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Today In Patriots History May 18: Bob Dee

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Today in Patriots History
Bob Dee



In memory of Bob Dee, who would have turned 92 today
Born May 18, 1933 in Quincy
Died April 18, 1979 at the age of 45 in Portsmouth, NH
Patriot left defensive end, 1960-1967; uniform #89

Signed with the Boston Patriots early in 1960
Pats résumé: eight seasons (started every game); 4-time AFL All-Star; Pats All-1960s Team; 4th player inducted into Pats Hall of Fame







Why am I a lifelong hardcore fan of the Patriots? Part of that probably has something to do with growing up two blocks from Bob Dee, who would regularly come speak at our Little League banquets and Cub Scout meetings. The three-sport letterman from Holy Cross spent a few years with Washington before retiring, so he could return to his alma mater to coach linemen. That was short lived, as he joined the Pats in the American Football League's inaugural season. Dee is credited with scoring the first touchdown in AFL history, a fumble recovered in the end zone against the Bills in the league's first preseason game. He is the only Patriot to ever wear #89 - it was the first jersey number retired by the organization - and to the best of my knowledge is the only pro football player from Braintree to appear in a regular season game.






A true ironman, Dee started every single game for eight straight seasons and was a five-time AFL All-Star. He retired from pro football due to a business opportunity to run an environmental services company. Jet Line Services Inc. was one of the region's first hazardous waste cleanup firms. One of his employees was another neighbor, two years older than me, who had just graduated from high school whom he mentored, Alan McKim - who later started his own waste disposal business. Founded a year after Bob Dee's death in 1980, Clean Harbors is now the largest waste remediation firm in North America, a publicly traded company with a market cap of over $11 billion, and annual revenues of almost $6 billion.





Robert Henry 'Bob' Dee is a member of the Pats All-Decade team for the 1960s and a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.

Bob Dee was posthumously inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in August 1993. His spot in Patriots history is so huge that he was just the fourth player ever inducted. The team also retired his jersey number, 89 - he is the only Patriots to ever wear that number - while one of his helmets resides in The Hall at Patriot Place. The helmet he wore for 105 of those 112 consecutive games played is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio.




1960 Training Camp at UMass: Bob Dee, G Bob Lee and FB Bob Lee


Not the largest player at his position at 6’4” and 250 lbs., Dee stressed a finesse game, preferring to overcome blockers with moves rather than through brute force. From his defensive line position, Bob Dee became one of the stalwarts around which the Patriots built a punishing defense. By 1963, Dee and his defensive mates were a feared squad that forced their opposition to throw the ball because of their solid run defense.


Bob Dee with Boston Mayor John Collins and another politician



This week, we're looking at Bob Dee, the ironman defensive end who played every possible game in his storied career.

Dee established himself as one of the most physical and punishing defensive linemen in the league, racking up 33 sacks in his eight years in the league. Dee’s play earned him five AFL All-Star nominations to go along with four Second-team All-AFL honors.

One of Dee’s more memorable games came in the 1963 Eastern Divisional Playoff Game against the rival Bills. Dee recorded two interceptions in that game, and famously played with one sneaker and one shoe with spikes, supposedly to help his grip in the snow. The method might have been unconventional, but the result worked. The Patriots won, 26-8, in large part thanks to his efforts.



An AFL QB's Nightmare: Larry Eisenhauer, Houston Antwine, Jim Lee Hunt and Bob Dee (July 25, 1967)











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. It was the first-ever game between the Boston Patriots and an NFL team.




Larry Eisenhauer, Houston Antwine, Jim Lee Hunt, and Bob Dee join hands during a party to celebrate Eisenhauer's retirement in Boston, June 2, 1970




2 short asides - Butch Songin was so into football that he actually played a few games for the Quincy Giants in 1969. I played defense so I never interacted with him except at practice. He was in his early 40's then.

Bob Dee I knew better. He was a defensive coach and sometimes worked with the LB's

Football was a lot different then. Even in the NFL and AFL, for most players it was more like a part time job. As you noted Dee left football because he had a better business opportunity. Not like now where you can be a 3rd round pick and get a 4 year $10MM contract, and if you fill it, you've set your family up for life. Back then the minimum contracts were in the $14K/yr range for the bottom third of the roster.

