Today In Patriots History Feb 17: Happy 70th Birthday to Stanley Morgan

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Stanley Morgan​

Happy 70th birthday to Stanley Morgan
Born February 17, 1955 in Easley, South Carolina
Patriot WR, 1977-1989; uniform #86
Pats 1st round (25th overall) selection of the 1977 draft, from Tennessee

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Stanley Morgan is a two-time All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl receiver, despite playing on extremely run-oriented offenses. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions in 1979, and in yards per reception in three consecutive seasons (1979-81) - with an astounding 22.8, 22.0 and 23.4 yards per catch. His 19.2 career yards per catch ranks as 10th best in NFL history. In 1986 Morgan set what was then a franchise record with 1,491 yards receiving, playing an integral part on the first Patriot team to make it to the Super Bowl.

In 1981 Morgan broke his own franchise single game record with 182 yards receiving against the Dolphins; that milestone would last for 17 years until rules and penalties enhanced the passing game immensely.

Despite the NFL's thumb on the scale that makes comparing stats from different decades difficult, to this day Stanley Morgan still holds the Patriots career record for receiving yards (10,352), games with 100+ yards receiving (38; ten more than #2 Wes Welker) and yards from scrimmage (10,843). When he departed Foxborough after the 1989 season he also held franchise records for receptions (534; now 4th), receiving touchdowns (67, now 2nd); points by a non-kicker (408, now 2nd), all-purpose yards (11,468, now 2nd).


There are two mysteries in regards to Stanley Morgan's legacy.
First, why did it take the Patriots eight years to induct him into the team's Hall of Fame?
And secondly, why is he not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?




On August 27, 2007 Stanley Morgan was finally inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. Despite playing on run-heavy teams in the pre-Bill Polian 'let's change the rules to favor Peyton' Competition Committee, Morgan had nearly 2,500 more career receiving yards than any other player in franchise history.

Stanley Morgan | The Patriots Hall of Fame

www.patriotshalloffame.com

Nov 9, 2007:

The one that time forgot

Heavy run of Hall of Fame questions. First one's the best, and its e-mailer, Andrew Levin of Hanover, Mass., is my E-mailer of the Week for submitting it. Did

www.si.com

"Why is Stanley Morgan constantly ignored when the Hall of Fame discussion rolls around?"​

Why indeed? I certainly thought he was a great player, one of the most feared long ball threats in history. I got out my book and did a little research on Stanley. For the first six years of his career in New England he averaged 22.6 yards per reception. In every one of those six, the number was at 20.9 or better. No receiver since then has come close.​

To put it in perspective, Jerry Rice's first six seasons produced a 17.6 average. James Lofton, king of the recent long ballers, averaged ... well, I didn't take his first six. I took his best six, which contained a few 20-plussers ... 18.9. The best single year that Randy Moss, today's top deep threat, had was his rookie season ... 19.0. Marvin Harrison's best was 14.5.​

Are you starting to get the picture on Stanley Morgan? So with all those 120-something names we had to wade through, all those jamokes, why wasn't Morgan there? The answer is something that always sets my teeth on edge when I hear it so many times during the enshrinement meetings. ​

"Slipped through the cracks."​

#9 Stanley Morgan | Top 10 Patriots of All Time | NFL Films
3:30 Highlight Video
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Good article and Q&A with Stanley Morgan here (though some of those records have been broken since it was written):
Dec 23, 2005 - Patriots.com

Where are they now? Stanley Morgan

June 14, 2018:

New England Patriots of the Past: Stanley Morgan

New England Patriots of the Past: Stanley Morgan. Here is a breakdown of the career of Morgan, an underrated wide receiver.

lastwordonsports.com

2000:
Stanley Morgan - Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Morgan, Stanley « Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame

tshf.net

2016:

Stanley Morgan - SC Football Hall of Fame | Become a life changer for our youth!

