Today In Patriots History Feb 19: Billy Johnson

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Billy Johnson​

Happy 82nd birthday to Billy Johnson
Born February 19, 1943 in Stanton, Nebraska
Patriot safety, 1966-1970; uniform #47
Signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on July 21, 1966
Pats résumé: five injury-riddled seasons, 32 games (7 starts); 8.5 yard average on 23 punt returns, 20.1 yards on 22 kickoff returns


Billy Johnson is a player unfamiliar to most fans of the Patriots. That obscurity is unfortunately better than his side of the story. Johnson is one of many former players who are unfamiliar with their daily surroundings. Alzheimer’s robbed him of his memory. The toll of concussions and CTE pay an unforgiving price for these men and loved ones left to care for them.

The hard hitter was a rover back on three major Nebraska Cornhuskers bowl teams. Mike Holovak said Johnson “loves to tackle, and pound for pound is one of the best hitters in the league”. Four injuries (cheek, eye, knee and leg) limited Johnson to six games in 1967. He returned and had a big day in crucial late season game against Houston. Johnson returned five punts for 126 yards, including returns of 52 and 36 yards setting up scores. The 18-7 victory pulled the Pats within 1½ games of the eventual division champion Oilers and earned Johnson the game ball for his role. He also played for the Lowell Giants in the old Atlantic Coast Football League while on Boston Patriots' taxi squad in 1967.


From the 1970 Patriots Media Guide:

Forced to sit out all of last season with a knee injury sustained early in training camp . . . will try for "comeback" in the midst of some of the stiffest defensive backfield competition in all of pro football . . . a tough all-around competitor who continually proves that appearances are deceiving . . . could be a big factor at either safety spot this year . . . was second on the squad in 1968 in both kickoff and punt returns . . . has played both corner and safety . . . excels on special teams . . . pound for pound, one of the team's hardest hitters . . . he admits, "I get my biggest kicks out of tackling" . . . was surprise hero of Pats' final victory of 1967 and won game ball (vs. Houston) . . . in that game returned five punts for 126 yards and had season's longest with a 52-yarder . . . his youthful appearnce — which almst caused guard at gate to keep him from pre-season training grounds in rookie year — belies his ability . . . four different mishaps (cheek, eye, knee and leg) hampered him that first season . . . former monsterman roverback for Nebraska . . . played on three major bowl teams . . . now in the insurance business with Northwestern Mutual.​

Concussion awareness in that era was nearly non-existent. Johnson has lost much of himself to Alzheimer’s. He is participating in a concussion study at Boston University and has also pledged his brain for research. In 2017 his wife Terri stated “he is childlike now” and that she feels as though “I’ve lost my partner”.

October 29, 2017:

Big men with broken minds: The largely forgotten faces of the Patriots franchise

They are largely forgotten faces of a Patriots franchise that for all its 21st century grandeur shares the NFL’s legacy of infirmity: countless former players suffering — and in many cases dying — from debilitating brain damage. For almost every ailing player, there has been a family suffering...

www.boston.com

“My life sucks,’’ said the 69-year-old Plunkett, who is eligible for benefits under the NFL settlement.​

Kapp, 79, has said he suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, which has a mortality rate among former NFL players four times higher than in the general population, according to a 2012 study by the Centers for Disease Control. He told the Mercury News he plans to donate his brain for research.​

“Every single day I live being forgetful,’’ Kapp told the newspaper. “I’ve got calendars on both of my shoes.’’​

One of his former Patriots teammates, linebacker Marty Schottenheimer, went on to become one of the winningest head coaches in NFL history. At 74, Schottenheimer also says he is struggling with Alzheimer’s.​

In Canton, Terri Johnson helps care for her husband, Billy, another Patriots teammate of Kapp and Schottenheimer. She recently watched an ESPN report in which Schottenheimer discussed drinking coffee to brace for the cold Pennsylvania mornings, only for his wife, Pat, to interrupt the interview and remind him that they have lived in North Carolina for “a long, long time.’’​

