Today In Patriots History June 26: Aaron Hernandez arrested for murder, cut by Pats

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Aaron Hernandez arrested for murder
Immediately released by Patriots​

June 26, 2013:
Aaron Hernandez is arrested and charged with first degree murder. He is released by the Patriots about an hour later.

​

Murder charge for Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez has been charged with murdering his friend after the two feuded during a trip to a nightclub.

www.espn.com

Former Patriots Tight End Is Charged With Murder (Published 2013)

The N.F.L. player Aaron Hernandez was charged on Wednesday with the murder of Odin Lloyd, a 27-year-old semipro football player who was found dead on June 17.

www.nytimes.com

Aaron Hernandez Charged With Murder; Patriots Release Him

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested and charged Wednesday with murdering a friend a few days after they got into a dispute at a nightclub.

www.wbur.org

Former New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez charged with murder

Patriots release tight end after he is led away from home in handcuffs, as police investigate death of semi-pro football player

www.theguardian.com

Patriots cut Aaron Hernandez - The Boston Globe

The Patriots cut Aaron Hernandez on Wednesday only hours after he was arrested by police at his home. Later in the day, the tight end was charged with murder.

www.bostonglobe.com

Aaron Hernandez charged with murder, held without bail

Former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with the murder of a Dorchester semi-pro football player at his arraignment inside a packed Attleboro District Court today.Hernandez is accused of “orchestrating the…

www.bostonherald.com

Patriots Star Aaron Hernandez Arrested

New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was arrested and led away from his North Attleborough home on Wednesday morning. The arrest comes about a…

www.golocalprov.com

Aaron Hernandez - Family Hero to Murder Suspect

One of your neighbors posted in Health & Fitness. Click through to read what they have to say. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)

patch.com

What now for Patriots after Aaron Hernandez's release?

Aaron Hernandez could be claimed off waivers by any of the 31 other teams in the league. (Elise Amendola, AP) On the same morning that Aaron Hernandez was

www.si.com

New England Patriots weren’t so smart with Hernandez

New England Patriots weren’t so smart with Hernandez

www.denverpost.com

It's now fair to debate whether Ravens or Patriots got better tight end class in 2010

Over the past three seasons, New England Patriots tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez have been the NFL's most productive tight-end tandem. Meanwhile, Ravens tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed ****son, who were also selected in that 2010 draft, were measured against New England's dynamic duo.

www.baltimoresun.com

Patriots cut Aaron Hernandez before murder charge; do you think Cowboys should release Josh Brent?

Patriots cut Aaron Hernandez before murder charge; do you think Cowboys should release Josh Brent?

www.dallasnews.com

Aaron Hernandez Murder Charges Put ESPN in Uncomfortable Position

Aaron Hernandez is not O.J. Simpson. But by the time the summer’s over, don’t be surprised if you feel like you’re watching an instant replay. The arrest and first-degree murder charges leveled Wednesday against Hernandez — a star New England Patriots tight end — are news by any measure. Yet the...

variety.com

 

[oldrover]

 

[Pape]

not being chippy here. We should have traded him to Seattle.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
1st round draft pick, 18 yards per catch?
Sign the Beast!!!​

Happy 77th birthday to Eddie Hinton
Born June 26, 1947 in Lawton, Oklahoma
Patriot WR, 1974; uniform #82
Signed as a free agent on October 18, 1974

Eddie Hinton was a first round selection by the Colts in the 1969 draft, out of the University of Oklahoma. In his second season he had an amazing eleven receptions in what was just the second Monday Night Football game ever played. Hinton finished that season with seven touchdowns and led the 11-2-1 Colts with 47 receptions. He also had 86 yards and a touchdown in Baltimore's 17-0 playoff victory over Cincinnati. Hinton followed that performance up with five receptions for 115 yards in the AFC Championship game victory over Oakland.

In Super Bowl V Eddie Hinton was headed for a touchdown when Cowboy defensive back Cornell Green was able to strip the ball inside the ten yard line, and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. That play allowed for a nail biter finish, with Ken O'Brien bailing Eddie out by kicking the game winning field goal with five seconds to go.

Hinton was also part of a controversial play earlier in the game. At that time if a pass was touched by two offensive players it was declared incomplete. A pass resulting in a 75 yard touchdown to John Mackey appeared to have been tipped by Hinton, but no flag was thrown - and with replay still many years away, the play stood.