BTW- Tommy Heinsohn made MUCH more money in the insurance business than he ever did playing basketball and he was a star. Like I said, different times

For a kid who was just entering my teen years when the Pats were formed, Dee was a local legend. In fact the HC was a former Pats DB of that era by the name of Ross O'Hanley, who died just a few years later from a brain tumor. Crazy the things you remember. There was also another coach on that team that I can't seen to member who took me under his wing and turned at 210lb nose tackle from Tufts into a 4-3 OLB in the course of about 15 practices,.

And behold, just to prove not ALL the brain cells are dead, the name came to me. Butch Mahoney was his name and he coached the secondary IIRC. Didn't think there would be a chance in hell that I would come up with that name. Must be the coconut oil supplements.





Pro Football Archives -- Bob Dee Player Profile

Pro Football Archives -- Bob Dee Transactions

Pro Football Archives -- Bob Dee Coaching Bio

 
Today in Patriots History
Gregg Rakoczy



Happy 60th birthday to Gregg Rakoczy
Born May 18, 1965; from Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Patriot center/guard, 1991-1992; uniform #71
Signed as a veteran free agent on August 28, 1991
Pats résumé: two seasons, 21 games (4 starts)



The sharpest snapshot of Gregg Rakoczy's playing days at the University of Miami — the one his children literally freeze-framed on the TV screen — comes midway through the ESPN 30-for-30 documentary The U.​

There's Rakoczy on the sideline, flashing the No. 1 sign with his index finger, his smile revealing both his pride in the Hurricanes' swaggering success as well as the absence of a front tooth.​

"My kids loved that," Rakoczy said.​


While Gregg Adam Rakoczy was at the University of Miami the Hurricanes went 40-9, full of swagger and trash talk. That stint included the epic national championship victory over Nebraska.


Miami won four national titles between 1983 and 1991. Beyond that, the Hurricanes changed the atmosphere around the sport, bringing a brash exuberance — as well as an electrifying playing style — to the game and becoming a symbol of the emergence of an urban, hip-hop culture that soon would land center square in American society.​

Rakoczy found himself right at home in Coral Gables, winning a national championship as a freshman — when Miami beat a Nebraska team that featured fellow former South Jersey stars Mike Rozier and Irving Fryar in an epic 1984 Orange Bowl — and serving as a cornerstone of the program after Jimmy Johnson replaced Howard Schnellenberger and brazenly took the team's Bad Boy image to another level.​

"We had that swagger," Rakoczy said of his days in Miami. "We just didn't think we could lose. That was our attitude.​

"But what we did was work so hard. We worked so hard in practice and so hard in meetings and in the film room. We lived, ate and slept football."​

Rakoczy helped recruit Pennsauken stars Greg Mark and Jason Hicks to Miami. And Rakoczy had pitched practice battles with a future Eagles star defensive tackle, the late great Jerome Brown.​

"Practicing against that guy is the reason I was able to play in the NFL," Rakoczy said of the irrepressible Brown.​



The former Miami Hurricane was selected by the Browns with the 32nd overall pick of the 1987 draft. Rakoczy started at center and right guard for four seasons with Cleveland before arriving in Foxborough. As a rookie he was on the losing side of "The Fumble" loss to Denver in the AFCCG.


Over two years Rakoczy appeared in 21 games with four starts for the Patriots, finishing his NFL career with 81 games played over six seasons. He played in five games with two starts for the Pats at center in 1991, before landing on IR on October 30. Rakoczy then played in all 16 games in 1992, with two starts at guard.


Aug 28, 1991:
The New England Patriots signed veteran lineman Gregg Rakoczy, who was waived earlier in the week by the Cleveland Browns.​

The Patriots had room on their roster for Rakoczy because David Pool, who was claimed off the waiver wire Tuesday, failed his physical due to a groin injury.​

Rakoczy, a product of the University of Miami, entered the NFL as a second-round draft choice of the Browns in 1987. He started a total of 44 games for Cleveland over the past three years.​

Pool, a second-year player, was originally picked by the Chargers in the sixth round of the 1990 draft. After being waived by San Diego, he signed with the Buffalo Bills last Oct. 5. He played in nine games, with one start, for the Bills last season and recorded 10 solo tackles and one interception.​

Also today, the Patriots announced that five players had been signed to the team's practice squad. They are linebacker Reggie Clark, nose tackle Timothy Edwards, wide receiver Sean Foster, safety David Key, and center Blake Miller.​