“To remember who Marty was and to see who he has been reduced to, I immediately thought, ‘That’s my husband,’ ’’ Terri said.​

At 74, Billy Johnson, once a hard-hitting defensive back, has lost much of himself to Alzheimer’s. He is participating in a concussion study at BU and has also pledged his brain for research.​

“He’s childlike now,’’ Terri said. “I’ve lost my partner.’’​

The former Patriots and their families are casualties of an era when the franchise was chronically hapless and homeless — a period when players relied on offseason jobs to participate in a sport that would cost them pieces of who they were.​

The vast majority never earned more than $25,000 a year. Their health care benefits have paled in comparison to those of today’s players, as have their pensions, which often are no greater than their Social Security checks.​

Pro Football Archives:
Billy Johnson - Game Logs
Billy Johnson - Season-by-Season Statistics
Billy Johnson - Transactions

Billy Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

Checkout the latest stats for Billy Johnson. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

www.pro-football-reference.com

1970 Patriots Media Guide - Billy Johnson, page 61

 

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some cool pics featuring Billy Johnson...

pretty sure the second pic shows him on a kick return...you can see Karl Singer (68) in the back ground of the play, and he was a Tackle... so I think its probably a special teams play... but don't quote me on that...

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
Pats trade for Sean Farrell​

February 19, 1987:
New England acquires Sean Farrell from Tampa Bay in exchange for three draft picks:
- 1987 second round pick (#51 - RB Don Smith)
- 1987 seventh round pick (#190 - DE Harry Swayne)
- 1987 ninth round pick (#246 - K Greg Davis)

Farrell would do a good job manning the left guard position for three seasons for the Patriots, replacing an overmatched Paul Fairchild who was a stopgap career backup thrust into a starting role after John Hannah retired. Farrell was a solid performer before being placed on waivers in a cost-cutting move after the 1989 season. He was quickly picked up by Denver, where he would play for two years before finishing his NFL career with Seattle in 1992.

In typical Tampa Bay fashion from the winking pirate era, none of those three draft picks did much of anything at all for the Bucs.


If you have a few minutes to spare, there is an excellent piece below on the life and times of Sean Farrell below, from his days as a discus thrower and shot-putter on his high school track and field team, to playing for miserly Hugh Culverhouse in Tampa, to his untiring work and dedication to bring the C.T.E. issue to light and his post-football life as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch.

A New York State of Mind - Part 2

The Genealogy of a Discus Record

www.aloerterbacktoolympus.com

The Buc’s tight-fisted, fiscally-controlled, nit-picky, penny ante operation was overseen by owner Hugh Culverhouse. The team facility in Tampa was on par with a good high school program. The practice field was adjacent to the departure end of Tampa International Airport with all of the jets doing their “rev-ups” during practice. Players that were awarded game balls during the season would be “dinged 40 or 50 bucks from their paycheck that week,” Sean recounted. He added, ”You’d get orange sweat suits that looked like prison jumpsuits and they’d bill you for those, too. There was no food at the facility so pre-practice we’d drive over to a Wendy’s with our pads on and hands taped just so we could eat something. Even the Coke machine near the locker room, you had to have the 35 cents to buy a Coke. All true stories.’’ Owner Culverhouse was pleased that his team was considered one of the NFL’s most profitable franchises even though Tampa Bay was called the “Sad Sack Bucs.”​

Sean liked and respected his coaches and teammates all through his tenure in Tampa and the feeling was mutual. Management was another story. After the 1986 season, Sean had had enough and expressed his desire “to get the hell out of Tampa Bay.” In his five seasons with the Bucs, the team won only 17 games. They went 2-14 three times, including Sean’s last two seasons. This, while he endured one shoulder and two knee surgeries. Incredibly, Sean Farrell was chosen 1st Team All-Pro in 1984.​

April 28, 1978: Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd"​

February 19, 1993:
The Patriots release four players:
OT Scott Bowles, S Randy Robbins, WR Walter Stanley and LB Richard Tardits.
Bowles was a young player who never caught on, Robbins and Stanley were on the wrong side of 30, and Tardits was a french-born linebacker who went on to enjoy playing his true sports passion - rugby - for the rest of the decade.

