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Today in Patriots History
Albert Haynesworth
Albert Haynesworth
June 17 birthdays are highlighted by three pro football hall of famers, and low-lighted by a low-cost, high risk-reward swing and a miss.
Happy 49th birthday to Doug Skene
Born June 17, 1970 in Fairview, Texas
Patriot guard, 1993-1994; uniform #74
Doug Skene was an 8th round draft pick from Michigan by the Eagles in '93, and the Pats picked the rookie up off waivers in November. Out of training camp in '94 Skene was the starting right guard, and played in the first six games. In an October game against the Raiders he was making a block when 310 pound Chester McGlockton fell on the back of his knee, resulting in season ending surgery. Skene came back in 1995 hoping to compete with Todd Rucci, who finished the season at RG. However the knee was not 100% and he retired after being cut at the end of training camp.
After his weight ballooned in his post-football career, Skene took up bicycle riding and dropped 50 pounds in six months. He is a sales manager for Allegion, a company that provides 'security around the door and adjacent areas, producing everything from mechanical locks to advanced biometric scanning devices'.
Ex-NFL player loves to ride | mLive.com
Happy 38th birthday to Albert Haynesworth
Born June 17, 1981 in Hartsville, South Carolina
Patriot DT, 2011; uniform #92
The 15th overall pick of the 2002 draft is most well known for his dirty play. At training camp in Tennessee he kicked a teammate in the chest. Then in a game against the Cowboys Haynesworth took off center Andre Gurode's helmet, and after missing the first time stomped on his face, resulting in 30 stitches. Roger Goodell suspended Haynesworth a mere five games. The Titans had seen enough and released Haynesworth even though it meant eating $5.5 million in cap space. That didn't stop other teams from drooling over the two-time All Pro and 2008 Defensive Player of the Year when he hit free agency though.
Haynesworth signed a seven year $100 million contract with Washington, even though Tampa Bay offered $120 million. Haynesworth didn't like playing in a 3-4, clashed with coaches, and was eventually suspended. After two seasons Washington traded Haynesworth to the Patriots for a 2013 fifth round pick.
The acquisition was a low risk, high upside move. Haynesworth's 2011 salary was not exorbitant (it worked out to $100,000 per game); Washington had taken the brunt of the deal with upfront money.
In a week 8 game against the Giants the officials missed a hold on Haynesworth. After protesting to no avail he seemed to completely lose focus and intensity, and was beat badly on each of the next three plays - the last which resulted in a 10-yard touchdown run. Haynesworth did not get back on the field again, and was seen having words on the sideline with coach Pepper Johnson. Two days later Haynesworth was released.
In six games with the Patriots he was on the field for 133 of 561 defensive snaps, missing two games with a back injury; his stat line consisted of two tackles and one assist. Unable to beat Kyle Love for a starting position alongside Vince Wilfork and with Gerard Warren and Ron Brace available for depth, Haynesworth was already expendable; the confrontation with Peppers after the poor play in the previous games made the decision an easy one.
Happy 35th birthday to David Herron
Born June 17, 1984 in Warren, Ohio
Patriot LB, 2007
Every year one or two undrafted rookies overcome tall odds and make the week one 53-man. In 2007 there were two players to achieve this feat. One was quarterback Matt Gutierrez, who had signed with the Patriots right after the draft. The other was David Herron, a linebacker from Michigan State. Herron had spent the summer with Minnesota, and was allegedly a pawn in a battle between Bill Belichick and Viking coach Brad Childress.
Sep 6, 2007: Waiver war: Childress, Belichick have tense conversation | espn
Vikings coach Brad Childress is the typical tight-lipped NFL coach, but he opened up on a radio interview last weekend. And Childress revealed an apparently tense conversation he had with New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick about a couple players each team wanted to pass through waivers and put on the practice squad.
Childress said Belichick called to ask him not to claim tight end Garrett Mills, offering to avoid picking up a player the Vikings cut as a reward. Childress declined.
"He didn't really care for that," Childress said Sunday morning on WCCO-AM. "He was trying to leverage, but you always find out who is honest and straightforward."
So the Vikings claimed Mills, the Patriots claimed linebacker David Herron, and Childress later realized he said too much.
"That's a case of me being a little too colorful," he said at his Wednesday news conference. "You guys wonder why I stand up here and go, 'Yep, no, and maybe so.' Bill's and my conversation should stay between Bill and myself."
Childress said Belichick called to ask him not to claim tight end Garrett Mills, offering to avoid picking up a player the Vikings cut as a reward. Childress declined.
"He didn't really care for that," Childress said Sunday morning on WCCO-AM. "He was trying to leverage, but you always find out who is honest and straightforward."
So the Vikings claimed Mills, the Patriots claimed linebacker David Herron, and Childress later realized he said too much.
"That's a case of me being a little too colorful," he said at his Wednesday news conference. "You guys wonder why I stand up here and go, 'Yep, no, and maybe so.' Bill's and my conversation should stay between Bill and myself."
While Herron did survive cutdown day - he took a roster spot made available with the release of WR Reche Caldwell - he never did play a single down for the Pats. Herron was waived on September 11, eight days after being claimed off waivers, to make room for Chad Brown. Herron re-signed with Minnesota to their practice squad a day later and the following year did start three games with the Vikings. He later played with the Chiefs and Chargers, appearing in 28 games over four seasons. A few years later his brother Dan also made it to the NFL as a running back with the Colts.
Other pro football players born today with New England connections:
- Alec Anderson (6/17/94 - 11/14/53); Somerville native went to BC and Holy Cross. Guard played briefly for the 1921 Washington (football) Senators.
- Jon Jenkins (6/17/26 - 6/30/99); Dartmouth alum was a tackle with the Colts and New York Yanks in 1949 (AAFC) and 1950 (NFL, after the two leagues merged).
- Ed Smith (6/17/13 - 1/29/98); FB/QB/DB for the 1936 Boston Redskins.
Some of the notable NFL players born today:
- Kyle Boller, 38 (June 17, 1981); the Ravens were so desperate for a QB they traded their second round 2003 pick and 2004 first for the Pats first round (19th overall) pick of the 2003 draft, and used it on Boller. The Pats used the 2003 pick in a trade with Houston that allowed them to draft Eugene Wilson, and then selected Vince Wilfork with the Ravens' first rounder in 2004.
- Elroy 'Crazy Legs' Hirsch (6/17/23 - 1/28/04); Hall of Fame end/halfback had an unheard of at that time season in 1951, catching 66 passes for 1495 yards, averaging 22.7 yards per receptions and scoring 17 receiving touchdowns - in 12 games.
- Bobby Bell, 79 (6/17/40); Hall of Fame LB for the Chiefs played in 168 games, with 26 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries and nine touchdowns - including one on a kick return.
- Dermontti Dawson, 54 (6/17/65); Hall of Fame center was a six-time All Pro for the Steelers in the nineties.
- Jason Hanson, 49 (6/17/70); kicker played in 333 games for the Lions and scored 2,150 points.
- Wayne Hawkins, 81 (6/17/38); Raider guard was named to five consecutive All Star teams but sadly now suffers from dementia and CTE.