Another day, another great Patriot Hall of Famer's birthday.
Troy Brown, 46 (July 2, 1971)
Patriot WR/PR/KR/DB, 1993-2007
Uniform #80 (and #86 in 1994)
Pats 8th round (198th overall) pick in the 1993 draft, out of Marshall.
After initially being cut after his rookie training camp, thankfully no other NFL team signed "
Bingo". Bill Parcells re-signed the versatile Brown in mid-October and the rest is history. Brown has so many iconic and legendary plays they are too numerous to remember and list all of them. A few that come to mind though are his crucial 23 yard catch and run on the final drive of Superbowl 36; his play in the previous game, the AFCCG at Pittsburgh when he
returned a punt for a 55 yard touchdown and also
picked up a blocked field goal attempt and alertly lateraled to Antwan Harris for a TD; at a sweltering hot and humid day in south Florida
catching a sideline pass and racing for an 82-yard overtime touchdown, ending a 13 game losing streak at Miami; or being called upon to
play defense in mid season - and finishing second on the team with three interceptions.
Rather than go on, I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read this piece on number 80's career. Along with a lengthy resume of impressive statistics there are some great quotes from Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft.
Bingo indeed...
Fans vote Troy Brown as 2012 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee | patriots.com
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 32 (July 2, 1985)
Patriot RB, 2008-2011
Uniform #42
Law Firm was signed as an undrafted rookie out of Ole Miss, where he was only the second running back in school history with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. With Laurence Maroney injured, BJGE became the team's third RB behind Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk his rookie season, rushing for five touchdowns. In '09 he was used primarily on special teams, getting just 28 touches in 12 games. Then in 2010 Maroney was traded, and after Fred Taylor and Faulk were injured, BJGE became the starting running back by default. He performed quite well, rushing for 1,008 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. In 2011 the Pats drafted Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen, and it was clear his days were numbered. Splitting playing time with the two rookies and Danny Woodhead, BJGE was still counted on near the goal line; he gained 826 yards from scrimmage and rushed for 11 touchdowns.
Law Firm was well known for his ability to hang on to the ball, not losing a fumble in the NFL until after he signed with Cincinnati - a streak of 589 touches without a turnover. He started 31 games over two seasons with the Bengals, with 2013 his final NFL season. BJGE rushed for 29 touchdowns in 53 games with the Patriots, which ranks as the eighth most in franchise history, and had 2,064 yards rushing with the Pats (19th). In addition he had 183 yards on 47 carries and one touchdown in four playoff games with the Pats. For his NFL career BJGE totaled 4,332 yards from scrimmage with 42 touchdowns.
Ben Thomas, 56 (July 2, 1961)
Patriot DE, 1985-1986
Uniform #99
Pats 2nd round (56th overall) pick in the 1985 draft, from Auburn.
On the last day of April in 1985,
the Patriots traded their first (16th overall) and third round (75th) picks to San Francisco for the 49ers first (28th), second (56th) and third round (84th) picks. Thomas was chosen with that extra 2nd round pick; with the later 1st the Pats took Trevor Matich (who had a lengthy NFL career - as a long snapper) and Audrey McMillan (who never played a down for New England - but did go on to become an All Pro corner for Minnesota). The Niners? They used that first round draft pick on some guy named Jerry Rice....
Thomas lasted less than one and a half seasons in New England, appearing in 19 games with one start and one sack. From '85 to '91 he played in 54 NFL games, and was a starter only in Atlanta in '89. Thomas went back to his alma mater in 1997 and worked as the Director of Athletic Events from 2005-08; since then he has been Auburn's Director of Player Development.
