 7 INT.
  • He’d be the first pick in the history of the Carolina Panthers franchise at #5 overall.
  • In a historic 1996 season, he led the Panthers to the NFC Championship in just the franchise’s second season.
  • During 1998, he struggled with alcoholism and considered quitting the game.
  • The franchise cut him and he finished the season on the roster of the New Orleans Saints.
  • Over 3 seasons with the Panthers, Kerry threw for 7,295 yards, 39 TDs, and 49 INT and completed 52.6% of his passes.
  • He briefly played for New Orleans, winning 2 games in 7 contests, while throwing just 4 TDs to 10 INT in 1998.
  •  In 1999, Kerry joined the Giants, and later in the season took over as starter, going 2-5 the rest of the way out.
  • Kerry led the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000, as he finished the season 12-4 and threw for 3610 yards (311/529), 22 TDs, and just 13 INT.
  • He played for the Giants through the 2003 season after the team decided to go in another direction with Kurt Warner and Eli Manning waiting in the wings.
  • After two middling seasons as a starter in Oakland in 2004 and ’05, the journeyman phase of his career began- but not without controversy.
  • Collins signed with the Tennessee Titans, who secretly were not completely sold on Vince Young.
  • He and Vince traded starting duties for the team under HC Jeff Fisher through the 2010 season.
  • In 2008, he led the team to a 12-3 record completing 242 of 415 passes for 2676 yards and 12 TDs.
  • After the 2010 season, he announced his retirement.
  • Signed with the Colts in 2011, and became first quarterback to start for the Colts other than Peyton Manning since 1997 (Jim Harbaugh).
  • A concussion sustained in late October of that year, ended his season, and ultimately he decided to hang up his cleats.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Pro Bowl 1996, ’08
  • Davey O’Brien Award 1994
  • Sammy Baugh Trophy 1994
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team 1995

NOTES:

Kerry owns multiple passing records for both the Panthers and Giants franchises.

Kerry had some really nice cards near the end of his career and I adored all the stuff that came out in 2009 and 2010. Once I saw that he was signing it was a no-brainer to send these cards out and hope for the best.

Kerry’s struggle with alcoholism should not be understated. Although much of it went public, it allowed him to get the help he needed to address his problem, and he aggressively sought treatment in 2000 while with the Giants, and continued to do so over the next 3-4 years.

A talented baseball player, Kerry was selected by both the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays, but opted to play football instead.

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NFL, XFL

Benkert, Kurt

Panini Prestige 2018, #271
Panini Luminance 2018, #157
Score 2018, #356
Panini Absolute 2018, #143

CARDS: Score 2018, Panini Absolute Football 2018, Panini Luminance 2018, Panini Prestige 2018
ACQUIRED: TTM 2023, C/o Home
SENT: 4/25 RECEIVED: 5/12 (23 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • After transferring from East Carolina, QB Kurt Benkert got the starting nod at Virginia in 2016.
  • In 2017, he went 298/509, for 3,207 yards, and 25 TDs to just 9 picks.
  • He signed as an UDFA with the Atlanta Falcons in 2018 and spent a good time of the season on their practice squad that year.
  • He spent 2019 on IR with a toe injury sustained in preseason.
  • Waived in 2020, he then spent the season with the Saints primarily on their practice squad.
  • In 2021, Benkert joined the Packers, also seeing time on the practice squad.
  • The 49ers had him for 2022 on and off their practice squad.
  • Kurt was assigned to the Houston Roughnecks in 2023 to play in the XFL, but refused to report.
  • After the injury bug hit the San Antonio Brahmas, the team traded for Benkert and he quickly saw the field in 2 contests.
  • Unfortunately he broke his ribs against the Vipers and was placed on IR.
  • He opted to retire from the sport in August of that year.
  • With the Roughnecks staff essentially replacing the Brahmas in 2024, there was renewed interest in keeping Benkert, but it is unknown whether or not he even attended camp.

NOTES:

I went to all the San Antonio Brahmas games in 2023, but since Benkert got a crash course on the offense, came in for Renegades contest, quickly got injured the next week and was not heard from again- I wasn’t able to get his autograph on these cards.

After the Brahmas signed him, I was peppered with Facebook football 101s on how to understand football concepts (basic and advanced) for fans and aspiring Madden players from Kurt, so I decided to buy one. Nestled in the downloadable program, was his address, so I shot these 4 out and he kindly signed them for me.

NFL, NFLE

Schlecht, John

CARD: Frankfurt Galaxy Team Issue 2003
ACQUIRED: 2022, Private Acquisition

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Homegrown John Schlecht played DT at Minnesota.
  • In his senior season (2000) he posted 10 sacks and 48 total tackles.
  • An impressive specimen, he posted a 450 pound bench press and a 32 inch vertical leap, and saw action in the Senior Bowl.
  • He was not selected in the 2001 NFL Draft.
  • Played for the San Fransisco 49ers seeing action in 8 contests posting 1 TFL.
  • Hopped over to the NFLE where John played for the Frankfurt Galaxy from 2003-’04.
  • After the 2004 season, saw preseason action with the Seattle Seahawks notching 3.5 tackles.
  • After a career ending injury with the Saints, John decided to follow his passion into the world of Strength and Performance.
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NFL
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NFLE