1992 Patriots Media Guide -- page 56
Ht: 6-5 Wt: 280 Born: 5/18/65 Miami (Fla.)

PRO CAREER:1991- Played in five games with two starts at right guard after signing with the Patriots as a free agent (8/28) from the Cleveland Browns ... also saw action at center during the year ... placed on Injured Reserve (10/30) after sustaining torn ligaments in his right knee vs. Denver (10/27) and missed the remainder of the season. 1990- Played in 16 games with 12 starts at right guard ... winner of the Wooster Browns’ Backers’ Unsung Hero Award. 1989Started all 16 games at center ... extended string of consecutive starts at center to 32 ...also saw duty as long snapper. 1988- Started all 16 games and Wild Card game at center. 1987- Played in 12 games and the playoffs as a rookie ... Saw action primarily on special teams ... named to UPI's 1987 NFL All-Rookie team. Signed by the Patriots as a free agent on August 28, 1991 ... originally drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 1987 draft.

GAMES PLAYED/STARTED: 65/46 (1987-12/0, 1988-16/16, 198916/16, 1990-16/12, 1991-5/2)

COLLEGE: Four-year letterman at Miami (Fla.) ... came out of the Hurricane's program as one of the premier offensive linemen in country with experience at every position ... settled in at center in junior year ... earned numerous All-America honors in 1986 including second-team Associated Press and second-team Sporting News ... played in Fiesta ('84 & '86), Sugar ('85) and Orange ('83) bowls ... was a member of 1983 National Championship team and was one of only three true freshman to letter.

PERSONAL: Married (Susan) ... has a daughter, Rachel (1) ... graduated in June of 1989 with a degree in Business Management from Miami ... very active in volunteer work in Westlake, Ohio, where he resides in the offseason ... earned All-South Jersey honors as an offensive tackle at Shawnee High in Medford Lakes, N.J. ... played every position on offensive and defensive lines, in addition to handling placekicking and punting duties ... set school record with 38yard field goal ... also set schoo! mark with shot put throw of 53'-4" ... born Gregg Adam Rakoczy on May 18, 1965 in Camden, N.J.



2010:
Today Gregg lives in Florida... He has worked for AT&T for the last 14 years and serves as a Lead Product Manager for on-line ordering of Managed Business Services.​

Gregg has been actively involved youth sports in his area. He has been a board member and baseball manager for his sons' Little League team. He is also a Pop Warner Head Football Coach for the New Tampa Sharks Mitey Mites.​



LinkedIn -- Gregg Rakoczy
Lead Product Management & Development
Lead Product Manager SD WAN eOrdering
AT&T
Apr 1995 - Nov 2024
29 years 8 months
Boca Raton, FL
Create, Build and Support on-line eOrdering tools for Global AT&T Business Customers






Pro Football Archives -- Gregg Rakoczy Player Profile

Pro Football Archives -- Gregg Rakoczy Transactions

 
Today in Patriots History
Bob Dee
In memory of Bob Dee, who would have turned 92 today
a few pics of Bob Dee...

Trips facemask...

cool visual (ie. pics) blog on different face masks, with a couple good shots of Bob Dee in it

AFL All Star team - 1963... Dee wore an alternate Jersey number, 82, in 1963 but i am not sure why... there is no one else on the squad sporting 89... and if you note Babe Parilli (15/16), Ron Hall (23/24), Larry Garron (40/45), Charley Long (76/74) and Nick Buoniconti (51/85) all have different numbers... Tom Addison, Gino Cappelletti, Larry Eisenhauer and Billy Neighbors all wore their regular numbers...


1960, vs Dallas Texans


Game action, 1960's




Today in Patriots History
Gregg Rakoczy
Happy 60th birthday to Gregg Rakoczy
a few shots of Gregg Rakoczy because why not, its his birthday lol





 
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one of my favorite all time pats d line eisenhauer, antwine, earthquake, dee. this is around the time my fandom as a kid really kicked in. thanks for all these. seems like a lot of work. where do you guys get all these old obscure pics ?
 
