Today in Patriots History
Not quite as newsworthy as AH
June 26, 2007:
Pats change
Randy Moss' jersey number from 6 to 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
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
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
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, 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, 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
Daryl Johnson, of Haverhill, died on Nov. 25, 2023.
www.boston.com
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:
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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.
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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 (97) Defensive End - Career Biography (PDF Format) At SU: Three letters ... 2001, 2002 and 2003 CoSIDA District I Academic All-American ... Three...
cuse.com
Intro: Colts players spend their off days during the regular season taking part in a multitude of activities. For Donald Brown and Coby Fleener, this past Tuesday meant an observation of what the future could hold with a trip to Eli Lilly and Company.
www.colts.com
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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.
According to the website Fansided, Vermont’s greatest college quarterback of all time is Brattleboro’s Joe Shield. Here’s his story…
brattleborohistoricalsociety.org
Last week, longtime NFL kicker Stephen Hauschka, who began his football career at Middlebury College, officially hung up his cleats.
www.rutlandherald.com
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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, Class: Induction: 1995 Sport(s): Football - All-America and Two-time First Team
newhavenchargers.com
When defensive tackle Ronnie Dixon was struggling earlier this season, Philadelphia Eagle Coach Ray Rhodes put a warning in his locker.
articles.latimes.com
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:
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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.
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
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
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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.
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
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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.
Actor and comedian Jay Pharoah imitates NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe.
www.si.com
