August 13 in Pats History: Devin McCourty

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
The McCourty Twins​

After being selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, Devin McCourty became part of a select group in league history. McCourty's identical twin brother Jason had already begun playing in the NFL the previous year. The two became the twelfth set of twins to play in the NFL. In week one of 2018 the brothers became the first set of twins to play together on the same team since 1926. Ironically Shaquill and Shaquem Griffin accomplished the same unusual occurrence three hours later.

Devin and Jason were cornerbacks at Rutgers from 2005-08. Devin redshirted for 2005, thus being a year behind Jason in eligibility and the draft. Devin became the second NFL twin to suit up for the Patriots. Kato Serwanga was a safety on the Pats from 1998-2000; his twin brother Jason played for San Francisco and Minnesota from 1999-2001. In 2013 the Pats also had another pair of brothers, guards Nick and Chris McDonald - but Chris was placed on IR just before week one, and the two never did play together in a regular season game.


Happy 34th birthday to Devin McCourty
Born August 13, 1987 in Nyack, New York
Patriot FS/CB, 2010-present; uniform #32
Pats 1st round (27th overall) selection of the 2010 draft, from Rutgers

• Ten consecutive seasons elected as defensive team captain (2011-2020) by his teammates
• Has missed only five out of 199 games in eleven seasons
• Has started every NFL game he has ever played in, both regular season (171) and playoffs (23)
• Three-time Super Bowl champion, with a 16-7 record in the postseason
• One of just eight players in NFL history to start in at least five Super Bowls (Tom Brady, Patrick Chung, Matt Light, Rob Gronkowski, Charles Haley, Cornelius Bennett, John Elway)
• Named to Pro Bowl in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2017
• Is one of only four Patriots to be selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie (Mike Haynes, '76; John Stephens, '88; Curtis Martin, '95)
• One of just three players to earn All-Pro honors at both cornerback and safety (the other are Hall of Famers Ron Woodson and Ronnie Lott)
• Seven interceptions in 2010 are second most by a rookie in franchise history
• Selected to the New England Patriots All-Decade Team of the 2010s at safety

Best of Devin McCourty | Patriots Highlights 2010-2014 (4:53)




#89: Devin McCourty (FS, Patriots) | Top 100 Players of 2019 | NFL (3:25)

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Jan 29, 2019:

Devin McCourty is making winning plays for Patriots and Players Coalition

ATLANTA — Amid the chaos of the visitors locker room at Arrowhead Stadium last week, with the New England Patriots scurrying to depart Kansas City, Missouri, af…

theundefeated.com

‘You can be out there in the community trying to improve lives … and you can still do your job. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.’​

Jan 11, 2019:

Two McCourtys Are Better Than One | By Jason McCourty

I remember, early on in training camp, Bill called us both over, super serious and said, “Do you guys have to wear the same f***ing sleeves?

www.theplayerstribune.com

Devin McCourty (FS): Bio, News, Stats & more

Devin McCourty was signed by the New England Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on March 10, 2015 ... Originally drafted by New England in the first round (27th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

www.patriots.com

The two brothers were enshrined into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2016, and in 2019 they delivered the commencement address to the Rutgers University graduating class.

Devin and Jason McCourty – Rutgers University Alumni Association

alumni.rutgers.edu

Happy 34th birthday to Jason McCourty
Born August 13, 1987 in Nyack, New York
Patriot CB, 2018-2020; uniform #30
Acquired in a trade with Cleveland on March 15, 2018

Jason McCourty was a 6th round draft pick by Tennessee in 2009. He spent eight seasons with the Titans and one with the Browns. At the onset of the 2018 NFL year and start of free agency, Cleveland traded McCourty and their 7th round pick to the Pats for their 6th round pick. Jason became a starter in week three after Eric Rowe was injured.

To put it another way, the Patriots got a veteran starting corner for three full years (who played in 44 games, with 1,973 defensive snaps and 188 special team snaps), in exchange for moving down from the 205th overall pick to the 219th overall pick.