Today in Patriots History
Walter Scott



Happy 52nd birthday to Walter Scott
Born May 18, 1973 in Augusta, Georgia; hometown Johnston, South Carolina
Patriot defensive end, 1996; uniform #94
Acquired from Green Bay on August 25, 1996 for "past considerations"
Pats résumé: one game



6'3, 285 lb Walter Bernard Scott was originally signed by the Packers in 1996 as an undrafted rookie from East Carolina. He arrived in Foxborough just as Bill Parcells was trimming the roster to the initial 53-player limit. Scott only played in one game, a week 8 27-9 victory at Indianapolis.

After the Pats released Scott on November 5, Green Bay re-signed him to their practice squad. Scott played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 1998 and 1999, and was with Miami for the 1999 offseason - but never got into another NFL game.


Aug 26, 1996:
Bill Parcells said goodbye to another old friend yesterday as the Patriots cut nine players from their roster and acquired two from the Packers to reach the maximum of 53 players for the regular season.​

The Patriots waived running back Corey Croom, quarterback Jay Barker, defensive end Troy Barnett, center Mike Gisler, cornerback Vernon Lewis, linebacker Alcides Catanho, offensive tackle J.R. Conrad, and wide receiver Ray Lucas.​

The Patriots also obtained tight end/snapper Mike Bartrum, a third-year veteran out of Marshall, and rookie free agent defensive end Walter Scott of East Carolina from the Packers in exchange for what a Patriots' spokesman called "past considerations."​

That meant the end of the road for veteran snapper Steve DeOssie, a Boston College grad who played for Parcells in New York.​


QUARTERBACK (2) As expected, Scott Zolak beat out Jay Barker as Drew Bledsoe's backup.​

RUNNING BACK (5) The Pats are set with Curtis Martin, Dave Meggett and Sam Gash but the backups are weak. Rookie Marrio Grier beat out Croom at halfback, while rookie Kantroy Barber is the only other fullback on the roster.​

TIGHT END (4) Ben Coates and John Burke will be backed up by Mike Bartrum, with Lovett Purnell on the outs.​

WIDE RECEIVER (7) Injuries to Vincent Brisby and Terry Glenn forced Parcells to keep two extra receivers. Shawn Jefferson, Will Moore and Hason Graham look safe but either Troy Brown or Dietrich Jells won't be around long.​

LINEMEN (9) Bruce Armstrong, William Roberts, Dave Wohlabaugh, Bob Kratch, Max Lane, Larry Tharpe, Heath Irwin, Jeff Dellenbach, Todd Rucci. That Dellenbach is still around is a mystery. He's over-priced ($1.4 million) for a backup and has practiced two days all summer. He can play more than one position, something the Pats need badly. Look for a waiver wire pickup here.​

DEFENSIVE LINE (8) Mike Jones, Mark Wheeler, Devin Wyman, Willie McGinest, Ferric Collons, Pio Sagapolutele, Chris Sullivan, Walter Scott. With only three tackles, this may be another position in flux. The addition of rookies Wyman and North Attleboro's Sullivan are key. Where free agent Scott fits in is unknown.​

LINEBACKER (7) Chris Slade, Ted Johnson, Monty Brown, Dwayne Sabb, Tedy Bruschi, Marty Moore, Todd Collins. This group can rush the passer but is thin inside with Moore surviving again. Rookie Bruschi is one to watch.​

SECONDARY (9) Ty Law, Ricky Reynolds, Mike McGruder, Jimmy Hitchcock, Terry Ray, Willie Clay, Lawyer Milloy, Larry Whigham, Corwin Brown. There's talent here and watch Parcells go to Hitchcock and rookie Milloy early in the season if the deep bombs start hurting Reynolds and Ray again.​

SPECIALISTS (2) Rookie kicker Adam Vinatieri and punter Tom Tupa. The second-guessers will be ready to pounce if Vinatieri falters early on.​



Walter Scott, who played defensive line for East Carolina in the mid-1990s, went on to win two Super Bowls after his days with the Pirates while also making a name for himself in the music business as the owner of WOW TUNES in Atlanta, GA.
1:02:44 interview





LinkedIn - Walter Scott - Owner - Wow Tunes


Pro Football Archives -- Walter Scott Player Profile

Pro Football Archives -- Walter Scott Transactions
 
one of my favorite all time pats d line eisenhauer, antwine, earthquake, dee. this is around the time my fandom as a kid really kicked in. thanks for all these. seems like a lot of work. where do you guys get all these old obscure pics ?
Same here with that defensive line, they were tremendous in getting after the quarterback.

