Patriots OG Dan Connolly Sets NFL Record With 71-Yard Return (Video)

[weswelker#83]

Dan Connolly rumbled 71 yards with what is believed to be the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman in NFL history

YouTube - Dan Connolly 71 Yard Kickoff Return vs Packers 12/19/2010

Cris Collinsworth called it the "loaf of bread carry"

with benny hill music:
Tubedubber Youtube Dubber - Dub the soundtrack on Youtube videos


It's like trying to stop a semi-truck... the guy can MOVE!

Edit: added new content

 

[PatsDeb]

That was the most awesome play! It was so great to see their little kick-off tricks backfire on them! Kudos to Connolly for being a big part of a close win!!

 

[RhodyPatriot]

That was really awesome. Dan is now a "historical figure" in the NFL.

 

[weswelker#83]

Packers #45 comes flying in from off-screen right, just bowling-ball smashing into that pile of bodies, so dead sure that it couldn't possibly be the big-body with the ball that he runs right on by. It's not till he staggers back and sees the play's evolved past him that he even turns around. I love it.

 

[BTTA]

It also shows where he sustained the head injury, during the pounding he took in the celebration.

 

[rayyu882]

This is one of the favorite play of this season! Just great!!!

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

#36 Nick Collins, safety, you just got outrun around the corner by an O-lineman, then stiff-armed to boot

 

[DefenseRules]

That play was AWESOME!! We have some atheletic O-Linemen

 

[weswelker#83]

#36 Nick Collins, safety, you just got outrun around the corner by an O-lineman, then stiff-armed to boot

The Patriots' Dan Connolly (63) straight armed Green Bay Packers safety Charlie Peprah, center, on his record 71-yard kickoff return for a lineman. At right is Patriots safety Sergio Brown.

The Patriots' Dan Connolly now holds the distinction of the longest kickoff return for an offensive lineman in NFL history.
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/extra_points/2010/12/connolly_the_ta.html

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Right Guard, Left Guard, Fullback, kickoff returner.

Folks ain't kidding when they say BB demand versatile players.

 

[N.Eman]

I looked away from the TV for 1 sec and failed to see Connoly actually catch the ball and start running back, I thought it was a fumble recovered by him, but on the replay i was corrected. Just an insane play by our Guard, good to have him back there not just to block but can actually run it back too.

 

[upstater1]

That actually looked exactly like the Benny Hill opening. Hilarious, even the celebration looked like a Benny Hill skit.

For those who don't know, Benny Hill was a rotund British comedian who put on a bawdy comedy show that focused on women's breasts and was somehow put on American TV during a more OPEN period in American culture, and one of the frequent gags was for them to speed up the film so that rotund Benny would look like he was scampering around pretty quickly. Simple gestures like a pat on the back looked funny in fast motion.

 

[upstater1]

This isn't a knock on Sanders but it's funny to see his own guys slow up thinking he's about to go down.

 

[weswelker#83]

Coach Bill Belichick called Connolly's return a heady play.

"It was a great play by Dan, but it was good blocking to get him started," Belichick said

Connolly the talk of the team - Extra Points - Boston.com

It's nice to see the big guys get some glory.He was cradling that BALL like he couldn't believe what he had in his hands,
I bet that entire sequence was him going "oh****oh****oh****oh****" in his head.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

I thought Connolly showed great awareness to not just run into the pile as he was obviously planning to do. At one point with the balled wrapped up like a baby I figured his eyes were probably shut. But he saw daylight to his left and to his credit he put the ball under his left wing and took off.

Then instead of doing the safe thing around the 20 and go out, he CUTS BACK into traffic to pick up another 15 yards. He definitely smelled the ez when he made that move. I thought for sure he would fumble as all the bodies collided down there inside the 10.

 

[Sicilian]

Let's see Mankins do THAT!

Sarcasm, of course. Awesome play by Dan!

 

[DaBruinz]

Connolly needs to send a Rolex or something to Quinn Johnson (#45) of the Packers. Without Johnson blocking 3 of his own guys because he wiffed, Connolly doesn't get his 71 yard rumble..

 

[sieglo]

If Ninkovich had made that last block it would have been a sure 6.

Great burst from Connelly there at midfield. Reminiscent of Vince Wilfork before he lost a step.

 

[jmt57]

It Is What It Is - Tom Brady on D&C: Dan Connolly’s kick return ‘pretty funny’
Link to D&C audio on demand and the Brady interview

The highlight Sunday night was offensive lineman Dan Connolly returning a kickoff 71 yards to the Packers’ 4-yard line. Connolly held the ball with the nose in the air as he rumbled down the field. “He doesn’t hold the ball very often,” Brady said. “When he does, it’s not like it’s going to be the way BenJarvus [Green-Ellis] carries it. He’s holding it however he can get those big hands around it. That was pretty funny when I saw him running down the field. You’re right, I’ll never forget that.”

Brady said his initial reaction when he saw Connolly fielding the ball was caution. Said Brady: “I’m always saying, ‘Just get down.’ The way they do carry the ball, any slight contact can knock the ball out. I’ve seen that a bunch over the course of my career. You get a guy that doesn’t handle it very often and it’s tough for those guys to really know what to do with it. Danny picked it up, and once I saw him break to the outside, I was like, ‘Goooo!’ ”

Added Brady: “I did see him after the game. He was like, ‘Man, I wish I would have scored.’ He goes, ‘I was on the 4-yard line.’ I said, ‘Don’t you worry about that. Don’t start trying to come up with these ideas.’ ”

Connolly left the game one series after the return with an undisclosed injury. “He was doing better,” Brady said. “He was doing well.”

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Let's see Mankins do THAT!

Sarcasm, of course. Awesome play by Dan!

There was a rather funny play back in 2009 or 2008 where Mankins was run blocking ahead of Faulk; it was funny watching him running ahead looking for someone to try to block.