Player Number Changes per Mike Reiss. And Willie ain't going to be happy again

[Rob0729]

Yep, #55 has found a new pair of shoulders to rest between - Derrick Burgess.

Defensive end Derrick Burgess will now wear No. 55. He was previously wearing No. 49.

Veteran guard Kendall Simmons will wear No. 71, which was last donned by Russ Hochstein.

Tight end Chris Baker will now wear No. 86. He had been 87.

Newly acquired tight end Michael Matthews has been assigned No. 80.

Rookie guard Rich Ohrnberger has switched from 62 to 60.

Safety Bret Lockett's number has not yet been assigned.

Jersey changes - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

 

[Kontradiction]

Good. Burgess needed a bad ass number. Hopefully he can channel the Willie of the old this year.

 

[IcyPatriot]

"55" ... is a very "TIGHT" NUMBER.

 

[Rob0729]

BTW, in fairness to McGinest, if he gets upset this time around, he may have a point. Giving his number to a future HOF who wore the number his entire career is one thing. Giving it to a player who has had a couple of great years and wore a different number his entire career is another thing.

 

[BelichickFan]

BTW, in fairness to McGinest, if he gets upset this time around, he may have a point.

Unless the Patriots are going to retire the number, which they aren't, he might as well get over it because it's an available number. Let's hope Burgess wears it well.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

BTW, in fairness to McGinest, if he gets upset this time around, he may have a point. Giving his number to a future HOF who wore the number his entire career is one thing. Giving it to a player who has had a couple of great years and wore a different number his entire career is another thing.

Eh. If Willie is angry about that, he needs to find better things to worry about. As far as I am concerned, only players who have retired jerseys should be exempt. If a team wants to try and hold off on giving it away for a while, fine. It doesn't bother me that a blocking tight end will wear Troy Brown's number, and I, as a Pats fan, love Troy Brown.

Burgess will not make people forget about Willie Mac, even if he puts up double digit sacks. I don't care what number he wears, so long as he gets out there and hits quarterbacks.

 

[R_T26]

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england.../269001-burgess-should-change-his-number.html
hehe

willie cant say anything. Its football with 53 players plus guys on ir. Plus certain numbers for position. If 55 cant be given out the you could say the same about 36,24,37,54,80,& 93. Cant retire to many numbers in football.

 

[BPF]

Does Ninkovich keep 45? I thought LBs had to have a number in the 50's or 90's? 50 is available.

 

[R_T26]

sAdly Nincovich needs a tighter name before he can even start thinking of a tighter number.
Lb's can wear numbers in 40s 50s and 90s. And with hybrids you see guys like LB aaron kampman wear 74. Plus hester is wearing 23 as a reciever. Plus what ever slater is he wears 18 as a safety. So teams are getting around this.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

sAdly Nincovich needs a tighter name before he can even start thinking of a tighter number.
Lb's can wear numbers in 40s 50s and 90s. And with hybrids you see guys like LB aaron kampman wear 74. Plus hester is wearing 23 as a reciever. Plus what ever slater is he wears 18 as a safety. So teams are getting around this.

That's not exactly true. LBs would ALSO have to double as a tight end or fullback for them to be able to wear a 40something.

Hester was also originally a DB and the Bears may use him on occasion out there.

And Slater is also a receiver.

So yeah, there are ways around it but the numbers still make a degree of sense.

I'm kinda disappointed Edelman's still wearing 11. No Patriot since Drew Bledsoe (as far as I can remember anyway) has worn 11 into the regular season.

Also, I still think 14 might be unofficially retired. Plenty of training camp only guys have worn it but come the regular season, it's been out of circulation.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I guess this ensures that Seau won't be coming out of the retirement home to play for us this year?...god I hope not,I don't want slow players in this front 7,even a guy as fit for his age as Junior is.

 

[efin98]

That's not exactly true. LBs would ALSO have to double as a tight end or fullback for them to be able to wear a 40something.
Hester was also originally a DB and the Bears may use him on occasion out there.

And Slater is also a receiver.

That's the excuse I'm hearing for it about Hester...Slater was drafted as a Wide Receiver and converted into a safety, but maybe his status as a kick returner as well could have given them leeway in giving him #18.

Last big off number I remember was Mike Bartrum 10 years ago...given #86 despite it not being his true position- he was the long snapper first and foremost, barely averaging 1 reception per year through his entire career.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

That's the excuse I'm hearing for it about Hester...Slater was drafted as a Wide Receiver and converted into a safety, but maybe his status as a kick returner as well could have given them leeway in giving him #18.

Last big off number I remember was Mike Bartrum 10 years ago...given #86 despite it not being his true position- he was the long snapper first and foremost, barely averaging 1 reception per year through his entire career.

Yeah, but then again...when's the last time you saw Paxton take snaps on the offensive or defensive lines? #66.

Oh, I am agreeing with you, though, if it wasn't clear!

 

[efin98]

Yeah, but then again...when's the last time you saw Paxton take snaps on the offensive or defensive lines? #66.

Oh, I am agreeing with you, though, if it wasn't clear!

I thought they were considered "linemen", but I'm seeing multiple guys wearing 40s so they aren't stuck in the 60s and 70s like the offensive linemen.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

I thought they were considered "linemen", but I'm seeing multiple guys wearing 40s so they aren't stuck in the 60s and 70s like the offensive linemen.

Technically, a long snapper can be just about any position.

There's offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, tight ends, fullbacks...

So yeah, there's no real mandate that a long snapper has to be a linemen number. If their 'real' position is one of the others, then yeah, they can wear an 'odd' number (from your perspective).

Patriots in history who've worn 'strange' numbers:

Steve DeOssie was #99.
Mike Bartrum was #86.

 

[Ryan]

Also, I still think 14 might be unofficially retired. Plenty of training camp only guys have worn it but come the regular season, it's been out of circulation.

Testaverde wore 14.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Numbers retired

56
73
40
20
57
89
78

I think 89 78 and 57 all should be unretired... The rest leave alone until a Pat enters the pro football hall of fame..

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Unless the Patriots are going to retire the number, which they aren't, he might as well get over it because it's an available number. Let's hope Burgess wears it well.

Agreed.

1010

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I also think Hoyer should switch to number 7 his college number... 14 will be aj feely's when he signs his contract this week or next..

 

[BPF]

Per Reiss:
Jersey changes - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

(update -- Linebacker Rob Ninkovich's jersey change was not initially noted here. He has switched to No. 50 after wearing 45 in the preseason.)