Not bad for a player considered by some to be on the roster bubble at the end of training camp.

Jason McCourty's at peace with life on the bubble

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There was a gravelly voice booming from the middle of the Patriots defensive backs’ pregame huddle Thursday night. It sounded familiar. Over the last few years, that’s been Devin McCourty’s job. But before the preseason finale, it was Jason McCourty who took charge. The...

www.nbcsports.com

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March 16, 2018:

Get to know Jason McCourty

Or rather, get to know J-Mac.

www.patriots.com

May 6, 2021:

McCourty Twins Separated

Veteran cornerback Jason McCourty will be leaving the New England Patriots to join the Miami Dolphins

www.si.com

May 8, 2021:

Jason McCourty says farewell, thanks Patriots for letting him ‘live out a childhood dream’

McCourty posted his farewell message to social media.

www.masslive.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Bad Trade, Bad Cut​

Happy 59th birthday to Audray McMillian
Born August 13, 1962 in Carthage, Texas
Patriot CB, 1985 offseason
Pats 3rd round (84th overall) selection of the 1985 draft, from Houston

On April 30, 1985 the Patriots ignominiously pulled off one of the worst draft day trades in the history of the National Football League. The Pats traded down twelve spots, picking up an additional second round pick for doing so.

New England sent their first (16th overall) and third (75th overall) draft picks to San Francisco in exchange for the 49ers first (28th overall), second (56th overall) and third (84th overall) picks.

The Pats used the first round pick on center Trevor Matich, who injured his ankle in preseason and missed all of 1985. Matich started only 11 games over four injury filled seasons before moving on elsewhere to a career as a long snapper.

Second round pick Ben Thomas was waived four games into his second season.

Third round pick Audray McMillian was waived at the end of his rookie training camp.

The player that San Francisco traded up for lasted a bit longer. You may have heard of his name: Jerry Rice.


The Houston Oilers claimed McMillian the day after he was waived by the Pats. He went on to play from from 1985 to 1993 with the Oilers and Vikings. McMillian was named to the All-Pro team in 1992 after leading the league with eight interceptions.

And he's a super good guy too, tirelessly working to change lives for the better:

Oct 4, 1993:

Audray McMillian

Over the years, Viking pro bowl cornerback Audray McMillian has purchased several dwellings for tax purposes, but he never truly understood the human element

vault.si.com

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Brandon Gibson​

Happy 34th birthday to Brandon Gibson
Born August 13, 1987 in West Germany
Patriot WR, 2015 offseason; uniform #13
Signed as a free agent on March 10, 2015

Brandon Gibson was the all-time leader in receiving yards and second in receptions at the time when he left Washington State. He was a 6th round draft pick by Philadelphia, then traded early in his rookie season to St. Louis. He played alongside Danny Amendola, with a carousel of quarterbacks for the Rams (Sam Bradford and Marc Bulger were among the six starting QBs) from 2009-2012. Gibson then went to Miami but tore a patellar tendon in his knee, ending the first of two seasons with the Dolphins prematurely.

The Pats signed Gibson to a one-year contract early in free agency in 2015. He was placed on IR with another knee injury on August 24, and never again played pro football. Gibson finished his career with 233 receptions for 2,711 yards and 13 touchdowns, in 76 NFL games.

Aug 26, 2015:

HCA: Brandon Gibson out for season

The former WSU receiver was having a stellar start to 2015 in New England, but after a knee injury he's lost for the season.

www.cougcenter.com

After two seasons in Miami, where he was sparsely used having played in just 21 of the 32 games, Brandon Gibson was signed by the Patriots as a free agent this offseason. By all accounts, he was having a great preseason... until the 2nd preseason game.​

When the Patriots took on the Saints, Gibson landed awkwardly on his leg and hobbled off the field with a leg injury. The diagnosis wasn't clear until the MRI came down yesterday and revealed a torn ACL. Gibson will miss the rest of the season.​