Stanley Morgan was born on February 17, 1955 in Easley, South Carolina, and began his football career at Easley High School. He helped lead Easley High School to a state championship […]

scfootballhof.org

9. Stanley Morgan

Stanley Morgan was a stud offensive skill player at the University of Tennessee, where he was used mostly as a rusher. The New England Patriots knew they had something special in Morgan when they used the 25thOverall Pick in 1977 to land him, but they found that he would be better served...

www.notinhalloffame.com

Below is an old full game, from 1985. Patriots only threw the ball 15 times!
How Stanley Morgan ended up with 557 receptions for 10,716 yards and 72 touchdowns with that kind of game plan and offensive strategy is amazing.

NFL - 1985 - AFC Divisional Playoff - New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Raiders
3:34:28 Full Game Video
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March 28, 2023:

MORSE: Patriots Team Priorities as We Head into the Draft; Stanley Morgan for Hall of Fame | PatsFans.com

The Patriots have finished the 1st phase of Free Agency and have improved their roster significantly. It is time to re-assess the teams’ priorities as it applies to the draft.

www.patsfans.com

July 27, 2023:

Stanley Morgan shafted once again for the HOF (link)

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/sterling-sharpe-steve-mcmichael-among-seniors-finalists-for-hall-of-fame-class-of-2024 How do you put Sterling Sharpe as your top senior WR candidate and not Morgan? Sharpe: 595 receptions 8100 yards 13.7 YPC 65 TDs Morgan: 557...

www.patsfans.com

26 minute interview:

Sports Files | Former New England Patriots Wide Receiver Stanley Morgan | Season 2015 | Episode 628

Former New England Patriots and Tennessee Volunteers star wide receiver Stanley Morgan.

www.pbs.org

STANLEY MORGAN 12 LONGEST NFL TOUCHDOWNS (NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 1977-1989)
4:19 Highlight Video



Stanley Morgan
11:24 Highlight Video
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[upstater1]

Love Stanley Morgan. He is more deserving of the HOF than receivers currently in the HOF.

 

[turkeyneck]

Love Stanley Morgan. He is more deserving of the HOF than receivers currently in the HOF.

Never has more talent been less recognized.

 

[DarrylS]

Always was a fan of Morgan, he was a highlight film back in the day.
I know it is a sacrilege to criticize Steve Grogan, but the threw more int's than TD's (208 to 182) that type of stat would never be tolerated in today's NFL.. seem to remember more than one game where the Pats were driving and he threw an Int, Grogan was tough as nails and had the heart of a lion.
Wonder if Stanley Morgan would have gotten more HOF attention if he played with a more accurate QB???

 

[captain stone]

Always was a fan of Morgan, he was a highlight film back in the day.
I know it is a sacrilege to criticize Steve Grogan, but the threw more int's than TD's (208 to 182) that type of stat would never be tolerated in today's NFL.. seem to remember more than one game where the Pats were driving and he threw an Int, Grogan was tough as nails and had the heart of a lion.
Wonder if Stanley Morgan would have gotten more HOF attention if he played with a more accurate QB???

And for another team... He'd be in the HOF already if he had.

 

[jmt57]

Wonder if Stanley Morgan would have gotten more HOF attention if he played with a more accurate QB???

That has a whole lot to do with it.

And for another team... He'd be in the HOF already if he had.

Bingo.
Especially true if he had been on a team that won even just one Super Bowl.
All the more reason that I'm still bitter to this day about how the Sullivans mis-handled the Leon Gray and John Hannah contracts, tried to cheap out on Darryl Stingley's contract agreement and health insurance, all of which led to the departure of Chuck Fairbanks and Russ Francis' premature retirement before he hit the age of 30.


Add to that Ron Borges being a meek voice that none of the other HoF voters take seriously and pay no attention to.

And finally, a really stupid reason, but one that does seem to sway voters - after retiring Stanley Morgan shunned the limelight, and did not go into broadcasting. It's asinine, but guys who get a job on tv stay in the public eye, and that seems to have a profound effect on the voters. (Or in the case of Sterling Sharpe, have his brother Shannon lobby for him.)

 

[Kasmir]

I was an original subscriber to Joel Buschbaum's mimeographed (!) pre-draft newsletter back in the 70's,

I remember reading his one liner on Stanley Morgan: "quicker than instant coffee".

Until the last few years of his long career, Stanley Morgan averaged over 20 yards/catch, which at the time was the all-time NFL record.

Only Randy Moss was a better Patriots wide receiver.