Kelvin Kight, 35 (July 2, 1982)
Patriot WR, 2006
Uniform #19
Kight had 76 receptions for 1,102 yards and four touchdowns in his junior and senior seasons at Florida, during the first two years that Ron Zook took over from Steve Spurrier for the Gators. Kight was not drafted and
bounced between the Rams, Packers, Jaguars and Vikings from 2004-06, only appearing in one NFL game during that time. The Patriots signed him at the start of training camp in 2006, and he spent most of the year on the practice squad. On December 9
Kight was promoted to the active roster after LB Don Davis went on IR and OL Gene Mruczkowski was released. Kight was used on special teams for four games, though he did also have one nine-yard reception and an eight-yard run; he also appeared in the first two playoff games with the Pats. Kight was re-signed the following April but was released during cuts at the end of the 2007 training camp, ending his NFL career.
Santonio Thomas, 36 (July 2, 1981)
Patriot DT, 2005-2007
Uniform #92
The former Miami Hurricane signed with the Pats as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2005. Thomas spent most of his time with the Pats on the practice squad. He was promoted to the 53-man roster for both of the playoff games following the 2005 season, but was a healthy scratch in those two games. Thomas was on the roster for seven games in the first half of 2007, appearing in four games and inactive in three others before returning to the practice squad. Cleveland signed Thomas in September of 2008, and he appeared in 11 games for the Browns.
Clay Harbor, 30 (July 2, 1987)
Patriot TE, 2016
Uniform #81
The Pats signed the veteran free agent in March of 2016, after six seasons with Philadelphia and Jacksonville. In a
bit of a surprise he made it to the week one roster, beating out Bear Pascoe, Steven Scheu and rookie draft pick Bryce Williams. Harbor was one of four tight ends on the roster to open up the season, along with Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett and A.J. Derby. In week one he was on the field for 22 offensive and 17 special team snaps, but those numbers rapidly dwindled over the next two games. The 6-3, 250-pounder
was released on October 3rd, and replaced on the tight end depth chart by Greg Scruggs. Harbor finished 2016 with Detroit, and is now with the New Orleans Saints. His final stat line with the Patriots reads three games played, no receptions, 25 offensive snaps and 39 special team snaps.
Rex Burkhead, 27 (July 2, 1990)
Patriot RB, 2017 -- present
Uniform #34
After four seasons in Cincinnati, the 5-10, 210 lb back from Nebraska signed a one year deal with the Pats that included a $1.1 million signing bonus, worth a total of $3.15 million. Last year Burkhead averaged 4.6 yards per carry and based on his contract is the front runner to be the Patriots lead running back in 2017.
Others with New England area connections:
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Gary 'Killer' Kowalski, 57 (7/2/60); grew up in Clinton CT and played TE at Boston College. Drafted by the Rams in '83, was an OL with the Chargers through '88.
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Larry Green (7/2/95 - 8/7/60); went to Haverhill High School; was an end and guard for the 1920 Canton Bulldogs and 1921 Hammond Pros.
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Nick Hennessey, 31 (7/2/86); born in Salem, went to Danvers High School and Andover Academy. Was an OT for the 2009 Buffalo Bills and was then in the CFL for three years; now an offensive line coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
From the way-back machine:
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Frank Muehlheuser (1926-2006); FB/LB for the 1948 Boston Yanks.
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Bill Chipley (1920-2002); E/DB for the Boston Yanks, and later head coach at Washington & Lee.
Some other notable pro football players born today:
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Carlos Rogers, 36 (7/2/81); CB from 2005-14 with Washington, SF and Oakland.
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Hassan Jones, 53 (7/2/64); Viking WR had 3,824 receiving yards and 24 TD.
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Mark Clayton, 35 (7/2/82); Ravens' WR never really quite lived up to his status as a first round draft pick.
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Chad Henne, 32 (7/2/85); was the career passing leader at Michigan, but went 18-35 as an NFL starter for Miami and Jacksonville - with more career picks (63) than touchdown passes (58).
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Joe Pisarcik, 65 (7/2/52); NYG QB will forever be known for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory with the infamous fumble at the
Miracle at the Meadowlands.