Scott Bowles (2015) - North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame - University of North Texas Athletics

University of North Texas Athletics

meangreensports.com

Randy Robbins HOF

Randy Robbins HOF

arizonawildcats.com

Arizona Hall of Famer Randy Robbins Navigates Casa Grande To Opener Against Salpointe | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com

Share Tweet Randy Robbins is not coaching this season, but he is directing like he has never done before. The pride of Casa Grande, a former Cougar standout who went on to illustrious careers with Arizona and the Denver Broncos, is once again exclusively the athletic director of his high school...

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Where Are They Now?: Walter Stanley

www.packers.com

Today In Patriots History - July 30: A French Rugby Player

Today in Patriots History The French Patriot Happy 59th birthday to Richard 'Le Sack' Tardits Born July 30, 1965 in Biarritz, France Patriot LB, 1990-1992; uniform #53 Acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Cardinals on March 23, 1990 Richard Tardits learned to speak English as a high...

www.patsfans.com

February 19, 1997:
The Pats sign WR Larry Ryans
Ryans was a track star at Clemson, running the third leg of their runner-up 4×100 meter relay at the 1991 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. That speed was enough to make four NFL teams give him a shot, but he was only able to get on the field for three NFL games, with no stats.

FESTERING TENSIONS Black Clemson players say they

encounter racial barriers By CHRIS TOMASSON CLEMSON In 1970, 23 years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line, Marion Reeves arrived at Clemson as the school's first black football pl…

www.goupstate.com

February 19, 2024:
James Ferentz retires.
The backup offensive lineman had been performing double duty, working as the de facto offensive line coach after Adrian Klemm stepped away for health reasons. A month later the New York Giants hired the 34-year old Ferentz to become their assistant offensive line coach.

Patriots offensive lineman announces retirement

Longtime New England Patriots backup offensive lineman James Ferentz announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday.

985thesportshub.com

Ferentz played 10 seasons (including two solely on the practice squad) in the NFL after entering the league as a rookie UDFA out of Iowa. After brief stints with the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, Ferentz’s seven final seasons came in New England. On and off of the practice squad for most of his tenure he played 61 NFL games, making 10 starts.​

James Ferentz Announces Retirement

Patriots offensive lineman James Ferentz announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday.

www.patriots.com

Patriots offensive lineman James Ferentz announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday, concluding an eight-year NFL career with his last five seasons spent with the Patriots. Ferentz started 10 career games for the Patriots with appearances in 40 total.​

Patriots OL James Ferentz retires

Patriots offensive lineman James Ferentz announced his retirement on Instagram on Monday afternoon.

www.nbcsports.com

James Ferentz, 34, played only one game in 2023 as he spent time on both the active roster and the practice squad. The Patriots, though, valued his knowledge in the offensive line room and on the sideline on game day. He played eight seasons, winning two Super Bowl rings.​

Ferentz spent time with the Texans and Broncos before landing in New England in 2018. The interior offensive lineman appeared in 61 games with 10 starts in his NFL career.​

February 19, 2024:

Patriots announce new additions to Jerod Mayo's coaching staff

Jerod Mayo’s new-look coaching staff is complete. Here’s the full list of Patriots coaches for 2024.

www.nbcsportsboston.com

All of the new additions to Jerod Mayo's staff were announced, including Tyler Hughes as wide receivers coach and Bob Bicknell as tight ends coach. Troy Brown, who served as WRs coach from 2021-23, will return in a new role according to the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed. Also returning are Brian Belichick and Mike Pellegrino.​

Hughes served as a Patriots offensive assistant from 2020-22. He spent the 2023 season working as a quality control coach for the University of Washington. . . . Bicknell was a senior offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints from 2022-23. The Massachusetts native played tight end at Boston College.​

Patriots 2024 coaching staff new hires officially announced

The New England Patriots' 2024 coaching staff was officially announced by the team. Here's what it looks like.