Eddie Hinton was also a footnote in Pats history, as he played in what was the Patriots first victory over a team that had been part of the pre-merger NFL.

Until the final game of the '71 season, all of the Patriots victories in 1970 and 1971 had been against AFL teams. In that first semi-historic game Hinton had four receptions for 81 yards for the Colts, with Baltimore winning 23-3. In the final game of the season Hinton had four catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns, but this time the Patriots defeated the Colts. Jim Plunkett hit Randy Vataha for two touchdowns, and John Outlaw scored on a 60-yard pick-six in the 21-17 upset victory.

That Colts loss handed the Dolphins the 1971 AFC East division title, and resulted in Baltimore having to play on the road at Miami in the AFCCG. Hinton had six receptions for 98 yards in that game, but the Dolphins prevailed by the score of 21-0.

The next year Johnny Unitas called Hinton's number on what would be the final touchdown pass of the great quarterback's career with the Colts. Eddie Hinton missed half the season with injuries, and it would turn out to be his final touchdown as a Baltimore Colt as well. He spent one season with Houston before reuniting with his former college football coach - Chuck Fairbanks - and signing with the Patriots.

Unfortunately knee injuries had robbed the 6'0, 200 pound Hinton of the speed he once had as an Oklahoma Sooner. On a team that ran far more often than they passed, Hinton was buried on the WR depth chart behind Randy Vataha, Reggie Rucker and Darryl Stingley. Hinton appeared in nine games for the Pats with one start, making two receptions for 36 yards and adding a few kickoff and punt returns. After a post-NFL career as a home builder, Eddie Hinton worked as a school bus driver and counselor for at risk youths in Texas.

Collected wisdom: Eddie Hinton, former OU and Colts receiver

Former OU, Baltimore Colts wide receiver Age: 63 Residence: Spring Branch, Texas Hometown: Lawton For 35 years, Eddie Hinton (1966-68) was OU's only 1,000-yard receiver, until Mark Clayton topped th…

www.oklahoman.com

Catching up With ... Eddie Hinton

The kid's name was Chase, and the driver knew he'd be trouble from the second he set foot on the school bus.

articles.baltimoresun.com

50 memories of 50 Super Bowls with Super fan Don Crisman

Dec 20, 1971: New York Times | Patriots Post 21?17 Upset And Colts Drop to Second

In memory of Dennis Morgan, who would have been 72 today
Born June 26, 1952 in White Plains, NY
Patriot RB, 1976 offseason
Signed as a free agent on April 12, 1976

Dennis Morgan, White Plains football star of the 1960s, dies at 63

Dennis Morgan, who starred on the gridiron for White Plains High School in the 1960s and played in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles, died on Oct. 25 at age 63.

www.lohud.com

Morgan was selected in the 10th round (255th overall) in the 1974 NFL draft by the Cowboys and reported to training camp that summer.​

"When he got there to camp, they noticed his big red afro," Charles said. Ed "Too Tall" Jones promptly "coined the nickname 'Strawberry,' and it stuck. For the rest of his time in the NFL, and the rest of his life, he was 'Strawberry.'"​

Though he'd appear in just 13 games with Dallas, his lone NFL touchdown left a mark.​

In Week Five of the 1974 season, the Cowboys visited St. Louis, where Morgan returned a first quarter Cardinals punt 98 yards for a touchdown — which, to this day, is the longest punt return touchdown in Cowboys' history.​

The next year, Morgan was released by the Cowboys and picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles, appearing in four games.​

Described by his brother Charles as a meek and humble man, Morgan had other offers from NFL teams, including the New England Patriots, but instead walked away from football.​

"He could take it or leave it," Charles said. "The fame and fortune didn't appeal to him."​

His NFL career over, Dennis Morgan served several years in the U.S. Army, earning an honorable discharge.​

"He wanted to serve," Charles said. "He said if he wasn't playing pro football, serving the country was the next-best thing to do."​

Joining the army seems to be a bit of an extreme reaction to avoid playing for your hometown rivals.

