Today in Patriots History
Wrong End of Famous College Football Games
Happy 60th birthday to Darrell Fullington
Born April 17, 1964 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Patriot FS, 1991; uniform #29
Waiver claim (Vikings) on August 27, 1991
A native of the
shark bite capital of the world went to the University of Miami. As a Hurricane he was one of the end zone defenders that missed Doug Flutie's
Hail Mary touchdown pass.
The previous year Fullington was also on the wrong end of another improbable comeback. Miami was up 31-0 at halftime. Being who they were at that time the Canes were arrogant and full of trash talk. Frank Reich came in off the bench to lead Maryland to the
biggest comeback in college football history, winning 42-40. Late in the game a long Reich pass bounced off Fullington's hands into Greg Hill's arms for the go-ahead score.
Fullington was drafted in the fifth round by the Vikings in 1988, and appeared in five games with the Pats in '91. New head coach **** MacPherson waived Fullington during final roster cuts in 1992. Over five NFL seasons Fullington appeared in 79 games, with ten interceptions; he also played in three playoff games for the Vikings.
In memory of Barry Brown, who would have been 81 today
Born April 17, 1943 in Boston
Died February 6, 2020
Patriot TE/OL, 1969-1970; uniform #66 & #86
Signed as a free agent on September 2, 1969
Brown was born in Boston but grew up in Michigan. He graduated from the University of Florida, and in the 1966 Sugar Bowl had a game high nine receptions from quarterback Steve Spurrier. A late (266th overall) pick by the Colts, he primarily played on special teams as well as a backup linebacker.
After one season at linebacker with the Giants, Brown switched teams and positions. Brown played in 21 games for the Patriots with ten starts at tight end, replacing Jim Whalen as starter at that position in 1970 when Joe Kapp was the QB. Brown caught 21 passes for 214 yards in 21 games as a Patriot, averaging 10.2 yards per catch.
After his playing days were over Brown had a successful second career in real estate.
Happy 28th birthday to Keion Crossen
Born April 17, 1996 in Garysburg, NC
Patriot CB, 2018; uniform #35
Pats 7th round (243rd overall) selection of the 2018 draft, from Western Carolina
Keion Crossen had a limited role as a rookie, used primarily on special teams. In eleven games he had 14 tackles, appearing in 39 defensive snaps (with opponents completing seven of eight passes thrown his way), and 113 (37%) of the club's special team snaps. On August 31, 2019 the Patriots traded Crossen to Houston for a 2020 sixth round pick.
Although he has bounced around the league betwwen the Texans, Giants and Dolphins, Crossen has carved out a niche as a special teams ace and backup depth at corner. He missed all of 2023 due to a shoulder injury, but had been durable prior to that, appearing in 64 games in the four seasons since leaving Foxborough. Crossen was released by Miami on March 5 and is currently a free agent.
Happy 25th birthday to Vederian Lowe
Born April 17, 1999 in Auburn, IL
Patriot OT, 2023; uniform #59
Acquired in a trade with Minnesota on 8/28/23 for a 2024 sixth round pick
The Patriots added Lowe after injuries to Riley Reiff, Conor McDermott and Calvin Anderson were depleting depth on the offensive line even before the season began. Almost immediately Lowe was forced to start due to a Trent Brown injury. Lowe ended up playing in 11 games, with four starts at left tackle and four at right tackle. The results were about what one would reasonably expect when a team is starting its fifth option to protect its quarterback's blind side.
April 17, 1980: New England acquires RB
Chuck Foreman from Vikings, in exchange for a conditional third round pick.
Foreman began his career by being named to five consecutive Pro Bowls, but overuse cut his career short. He averaged more than 300 touches per year from 1974 to 1979, and had slowed down quite a bit by the time the Pats traded for him.
The Patriots were in a contract dispute with Sam Cunningham, and he would end up sitting out the entire 1980 season. While the Patriot offense was concentrated on the running game, the Pats still had Don Calhoun, Horace Ivory, Andy Johnson, Mosi Tatupu and Allan Clark - plus they drafted Vagas Ferguson. There was no need to add a running back who showed a steep decline in 1979 - and certainly no need to give up a third round pick for him. Cunningham carried the ball a mere 23 times (for 63 yards and one TD) in 1980, and never played in the NFL again after that.
April 17, 1996:
Pat Harlow is traded to the Raiders for a second round pick. Three days later on the day of the draft the Pats trade that second back to Oakland, for a 3rd, 4th and 5th round pick. The Pats owned the first overall pick of the 1991 draft, but traded it to Dallas for picks #11 and #41, CB Ron Francis, LB David Howard and LB Eugene Lockhart. Harlow was the starting right tackle for four seasons, then became a swing tackle in 1995 before being traded to Oakland.
Today's list of birthdays is unusual in terms of the volume of New England natives that made it to the NFL.
Joe Todd turns 45 (4/17/1979)
Born and raised in Mansfield MA, Todd was a linebacker with the Jets in 2001 and Bucs in 2002. He has spent
several years coaching at the high school and college football levels and is now
linebackers coach at the University of Rhode Island.
James Hamilton turns 50 (4/17/1974)
Hamilton was born in Hartford but went to high school in North Carolina. The linebacker was a third round pick by Jacksonville in 1997. He was primarily a special teams player that was done in by injuries, appearing in 17 games over two seasons.
Gordon Laro turns 52 (4/17/1972)
Born in Lynn, Laro went to Lynn English High School and Boston College. The tight end played for Jacksonville in 1995.
Lance Olssen turns 77 (4/17/1947)
The Boston-born Purdue graduate was a third round pick by the 49ers in 1968. He spent two seasons in SF as a tackle and center.
Fran O'Brien (4/17/1936 - 10/21/1999)
O'Brien was born in Springfield and grew up in Holyoke. He spent ten years in the NFL, mostly as a right tackle for the Sonny Jurgensen-era Redskins. He later became more well known for
his restaurants, particularly
in the DC area.
Walt Kowalczyk (4/17/1935 - 11/7/2018)
The Westfield native won the Harry Agganis Award in 1954 for the best high school athlete in New England. Kowalczyk was the sixth overall pick in the 1958 draft. He played for the Eagles, Cowboys and Raiders but was more well known for his days at Michigan State.
"The Sprinting Blacksmith" was an All American halfback, scoring nine touchdowns and leading the Spartans to a number three ranked 8-1 record.
Former Michigan State All-American Walt Kowalczyk dies at age 83
Kowalczyk was a three-year letter-winner under coach Duffy Daugherty and a consensus All-American as a senior in 1957, helping Michigan State to an 8-1 record and a share of a national championship. He rushed for 545 yards and nine touchdowns on 101 carries that season and finished third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which remains tied for the best finish ever for a Spartan.