985thesportshub.com

Offensive staff:​

Offensive coordinator: Alex Van Pelt​

Quarterbacks: T.C. McCartney​

Running backs coach: Taylor Embree​

Wide receivers coach: Tyler Hughes​

Assistant wide receivers coach: Tiquan Underwood​

Tight ends coach: Bob Bicknell​

Offensive line coach: Scott Peters​

Assistant offensive line coach: Robert Kugler​

Senior offensive assistant: Ben McAdoo​

Offensive assistant: Michael McCarthy​

Defensive staff:​

Defensive coordinator: DeMarcus Covington*​

Defensive line coach: Jerry Montgomery​

Inside linebackers coach: Dont’a Hightower​

Outside linebackers coach: Drew Wilkins​

Cornerbacks coach: Mike Pellegrino*​

Safeties coach: Brian Belichick*​

Defensive assistant: Vinny DePalma​

Defensive assistant: Jamael Lett​

Special teams staff:​

Special teams coordinator: Jeremy Springer​

Assistant special teams coach: Tom Quinn​

Assistant special teams coach: Coby Tippett​

Strength & conditioning staff:​

Strength & conditioning coach: Deron Mayo*​

Assistant strength & conditioning coach: Brian McDonough​

*Returning from 2023 staff​

Coaches previously reported to be returning weren’t included in the release. That group is made up of cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino, safeties coach Brian Belichick, and strength and conditioning coach Deron Mayo.​

Feruary 19, 2024:

Patriots releasing Lawrence Guy, Adrian Phillips to save $6 million in cap space

The Patriots are releasing veterans Lawrence Guy and Adrian Phillips on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.

www.nbcsports.com

February 19, 2025:

With Release of Takitaki, Patriots Begin Reshaping Roster

The Patriots made a transaction on Wednesday, announcing the release of linebacker Sione Takitaki. Takitaki was signed to a two-year deal last offseason, with the former Browns player, who was selected by Eliot Wolf in the third round back in Cleveland in 2019, getting released on Tuesday well...

www.patsfans.com

Patriots Player Departure - Pats release Takitaki

Saves 2.8 mil

www.patsfans.com

Patriots release LB Takitaki amid roster authority questions

The Patriots released Sione Takitaki on Wednesday, a move that seems to reflect first-year coach Mike Vrabel's influence in shaping the roster.

www.espn.com

The New England Patriots released veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki on Wednesday, a move that seems to reflect first-year coach Mike Vrabel's influence in shaping the roster.​

Takitaki had signed a two-year contract as a free agent last offseason, with a base value of $6.6645 million and a maximum value of $10.245 million. The deal included $3.125 million guaranteed.​

Takitaki, 29, had been a favorite of Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf going back to Wolf's two-year tenure with the Cleveland Browns, with whom Takitaki spent the first five years of his career.​

Wolf had the final personnel say last year in New England, working with first-time coach Jerod Mayo. But with Vrabel replacing Mayo this year, there has been a lingering question of who has final decision-making authority. Vrabel sidestepped the topic at his introductory news conference in January, saying there was a "shared organizational vision."​

Takitaki played in 11 games last season for the Patriots, with four starts. He totaled 18 tackles and played just 17% of the defensive snaps. He had a knee scope last offseason, opened the season on the physically unable to perform list and never seemed to be 100% upon his return.​

Releasing Takitaki also signals how the Patriots are transitioning to a new defensive scheme under Vrabel and first-year defensive coordinator Terrell Williams, and possibly placing a higher value on different traits. Last year, the 6-foot-1, 245-pound Takitaki had been viewed as an ideal fit as a versatile linebacker who could play off the line of scrimmage and on the edge, which was referred to as a "joker" role as a staple of the old scheme under Bill Belichick and Mayo.​

 

[Pape]

Today in Patriots History
Pats trade for Sean Farrell​

February 19, 1987:
New England acquires Sean Farrell from Tampa Bay in exchange for three draft picks:

If you have a few minutes to spare, there is an excellent piece below on the life and times of Sean Farrell below, from his days as a discus thrower and shot-putter on his high school track and field team, to playing for miserly Hugh Culverhouse in Tampa, to his untiring work and dedication to bring the C.T.E. issue to light and his post-football life as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch.

