Last week, in a battle of Red Sox teammates, Jonathan Papelbon (#83) held off the challenge of Josh Beckett (#91) to hold his spot on The RBSF Ladder. This week the focus of Wednesday’s Challenge shifts from baseball to football as a pair of Pats pass catchers battle it out. Former Pats tight end Ben Coates (#86) attempts to slowly work his way up The Ladder as he takes on current Pats wide receiver Randy Moss (#84). A look at the two candidates…
MOSS: Has played 2 seasons with the Pats (2007-08). Helped the Pats win the 2007 AFC Championship and become the first 16-0 regular season team in NFL history. In '07 he had 98 receptions for 1,493 yards (15.2 yard average) and 23 touchdowns. His 23 TD receptions broke Jerry Rice's NFL record which had stood for 20 years. In 2007 was named 1st Team All-Pro and a starter for the AFC in the Pro Bowl. Became first player to record 100-yards receiving in his first 4 games with a new team. Broke record for most TDs (16) in first 10 games with a new team. In 2008 he has 25 receptions for 369 yards (14.8 yard average) and 4 touchdowns after 6 games. After less than a season and a half is already 8th in franchise history in touchdown receptions.
COATES: Played 9 seasons with the Pats (1991-99). Member of 1996 AFC Champions. Regular season totals with New England: 490 receptions for 5,471 yards and 50 TDs. Made 5 straight Pro Bowls from 1994-98. Was team's leading receiver 5 times from 1993-98. His 96 receptions in 1994 set a franchise record for most receptions in a season (broken by T.Brown in 2001 and now owned by W.Welker from 2007). Those 96 receptions also set the NFL record for most receptions in a season by a tight end, and are still 2nd best all-time (T.Gonzalez, 102 in 2004). On the Patriots franchise all-time lists he is #2 in touchdowns, #3 in receptions and #4 in receiving yards. 2008 inductee into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame.
VERDICT: Coates remains the greatest tight end in franchise history, but Moss’ record-setting 2007 season, helping the Pats to that 16-0 season, and is current relevance in the Boston sports scene are all slight tie-breakers in earning him my vote to stay at #84 this week.
Posts
8 comments:
I know there isn't much movement here even if Coates wins, but he was voted as the challenger this week and Moss was the only one within 10 spots that seemed to make sense for him to challenge.
This one is truly tough.
Both are 1-0 in Challenges so far.
Moss beat Josh Beckett
Coates beat Nomar
Both were/are among the best at their position during their careers. Moss has gone from pain in the ass diva WR to an apparent team leader in 1 season. Coates was the go to guy when the Pats started to become the team we now know and love and the team that everyone else hates. If this vote was at seasons end and Moss put up even half of what he did last year with Brady, this year with Cassel he would get my vote. But i'm going to go Coates for now since he helped to build the team that Moss now calls home.
Moss will always be remember as the young superstud WR from the Vikings and that late in his career he grew up with the Patriots. Coates will always be remebered as a Patriot and only Ravens and Patriots fans proabably even know he played for Baltimore.
I think i voted against both of these guys in previous challenges, sorry Randy but i'm voting against you again.
GMAC, I actually voted against both of these guys in their previous challenges too...although we disagree on this one.
I am going with Coates based on longevity at this point. Maybe in another year or 2 I'll take Moss.
Not winning the Super Bowl last year also hurts Moss in my eyes.
I know Coates didn't win one while playing for the Pats, and I know it isn't Moss' fault that they lost, but winning one would have given that something extra needed since he has only been here for one year.
C'mon guys 1 day to vote and Randy come lately is beating out one of the best players in Patriots history. Remember when it was it was real tough to be a Pats fan, Coates was on the team when it started getting easier, Moss came in when the bandwagon was full already.
All even with 18 hours to go.. looks like we'll have another tie..how does that keep happening...new tie breaker in the event of a tie?
If the vote ends in a tie count the # of comments each guy gets. 1 post per person is counted, example i post 2 on here for Coates but its still a Coates vote for me so that counts as one. This might get more people to post their reasons if the guy they vote for isnt winning.
Post a Comment