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'Longshots' Have Been Key in Patriots Success

Ian Logue
Ian Logue on Twitter
May 9, 2011 at 10:46am ET

Patriots fans have been treated to a fair amount of success over the past decade, and FoxSports.com points out some interesting 'longshots' who helped them achieve it.

The site is chronicling some of the top names who arrived at their teams as more or less 'unknowns', and instead ended up becoming a key ingredient to the success of their football teams.

Two names mentioned in the piece include an obvious one in Tom Brady, but it also includes former Pats kicker Adam Vinatieri. 

Vinatieri's story was an interesting one, as he was an undrafted free agent who replaced then legend Matt Bahr after being given an opportunity by head coach Bill Parcells.  He went on to make the most of it and obviously we know what he did in New England.

Thankfully both he and Brady - both guys that fans may not have initially thought much about when they first got here - ended up leading the Patriots to plenty of success during the last decade.

CLICK HERE to View the Other Names Mentioned in the Piece

Also, here's a video I found while trying to find a documentary done on Vinatieri years ago on HBO, where the former Patriot even slept in his car while trying to get an opportunity in the NFL. I couldn't locate, but I did stumble accross this documentary on his kicking coach - Doug Blevins. It's an interesting story, and an impressive one considering the physical challenges he's battled through.


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