That was a great read. Thanks

 

[jmt57]

Today in Patriots History
More February 19 Birthdays​

Happy 47th birthday to Chidi Iwuoma
Born February 19, 1978 in Los Angeles
Patriot CB, 2006; uniform #29
Signed Signed as a 28-year old veteran free agent on October 4, 2006
Pats résumé: four weeks, three games

Bill Belichick signed Chidi Iwuoma for his special teams play and for depth to an injury depleted secondary early in the 2006 season. The Cal-Berkeley product had 80 career special team tackles, including 19 in 2005 as a co-captain for Pittsburgh. Six years of that brutal, unforgiving play had slowed down the 5-foot-9-inch, 184-pound defensive back by the time he arrived in Foxboro. The Pats cut Iwuoma just four weeks later despite making two more ST tackles.

After retiring from pro football Chidi went back to Cal; first 'working in the Cal Athletic Study Center assisting student-athletes with a wide range of academic topics', and then as an assistant director of student-athlete development with the Cal football program, responsible for assisting in the academic performance of Cal football players. In 2013 he returned to another alma mater - the Pittsburgh Steelers - serving as a West Coast college scout for the Steelers front office.

Patriots sign veteran free agent CB Chidi Iwuoma; Sign first-year OT Sean Bubin to practice squad

The New England Patriots signed fifth-year cornerback Chidi Iwuoma to the 53-man roster today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

www.patriots.com

Patriots release CB Chidi Iwuoma and C Brian Barthelmes

The New England Patriots released cornerback Chidi Iwuoma today. The team also released rookie center Brian Barthelmes from their practice squad.

www.patriots.com

Happy 76th birthday to Clark Hoss
Born February 19, 1949 in Portland, Oregon
Patriot TE, 1972 offseason
Pats seventh round (165th overall) selection of the 1972 draft, from Oregon State
Pats résumé: 1972 offseason and training camp
The Patriots traded the 6’8 Hoss to Cleveland on July 31, 1972. He spent two seasons with the Eagles and one in the WFL. Clark Hoss then went back to his alma mater where he had graduated nine years earlier. From 1976 to 2013 Clark Hoss taught social studies and coached football and basketball at West Linn High School in Oregon. Since then he and his wife have operated a beautiful bed and breakfast in northwestern wine country.

Hoss announces retirement after 36 years at WLHS

Clark Hoss, social studies teacher, has taught a plethora of classes over his teaching career, from World History Green to the now-defunct Crisis: World Dramas course. He’s taught nearly all social studies courses apart from psychology, economics and AP curricula. On Nov. 30, he announced in an...

wlhsnow.com

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Other players born on this date with a New England connection:

Dwight Freeney, 45 (1980)
Born in Hartford; from Bloomfield, Connecticut
The seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end was the 11th overall pick of the 2002 draft by the Colts, from Syracuse.
Freeney had 125½ sacks and 128 tackles for a loss over his 16 year career, and was enshrined in Canton in 2024.

Dwight Freeney Pro Football Hall of Fame profile | Pro Football Hall of Fame

To help build a championship-level defense to complement their already high-powered offense of the early 2000s, the Indianapolis Colts used their first-round pick (11th overall) in 2002 to choose defensive end Dwight Freeney. Results came immediately.

www.profootballhof.com

Anthony Firkser, 30 (1995)
Harvard
The tight end has played in 78 games with 115 receptions and five touchdowns, most recently with KC.


Jim Crocicchia, 61 (1964)
Waterbury, Connecticut
Jim was a replacement quarterback during the 1987 strike for the Giants. He also spent one season in the Arena Football League.


Tony Manfreda (1904-1988)
Born in Meriden, CT; Sanborn Seminary in Kingston, NH; Holy Cross
The halfback played briefly with the Newark Tornadoes, who finished the 1930 NFL season with a record of 1-10-1.
He holds the Holy Cross record for longest kickoff return from a 1929 game between the Crusaders and Boston University.