Pape has a tremendous library of photos on his hard drive, I lean on him for a lot of these pictures.

Otherwise I'm just googling the player's name alomg with the word 'Patriots', and far more often than not some cool photos show up under the images tab.
 
Today in Patriots History
Quandre Mosely



Happy 26th birthday to Quandre Mosely
Born May 18, 1999 in Brunswick, Georgia
Patriot cornerback, 2022; uniform #34
Signed to the practice squad on Dec 5, 2022
Pats résumé: one game



Quandre Mosely was initially signed by Dallas in 2022 as an undrafted rookie out of Kentucky. He was released near the end of camp, and then signed to Seattle and Tampa Bay's practice squads before arriving in Foxborough. The Pats elevated the 6'2, 185 corner to the 53-man roster on Decemaber 31, and he was on the field for one defensive snap in a 23-21 week 17 victory over Miami.

Mosely was released at the end of training camp in 2023, and again spent part of that season on the Bucs practice squad. He spent the 2024 offseason with Tampa Bay and Carolina, and in January he signed with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.





Dec 5, 2022:
Mosley was unemployed for five days before signing with the Patriots on Monday. A 6-foot-2 cornerback, he started his collegiate career at Eastern Arizona Community College. Mosley played his final three seasons at Kentucky where he finished with 69 tackles, 10 pass breakups and three interceptions in 36 games played.​

The Patriots came into the week with one open spot on their practice squad. Mosley takes the 16th and final spot. He’s the only cornerback on the team’s practice squad.​


Aug 27, 2023:








Pro Football Archives -- Quandre Mosely Player Profile

Pro Football Archives -- Quandre Mosely Transactions

Career Earnings: $329,667

 
Today in Patriots History
More May 18 Birthdays


Tory James, 52 (May 18, 1973)
2007 offseason
The Pats signed the 33-year old veteran corner on April 24, 2007. He was released on September 8, ending his NFL career.
James played in 158 games over ten seasons with Denver, Oakland and Cincinnati, with 39 interceptions.


Jeff Roehl, 45 (May 18, 1980)
2005, 2006 offseasons
A 6'4, 300 lb tackle from Northwestern, Roehl began his pro football career in 2003 as an undrafted rookie with the Giants, and he spent the 2004 offseason with Seattle. He was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL Europe between his two stints with the Pats. Roehl's NFL stat line consists of 12 games played for the Giants in 2003, with two starts.


Ray White (May 18, 1949 - April 13, 2025)
Born and raised in Weymouth; Weymouth South High School
The middle linebacker was a 1971 5th round pick out of Syracuse. and played for the Chargers and Cardinals from '71-76.
What are the odds of two South Shore guys, from Braintree and Weymouth, being born on the same day that were both pro football players? According to Pro Football Reference Braintree High School has produced one (Bob Dee), while Weymouth South and Weymouth North high schools have a total of four.


Frany Garvey (May 18, 1901 - Nov 18, 1972)
Born and raised in Worcester; Holy Cross
Left End for the Providence Steam Roller, 1925-1926


Hugh McCullough (May 18, 1916 - Feb 11, 1999)
Old defunct Boston pro football franchise
Tailback played in the NFL from 1939-1945, including his final season with the Boston Yanks


Carroll Hardy (May 18, 1933 - Aug 9, 2020
Boston Red Sox
The halfback was a third round pick by the Niners in '55, but that was his only year in the NFL. Carroll Hardy chose baseball over football, bouncing between the minors and the big leagues through 1967. He played for the Boston Red Sox from 1960-62, and is most well known for being the trivia answer to the question 'who is the only player to ever pinch hit for Ted Williams'?

Carroll William Hardy's baseball trivia does not end there. He also pinch hit for Carl Yastrzemski, Williams's replacement in left field, and also pinch-hit for former all-time single-season home run record holder Roger Maris. By pinch hitting for both Yaz and Teddy Ballgame, Carroll Hardy is the only player in major league history to do so for two future Hall of Famers. He was also on deck when Rich Rollins popped out to Rico Petrocelli for the fianl out in game 162 of the Impossible Dream 1967 season.


Hardy later went back to football, working for twenty years with the Broncos. He was the player personnel director for Denver during the 'Orange Crush Defense' days in the late 70s when the Broncos transformed from being a doormat, to one of the best teams in the league.