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Not quite as newsworthy as AH​

June 26, 2007:
Pats change Randy Moss' jersey number from 6 to 81

Moss to wear 81

Randy Moss has finalized his jersey number: he will wear No. 81.

www.boston.com

Moss had initially been issued No. 6. But receivers must have numbers from 80-89 or from 10-19.​

No. 81 became available when receiver Jonathan Smith was waived last week.​

Moss previously wore 84 in Minnesota and 18 in Oakland. He had actually warmed to the idea of wearing No. 6 — the amount of points awarded for a touchdown — but was required to make the switch.​

June 26, 2002:
Patriots trade LB Kole Ayi to the St Louis Rams for a 2004 7th round draft pick

Kole Ayi (2014) - Hall of Fame - University of Massachusetts Athletics

University of Massachusetts Athletics

umassathletics.com

A two-time first team all-American, Kole Ayi set the standard by which all UMass linebackers are judged. To this day, he remains as UMass' all-time leader in solo tackles with 330 and ranks third in career total tackles with 478.​

In addition to his all-America honors, Ayi was a two-time finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the top defensive player in FCS football, and he was honored with the George "Bulger" Lowe Award as the top defensive player in New England from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in 2000.​

Ayi, a native of Nashua, New Hampshire, will always be remembered for his standout performance in the 1998 NCAA National Championship Game, where he recorded a game-high 16 tackles, had three fumble recoveries and forced two fumbles. He even scored a touchdown by returning a fumble recovery leading the Minutemen to their first-ever national title.​

Beginning his career at UMass as a walk-on, Ayi finished his time in Amherst as one of the best players in the program's history. He was an All-Atlantic 10 First Team pick in 1999 and 2000 and was a second-team selection in 1998. He led UMass in tackles as a sophomore, junior and senior. Ayi's 116 tackles during the 1998 campaign still stand as the school record for single-season tackles.​

Following his time at UMass, Ayi signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams. He was a member of the New England Patriots during the 2002 Super Bowl Championship season as well.​

June 26, 1995:
Patriots sign fourth round draft pick Dave Wohlabaugh

Dave Wohlabaugh - Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame

Member New England Patriots Super Bowl Championship Team

www.buffalosportshallfame.com

Wohlabaugh was selected in the fourth round of the 1995 NFL Draft (112th overall) by the New England Patriots. He was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team in 1995. He started every game over four years with the Patriots (1995-98), and was a member of the Pats’ AFC Championship in 1997 and appeared in Super Bowl XXXI. Wohlabaugh was selected as the center for the New England Patriots All-1990’s team​

June 26, 1991:
Patriots trade their 1992 twelfth round draft pick to Dallas for Rich Gicewicz

SAQ Performance Training Clinics & Performance Hockey Clinics - Buffalo NY

SAQ Performance Training Clinics & Performance Hockey Clinics - Buffalo NY

saqperformance.net

Invited to walk-on to Michigan State University's soon to be national championship hockey team, Gicewicz instead, made a career decision to walk-on to their football team. After earning a full scholarship and becoming a three year starter and four year letter winner with the Spartans, Gicewicz was one of the starting tight ends for the 1987 Big Ten Champion and 1988 Rose Bowl winning Spartans who beat USC and finished the season with an impressive #8 National ranking. After playing in the Cherry Bowl, All American Bowl and Gator Bowl, Gicewicz spent parts of the next four years in the NFL as a free agent Tight End and had stints with the Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots.​

June 26, 1976
Patriots sign eighth round draft pick Stu Betts and twelfth round pick Todd Anderson

Betts was a RB from Northern Michigan and Anderson was a center from Stanford; neither one ever played in the NFL.

Stuart Betts (2001) - Hall of Fame - Northern Michigan University

Stuart Betts, Class: Induction: 2001 Sport(s): Football - Three-year letter winner on NMU's football squads in 1973, '74 and '75 Led the team in total offense

nmuwildcats.com

June 26, 1971:
Patriots sign eighth round draft pick CB Daryl Johnson and re-sign CB Larry Carwell

Daryl Johnson (2008) - Hall of Fame - Morgan State University Athletics

Daryl Johnson, Class: 1967 Induction: 2008 Sport(s): Football - Daryl E. Johnson is a native of Richmond, Virginia and graduated from Maggie L. Walker High School.

morganstatebears.com

Local obituary: Daryl Johnson, member of Patriots' 1960s All-Decade Team

Daryl Johnson, of Haverhill, died on Nov. 25, 2023.

www.boston.com

Remembering Larry Carwell

Larry Carwell was an exceptional Iowa State football player from 1964-66. He was also a huge success as a professional, playing six seasons (1967-72) in the AFL for the Houston Oilers and New Engla…

cyclonesidebar.wordpress.com

Other pro football players born on this date with New England area connections:

- Rodney Thomas, 26 (6/26/98);
7th round (239th overall) selection in the 2022 draft by Indianapolis, out of Yale
Starting safety for the Colts has six interceptions in two seasons with Indy.