In two preseason games with the Pats, Gibson had 12 receptions for 97 yards. Gibson will be missed by the team, especially his teammate Danny Amendola. "Obviously my heart sank when I found out about the news," Amendola was quoted as saying. "He’s a great football player, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll get his knee back, and rehab it, and get back out there as soon as he can."​

March 7, 2016:

Patriots Will Not Re-Sign Brandon Gibson

The Patriots have informed Brandon Gibson they will not re-sign him, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald …

www.profootballrumors.com

The Patriots have informed Brandon Gibson they will not re-sign him, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter). Gibson tore his ACL in August, ending his 2015 season before it could begin. Gibson is apparently still rehabbing his knee injury, so that will be a concern for any interested team this spring.​

Gibson, 28, signed a one-year, minimum-salary benefit contract with the Patriots in March, getting a $40K bonus to join the club. The torn ACL was especially unfortunate because the wide receiver was having a strong preseason for New England.​

Gibson, a former sixth-round pick of the Eagles, spent four seasons with the Rams before landing with the Dolphins in 2013. In 2013, he hauled in 30 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns in just seven games. In 2014, Gibson totaled 29 receptions for 295 yards and a TD in 14 contests.​

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
First Game against an NFL Team​

August 13, 1967:
The Boston Patriots play the Baltimore Colts in a preseason game at Harvard Stadium. It was the first time the Pats ever played a game against an NFL team, with the agreement of a merger already in place. Baltimore won 33-3. A year after the Pats came oh-so-close to representing the AFL in the first Super Bowl, Boston dropped to 3-10-1 in '67, last in the AFL East.

The Colts would not lose a game until the final week of the 1967 season - yet missed the playoffs that year. The Colts and Rams were in the same division and both finished with 11-1-2 records. Los Angeles beat Baltimore in week 14, and the two teams had tied back in week 5. That gave LA the tiebreaker to win the Coastal Division. There were no wild cards then; only the four division winners proceeded to the postseason. Missing the postseason with that record led to rule changes that added a wild card team to the playoff format.

(On a side note: what was with how the NFL split teams up when they went from simply the East and West in 1966, to four divisions in 1967? It was the perfect opportunity to get teams better aligned geographically, but it was as if they tried their hardest to do the opposite. The "Coastal Division" was perhaps the most illogical, with two west coast teams (LA, SF) and two on the east (Baltimore, Atlanta). On top of that Atlanta is over 500 miles away from the ocean. Two of the other divisions ("Century": St Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New York, and "Capitol": Dallas and New Orleans, with Washington and Philadelphia) were needlessly spread apart as well. Only the Central (same as today's NFC Central) made any sense.)

Aug. 13, 1967: Tom Addison, Bob Dee, and Larry Eisenhauer didn't look happy with a 33-3 preseason loss to the Baltimore Colts as the regulars waited for the game to end.

 

[captain stone]

Today in Patriots History
Brandon Gibson​

Happy 34th birthday to Brandon Gibson
Born August 13, 1987 in West Germany
Patriot WR, 2015 offseason; uniform #13
Signed as a free agent on March 10, 2015

Brandon Gibson was the all-time leader in receiving yards and second in receptions at the time when he left Washington State. He was a 6th round draft pick by Philadelphia, then traded early in his rookie season to St. Louis. He played alongside Danny Amendola, with a carousel of quarterbacks for the Rams (Sam Bradford and Marc Bulger were among the six starting QBs) from 2009-2012. Gibson then went to Miami but tore a patellar tendon in his knee, ending the first of two seasons with the Dolphins prematurely.

The Pats signed Gibson to a one-year contract early in free agency in 2015. He was placed on IR with another knee injury on August 24, and never again played pro football. Gibson finished his career with 233 receptions for 2,711 yards and 13 touchdowns, in 76 NFL games.

