In history of the franchise, which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Bruce Armstrong - Stanley Morgan - Robert Edwards are 3 of the Patriots rookies that come to mind as players which stood out and played in thier first season and made an impact - Who is your opinion had the best Patriots rookie season ever?

I bring this up because although its only 2 weeks in his career,Mayo has played every down on defense and its a rare unusual thing in a BB led team which kinds of holds back on rookies playing them sparingly until they are a year into the system unless they show big promise from the get-go which Mayo apparently has lots of.

If he continues to be on the leading end of team tackles on the team and adds a few sacks to boot,its definately possible he could have a full season impact like Patrick Willis was last year and a DROTY candidate and even could go down as best Patriots rookie ever but with only 2 weeks I think we don't know what we have with Jerod but I like what I see thus far.

Back to the original subject,I say Bruce Armstrong was the best rookie ever to play in a Patriots uniform.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Don't forget Terry Glenn.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

I'm voting for Richard Seymour. As soon as Seymour was inserted into the starting lineup (week 5 I believe) the Patriots D became dominant and the rest is history

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Terry Glenn had a pretty good rookie year and set the record at the time for catches for a rookie. He caught 90 balls for 1132 yds and 6 TDs.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Curtis Martin, anyone? 1487 rushing yards and 14 rushing TD's with a 4.0 avg. Plus, he had 30 receptions for 261 yards and a TD.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Eugene Wilson. Most thought it was a stretch to pick him in the 2nd round. BB converted him from CB to FS in TC. Despite all of this, Wilson eased into a starting role and even did a better job than the veteran who he replaced, Tebucky Jones.

Other candidates from BB era - Seymour, Light, and Mankins

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

I'll go with Curtis Martin too. But before I saw CM's name I was thinking of Russ Francis I think he won rookie of the year.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

I'm too young to recall the older players. Under the BB era, it has to be either Seymour or Light. Both players immediately gave credibility to their respective lines.

Before BB, Edwards sure was impressive.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

i mean, i dont know how the nfl regards rookies, but brady barely played the year after being drafted. i would say he was the best rookie we've ever had, but i guess the nfl doesnt consider players rookies after they have been on an nfl team for 1 year, even though they rarely played

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Bruce Armstrong, John Stephens Terry Glenn and Curtis Martin.

I'd have to go with Martin. Martin benefited by Bledsoe playing with a seperated shoulder almost the whole season. But still, what Martin did was fantastic. I really enjoyed the Martin-T Davis debates as well. Very rare that two Rb's come out of the 3rd and 6th round to compete for rookie of the year like they did.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

I came here to post Glenn...then i remembered C-Mart and Armstrong. All great choices. Big Sey is right up there too.

If I was forced to pick one, it would have to be Martin. Of all the players we have lost over the years, I think losing Martin cut me the deepest. I still get sick thinking about it.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Mike Haynes

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Gotta go with Seymour here. Glenn or Curtis M would be a close 2nd. But Seymour was a dominant Dlineman straight out of the gate, and immediately contributed to turning that D around. Winning a ring as a rookie, and adding a couple more later didnt hurt. Imo, its almost a no-brainer.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

I will have to think hard about Patriot rookies...OLD Patriot rookies...from the way past.. to find one..and that's the hard thing..going way back there HAVE been some great rookies...Hmmmm

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Well, I would have to say I am torn between Martin and Edwards.

Martin was an incredible find, and his loss was like a punch in the gut for fans. I never forgave Parcells for that poison pill contract he offered Martin just to scr@w New England.

However, when Robert Edwards came in, it was a "Martin who?" by the middle of the season. The kid just tore up the turf and the fans loved every minute of it. When he tore up his knee and nearly lost his leg to amputation because of the damage and blood loss. it was another shot to the gut.

New England fans could be forgiven for feeling cursed.

Anyway, those would be my first choices. Russ Francis, though, was amazing, as was Bruce Armstrong. Even Terry Glenn. Sigh.....

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

John Stephens! The best rookie ever.
He never recovered from that hit.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Haynes had a tremendous rookie season. Great corner, eight INT's, plus a couple PR TD's, Pro Bowl as a rookie. Probably the best rookie season in Pats history.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

Not that he's the winner of this, but I thought I should give a player who's career was cut short by injuries a bit of a shout out here.....


Hart Lee Dykes had a very solid rookie season.

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

1) Curtis Martin
2) Robert Edwards
3) Russ Francis
4) Michael Haynes
5) Richard Seymour

Re: In history of the franchise,Which Patriots player has had the best rookie season

I can't imagine John "The Best Offensive Lineman of All Time" Hannah ever struggling his rookie year in 1973 but he was a guard and not a spotlight player until 1974 and throughout his stellar career.