- Josh Thomas, 43 (6/26/81);
born in Plymouth MA, the defensive end earned a super bowl ring while playing in 70 games for the Colts from 2004-09; he then went back to school and got his MBA at UNC, and since then has been employed by Eli Lilly.

Josh Thomas - Football - Syracuse University Athletics

Josh Thomas (97) Defensive End - Career Biography (PDF Format) At SU: Three letters ... 2001, 2002 and 2003 CoSIDA District I Academic All-American ... Three...

cuse.com

Donald Brown and Coby Fleener Network at Eli Lilly and Company

- Joe Shield, 62 (6/26/1962);
born in Brattleboro Vermont, he went to high school at Worcester Academy and then to college at Trinity in Hartford.
Shield was a late round draft pick and backup QB for the Packers from 1985-86.

BHS Podcast e84 – Starting at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, Brattleboro’s Joe Shield | Brattleboro Historical Society

According to the website Fansided, Vermont’s greatest college quarterback of all time is Brattleboro’s Joe Shield. Here’s his story…

brattleborohistoricalsociety.org

NFL players with Vermont connections

Last week, longtime NFL kicker Stephen Hauschka, who began his football career at Middlebury College, officially hung up his cleats.

www.rutlandherald.com

- Harry Boatswain (6/26/1969 - 8/8/2005);
the University of New Haven graduate was drafted by San Francisco in 1991, and got a ring as a backup guard with the Niners in '94. Harry was the second player chosen by Carolina in their expansion draft (and one of the first cut); he later played in the XFL and then became a pro wrestler before succumbing to a heart attack at the age of just 36.

Harry Boatswain (1995) - Hall of Fame - University of New Haven Athletics

Harry Boatswain, Class: Induction: 1995 Sport(s): Football - All-America and Two-time First Team

newhavenchargers.com

Memphis Maniax Roster: Harry Boatswain

THE NFL / BILL PLASCHKE : Eagles Are Painfully Aware of Their Alternatives

When defensive tackle Ronnie Dixon was struggling earlier this season, Philadelphia Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes put a warning in his locker.

articles.latimes.com

Infinite Jets

A man, a fan, a team, a plan. Through seasons of despair, we discuss every player in New York Jets history. As with life, there is a certain end to our work, though we are never really finished.

infinitejets.blogspot.com

Some notable NFL players born on June 26 include:

- Michael Vick, 44 (6/26/80); despite missing two full seasons in the prime of his career, the former dog owner aka Ron Mexico went to four Pro Bowls, rushing for 36 TD as a QB.

Falcons quarterback Michael Vick pleads not guilty to dogfighting charges

RICHMOND, Va. - Michael Vick pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal dogfighting charges and was released without bond until a Nov. 26 trial. The Atlanta

www.savannahnow.com

Why Michael Vick Is Trending On Sunday Morning

Michael Vick is one of the greatest talents the football world has ever seen. The former Virginia Tech star dominated at the college level, leading the Hokies

thespun.com

- Chad Pennington, 48 (6/26/76); his accuracy made up for an arm that was not the strongest, throwing for 17,823 yards and 102 touchdowns while twice being named the Comeback Player of the Year.

New York Jets' Mount Rushmore: Is Chad Pennington's case strong enough?

Three names are up on Mount Rushmore. Chad Pennington is a fan favorite who was under consideration to be the fourth face etched in stone.

www.si.com

- Shannon Sharpe, 56 (6/26/68); Hall of Fame tight end and (in my opinion) a putrid person who is among the least to be deserving of a microphone.

Comedian Jay Pharoah imitates NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe

Actor and comedian Jay Pharoah imitates NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.

www.si.com

 

[captain stone]

- Shannon Sharpe, 56 (6/26/68); Hall of Fame tight end and (in my opinion) a putrid person who is among the least to be deserving of a microphone.

Comedian Jay Pharoah imitates NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe

Actor and comedian Jay Pharoah imitates NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.

www.si.com