Very good long-form article on Carroll Hardy here:






His long career in professional sports, as a player and executive,” wrote Jerry Crowe in the Los Angeles Times, “had a sort of Forrest Gump quality to it.” His career connected with Y. A. Tittle, Joe Perry, Hugh McIlhenny, and John Elway of football, and Ted Williams, Roger Maris, and Carl Yastrzemski of baseball.​

. . . . .​

By February 1956, the Plain Dealer reported that Hardy thought he had enough of a chance to make the Indians that he was considering giving up football. He was assigned to Triple A, to the Indianapolis Indians. Playing football had been tough, and that may well have been a factor in his decision-making. “Football is fun,” he told sportswriter Harry Jones. “Pretty rough, though.” Jones then explained that Hardy had had his front teeth knocked out in a game against the Baltimore Colts, suffered torn rib cartilage in an exhibition game against the Cleveland Browns, and was knocked unconscious not once, but twice, by the Chicago Bears. For his part, Hardy said, “I like pro football, but if I do as well in baseball this year as I hope to, I’ll give up football. It’s not for financial reason either. I suppose I could make as much money playing eight years of pro football, but you never know when you’ll get hurt and have your career finished. Anyhow, I think I can do better in baseball.”​
 
Today in Patriots History
Kevin Faulk


May 18, 2016:





Former LSU great and three-time Super Bowl champion Kevin Faulk has been elected to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame, the franchise announced on Wednesday.​

Faulk, who is also a member of the LSU Athletic Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, was voted by the fans to become the 25th entrant into the Patriots Hall of Fame.​



A three-time Super Bowl winner, Faulk finished his career with 3,607 rushing yards, 3,701 receiving yards, and 31 total touchdowns. He spent every season of his 13-year career with the Patriots, and appeared in 161 regular season games and 19 playoff games.​



Running back Kevin Faulk, whose clutch play on third down helped deliver many memorable moments over his 13-year career, has been voted by fans as the 2016 inductee into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. Faulk beat out finalists Raymond Clayborn (cornerback, 1977-89) and Mike Vrabel (linebacker, 2001-2008) in the fan vote.​

Faulk becomes the fifth player to be selected by the fans into the Patriots Hall of Fame in the first year of eligibility, joining Drew Bledsoe (2011), Troy Brown (2012), Tedy Bruschi (2013) and Ty Law (2014).​

Faulk is the Patriots’ all-time leader in all-purpose yards (12,349) and kickoff return yards (4,098). He is also the Patriots’ all-time leading return specialist, totaling 5,041 combined return yards (4,098 kick return yards and 943 punt return yards). He ranks fifth in Patriots history in rushing yards (3,607), fifth in receptions (431), 12th in receiving yards (3,701) and eighth in punt return yards (943). He is the Patriots’ all-time leader in receptions by a running back and is one of just 30 running backs in NFL history to reach the 400-reception plateau.​

Faulk was recently in the news at the NFL draft when he announced the team's third-round pick, offensive lineman Joe Thuney, while wearing a Tom Brady jersey under his sport coat. When Faulk arrived at the podium to announce the pick, he said, "The New England Patriots AND Tom Brady select..."​

In a close vote, that might have helped push him over the top.​



Kevin Faulk elected into Patriots Hall of Fame -- Patriots.com
The Patriots announced today that Kevin Faulk, a three-time Super Bowl champion, has been voted by the fans as the 25th entrant into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
 
Today in Patriots History
Other May 18 News


May 18, 1981:
Patriots sign free agents Bill Burke, Tim Ross and William Lyon.

These guys are so obscure I have no idea if they even really existed, never mind what college they went to or position they played.




May 18, 1993:
After their spring mini-camp, the Patriots sign undrafted WR/KR/PR Ray Crittenden, from Virginia Tech.

Ray went to Va Tech on a soccer scholarship and only played football at that level for two years. His speed (sub 4.4 40's) caught scouts attention though. Crittenden caught 44 passes for 672 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons for the Patriots, while also averaging 20 yards on 47 kickoff returns and 9.1 yards on 21 punt returns. Ray was singled out by Bill Parcells as someone 'who can't make the club from the tub', making his tenure as a New England Patriot a short one.