Aug 26, 2015:

HCA: Brandon Gibson out for season

The former WSU receiver was having a stellar start to 2015 in New England, but after a knee injury he's lost for the season.

www.cougcenter.com

After two seasons in Miami, where he was sparsely used having played in just 21 of the 32 games, Brandon Gibson was signed by the Patriots as a free agent this offseason. By all accounts, he was having a great preseason... until the 2nd preseason game.​

When the Patriots took on the Saints, Gibson landed awkwardly on his leg and hobbled off the field with a leg injury. The diagnosis wasn't clear until the MRI came down yesterday and revealed a torn ACL. Gibson will miss the rest of the season.​

In two preseason games with the Pats, Gibson had 12 receptions for 97 yards. Gibson will be missed by the team, especially his teammate Danny Amendola. "Obviously my heart sank when I found out about the news," Amendola was quoted as saying. "He’s a great football player, and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll get his knee back, and rehab it, and get back out there as soon as he can."​

March 7, 2016:

Patriots Will Not Re-Sign Brandon Gibson

The Patriots have informed Brandon Gibson they will not re-sign him, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald …

www.profootballrumors.com

The Patriots have informed Brandon Gibson they will not re-sign him, a source tells Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter). Gibson tore his ACL in August, ending his 2015 season before it could begin. Gibson is apparently still rehabbing his knee injury, so that will be a concern for any interested team this spring.​

Gibson, 28, signed a one-year, minimum-salary benefit contract with the Patriots in March, getting a $40K bonus to join the club. The torn ACL was especially unfortunate because the wide receiver was having a strong preseason for New England.​

Gibson, a former sixth-round pick of the Eagles, spent four seasons with the Rams before landing with the Dolphins in 2013. In 2013, he hauled in 30 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns in just seven games. In 2014, Gibson totaled 29 receptions for 295 yards and a TD in 14 contests.​

I liked Brandon Gibson as an early-Day 3 talent during the '09 draft, and thought that he was a much better value at #194 in the 6th round than Brandon Tate was at #83 in the 3rd round...I wouldn't even have considered Tate while Gibson was still available...

Dam shame about his 2015 ACL injury here; we sure could've used him that season.

 

[captain stone]

The Colts would not lose a game until the final week of the 1967 season - yet missed the playoffs that year. The Colts and Rams were in the same division and both finished with 11-1-2 records. Los Angeles beat Baltimore in week 14, and the two teams had tied back in week 5. That gave LA the tiebreaker to win the Coastal Division. There were no wild cards then; only the four division winners proceeded to the postseason. Missing the postseason with that record led to rule changes that added a wild card team to the playoff format.

(On a side note: what was with how the NFL split teams up when they went from simply the East and West in 1966, to four divisions in 1967? It was the perfect opportunity to get teams better aligned geographically, but it was as if they tried their hardest to do the opposite. The "Coastal Division" was perhaps the most illogical, with two west coast teams (LA, SF) and two on the east (Baltimore, Atlanta). On top of that Atlanta is over 500 miles away from the ocean. Two of the other divisions ("Century": St Louis, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New York, and "Capitol": Dallas and New Orleans, with Washington and Philadelphia) were needlessly spread apart as well. Only the Central (same as today's NFC Central) made any sense.)

Yep...Completely AFU alignment, especially regarding Baltimore, who had been idiotically placed in the Western division ever since they entered the NFL in 1953 while the Chicago Cardinals for no good reason remained in the Eastern division...The league also really dropped the ball regarding the playoffs by not starting, sometime during the 1950s, an Eastern 1st vs Western 2nd and a Western 1st vs Eastern 2nd format...Those 2 extra games would've been big money-makers...


This is what the 1967 NFL should've looked like had Logic & Reason been made higher priorities:

NY - PHI - BAL - WAS

PIT - CLE - ATL - NO

DET - CHI - GB - MIN

STL - DAL - SF - LA


A 3-division format, so that a Wild-Card team could be added (or 2, or 3, with a Bye week for the top team/s), could've looked like this:

NY - PHI - BAL - WAS - ATL

PIT - CLE - DET - CHI - GB - MIN

STL - NO - DAL - SF - LA


Dallas should've been a Western division team from the very beginning, but instead it was allowed to mooch off the more-powerful NYC, Philadelphia & Washington DC markets...