"Ben Coates was basically Gronk before Gronk."

[Ian]

Saw this and it definitely brought back some memories. He was a great player and was also fun to watch:



Although - there's probably only a small percentage of people here who remember who he is, but he was definitely a beast.

 

[signbabybrady]

Bledsoe to Coates was my teenage years. My friends would make fun of me for how much I would throw to him in video games.

 

[supafly]

Bledsoe to Coates was my teenage years. My friends would make fun of me for how much I would throw to him in video games.

Late teens/early twenties for me, but same thing.

 

[upstater1]

Coates was excellent, all-pro, though I would say he wasn't as agile as Gronk. He was a pretty good blocker too.

 

[mgteich]

Gronk is one of the best blocking TE's of all time. Coates was an average blocker at best, especially at the end of his career.

Ben Coates was Bledsoe's go-to receiver.

 

[DropKickFlutie]

Speed was a difference

 

[Tony2046]

Saw this and it definitely brought back some memories. He was a great player and was also fun to watch:



Although - there's probably only a small percentage of people here who remember who he is, but he was definitely a beast.

Definitely one of my favorite Pats of all time. I think my favorite game of his is Giants vs Pats in 1994-96 or something. He was a huge part of a comeback win against the G-men.

I watched it sitting in a bar with my brother. Great day and game.

 

[Deus Irae]

Gronk is one of the best blocking TE's of all time. Coates was an average blocker at best, especially at the end of his career.

Ben Coates was Bledsoe's go-to receiver.

Indeed.

Bledsoe's Patriots numbers line up with the rise and decline of Coates. The ability to use Coates as the ultimate safety valve became Drew's greatest strength at the start. His dependence on it became his greatest weakness at the end.

 

[edkk323]

Nobody is Gronk before Gronk. I knew we hit a jackpot of the all jackpots after this preseason play.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Nobody is Gronk before Gronk. I knew we hit a jackpot of the all jackpots after this preseason play.

Agree. I loved Coates, but Gronk is/was so good there is really no one who compares to him. I do like the the way Coates could carry defenders and plow them over in a similar way, though Gronk is probably still the greatest TE of all-time even without that turbo mode after the catch.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Coates was one of my favorite players during my teenage years. You needed at least 2-3 guys to take him down. It’s too bad he couldn’t stay until 2001.

 

[ALP]

wow

I never got to watch Coates...and this is the first time I've seen highlights of it...wow

i agree, he was, in that last move, that cutback that Coates did in the highlights, ive never seen Gronk do a cutback like that, Gronk has more power, but I'd give quickness to Coates just by that move alone

were defenders smaller back then? Coates looks like a giant downfield (more so than gronk looks)

 

[Deus Irae]

Agree. I loved Coates, but Gronk is/was so good there is really no one who compares to him. I do like the the way Coates could carry defenders and plow them over in a similar way, though Gronk is probably still the greatest TE of all-time even without that turbo mode after the catch.

Listen to BB talk about Bavaro. He won't say which he thinks is better, but it's clear that he's got Bavaro up there in the Gronk area of the stratosphere.

If you can find his interview with WEEI from this week, you might find that part worth the listen.

 

[cmasspatsfan]

Listen to BB talk about Bavaro. He won't say which he thinks is better, but it's clear that he's got Bavaro up there in the Gronk area of the stratosphere.

If you can find his interview with WEEI from this week, you might find that part worth the listen.

I heard that, Bavaro was a great blocker and pass catcher but the game was different back then, today hed be a Gronk.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Coates 94 season was something special. Broke the record for most receptions which would later be eclipsed.

Mark Bavaro blocked for players like Joe Morris and Oj Anderson, also had to pass protect against some awfully good defenses back in the day. Reggie White Jerome Benson etc vs the Eagles twice a year. He really was something else in his day. Just not that pass catcher this generation associates greatness at the position.But he did come up big catching in a lot of games.

 

[fnordcircle]

though Gronk is probably still the greatest TE of all-time even without that turbo mode after the catch.

Coates was awesome and probably a top 20 all time TE but not Gronk. And I looooooved Coates.

Not sure I can give the GOAT TE nod to Gronk over Gonzalez, though.

 

[Hyped]

-One of my faves was the '99 home game vs. the Colts where we fell behind 28-7 and came back with some Coates scores.

-Gronk is still the best TE I have ever seen, but Coates was no slouch.

 

[Wheelman]

What's the deal here? Is Ben Coates 7 feet tall or were those guys he was running over and away from all 5'6?

 

[DarrylS]

Coates, a 1991 5th round pick, spent his 10 year career with the Pats in the 90's, he was as beast...

The fascination with Tight Ends began with "All World Russ Francis", that moniker was coined by Howard Cossell. Who was here from 1975 to 1980, then traded to SF for a draft pick which turned out to be Andre Tippett.

Lousy film, but best I can find.. only watch the first part of it.. then he became a 49'er.

 

[fourhour]

Big Ben, I remember him. One of my favorites from, "back then"...