Ray Crittenden knows he is on the clock. He knows that each day he doesn't practice with the New England Patriots, doesn't perform, coach Bill Parcells' eyes will wander to someone else, someone who can do the job.​

The former Virginia Tech standout also feels the heat of Parcells' stare as he continues his role as one ``of those guys riding bicycles.'' ``I know he's [upset] at me,'' said the third-year pro. ``I'm frustrated, too. I want to play.''​

Crittenden, wide receiver, did not play in the first two preseason games. A sore right knee was the reason given, but two MRI tests revealed no tear, no major problems. Still, Crittenden said he wasn't ready.​

It was after the second MRI last week that Parcells' tolerance tank overflowed. While Crittenden watched in street clothes, the Patriots beat the Minnesota Vikings. And when rookie free agent Hason Graham caught a 67-yard touchdown pass from Scott Zolak, giving the Patriots a come-from-behind 21-14 victory, Crittenden's value tumbled some more.​




May 18, 2005:
After signing a one-day contract, Otis Smith officially retires from the NFL as a New England Patriot.


Otis Smith retires as a Patriot -- Patriots.com




May 18, 2010:
Malcontent CB Shawn Springs is waived, one year after signing a three-year contract.





May 18, 2012:
6'7" Montana rookie free agent OL Jon Opperud is signed by the Patriots.

He lasted three weeks.





May 18, 2015:
Julian Edelman-transition-wannabe QB/WR Devin Gardner is released.





May 18, 2017:

The Patriots made a series of transactions on Thursday, adding two new players and releasing another. The team signed free agent center James Ferentz and undrafted free agent tight end Sam Cotton. The Pats also announced that they had signed fourth-round pick Deatrich Wise and released offensive lineman Chris Barker.​




May 18, 2018:
Lacy, 22, signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State on May 11.​

He caught 63 passes for 920 yards and five touchdowns in 32 college games. Lacy also returned six kickoffs for 97 return yards.​

The Patriots are loaded at the position, with 12 receivers competing for jobs. They cut undrafted rookie receiver Darren Andrews earlier this week.​




May 18, 2021:
The New England Patriots waived offensive lineman Najee Toran on Tuesday.​

Toran, who came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2018, was one of eight Patriots players who opted out for the 2020 NFL season over concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic.​

Toran originally joined New England on Sept. 2, 2019, when he signed to New England’s practice squad. He signed a future contract on Jan. 6, 2020.​

The Patriots added interior offensive linemen Alex Redmond and James Ferentz on Monday. New England also has offensive linemen Isaiah Wynn, Michael Onwenu, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Trent Brown, Ted Karras, Justin Herron, Yodny Cajuste, Korey Cunningham, Marcus Martin and William Sherman on its 90-man roster.​

Running back Brandon Bolden, fullback Danny Vitale, wide receiver Marqise Lee, tight end Matt LaCosse, offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety Patrick Chung opted out alongside Toran. Lee was waived, Cannon was traded to the Houston Texans and Chung retired this offseason.​




May 18, 2023:
The Patriots made 10 draft picks in 2019. Zero remain on the roster.​

The team removed the final player left from that draft class on Thursday, waiving offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste.​

The offseason acquisitions of Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson, as well as the re-signing of Conor McDermott created something of a logjam at the position, thus leading to the Cajuste move.​

The 27-year-old Cajuste played in 17 games over the past two seasons, making five starts -- three in 2022 and two in 2021. He missed his first two seasons due to injury.​

The waiving of Cajuste closes the book on a forgettable draft class for the Patriots in 2019. That year, the team selected N'Keal Harry in the first round, Joejuan Williams in the second round, and three players -- Chase Winovich, Damien Harris, and Cajuste -- in the third round.​






The New England Patriots opened a spot on their 90-man roster by waiving tackle Yodny Cajuste on Thursday. It didn't take long for them to fill that void.​

They signed undrafted rookie defensive lineman Justus Tavai after his tryout with the team, according to A to Z Sports’ Doug Kyed. The San Diego State product is the younger brother of Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai.​

Justus Tavai totaled 34 tackles (five for loss), 3.5 sacks, and one interception in 11 games last season for the Aztecs. He played the previous three years of his collegiate career at Hawaii.​

Tavai joins Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Christian Barmore, Carl Davis, Daniel Ekuale, Sam Roberts, and Jeremiah Pharms on the Patriots' defensive tackle depth chart.​

The Pats released Justus Tavai two weeks later, re-signed him ten days after that, and released him again on August 27. He has not been with any NFL organization since.




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